Although Giannis Antetokounmpo is widely regarded as the best player in the NBA and is having a historic season on the team with the best record in the league, he only placed third in ESPN's final MVP straw poll. It has been suggested that Antetokounmpo may not be as concerned about winning the MVP award this season since he has already won two MVP awards and a championship.

“That’s a lie,” Antetokounmpo told Yahoo Sports recently. “I won’t say I don’t care. I want to compete. If you say I don’t care, it’s a lie. Do I think it’s a priority for me? No. The priority for me is to get better, to help my team win a championship, to get that feeling again.

“If God can bless me with an MVP again, I’ll take it.”

Antetokounmpo knows the conversation revolves more around Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid, to which he says, “That’s OK.” 

While Antetokounmpo is not apathetic about the MVP, winning another championship remains the priority.

“I want a championship,” Antetokounmpo said. “It’s the truth. The truth is the only thing that exists. I want … to win … a championship. More.”

Joel Embiid has a narrow lead over Nikola Jokic in ESPN's final MVP straw poll for the 22-23 season.

Embiid has 790 total points to Jokic's 788, but Jokic has 42 first place votes compared to 40 for Embiid.

Embiid finished in second place on 45 ballots, six more than Jokic.

Giannis Antetokounmpo received 18 first place votes, 15 second place votes and 64 third place votes.

Rounding out the top-5 are Jayson Tatum and Luka Doncic. Tatum appears to have a firm grasp on the fourth spot, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Domantas Sabonis as threatening Jokic for the fifth spot.

Dwyane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki, Gregg Popovich, Pau Gasol, Tony Parker, and Becky Hammond were voted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2023, sources told Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

A formal announcement will take place this Saturday during the men's Final Four in Houston.

The enshrinement ceremony is scheduled for August 12. 

Brandon Ingram and Jaylen Brown have been named the NBA's Players of the Week for Week 23.

Ingram averaged 31.3 points, 10.0 assists and 6.3 rebounds for the week as the New Orleans Pelicans went 3-0.

Brown averaged 31.7 points on 55.9 percent shooting and 8.3 rebounds as the Boston Celtics went 3-0.

Joel Embiid and Domantas Sabonis have been named the NBA's Players of the Week for the second straight week.

Embiid averaged 35.0 points, 12.7 rebounds and 3.3 blocks as the Philadelphia 76ers went 3-0.

Sabonis averaged 22.8 points, 16.0 rebounds and 10.0 assists as the Sacramento Kings went 3-0.

Domantas Sabonis and Joel Embiid have been named the NBA's Players of the Week for Week 21.

Sabonis averaged 20. points, 10.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists as the Sacramento Kings went 3-0.

Embiid averaged 38.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.8 blocks as the Philadelphia 76ers went 4-0.

Julius Randle and Devin Booker have been named the NBA's Players of the Week for Week 20.

Randle averaged 29.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists as the New York Knicks went 4-0.

Booker averaged 36.0 points, 7.7 assists and 5.3 rebounds as the Phoenix Suns went 3-0.

Mike Brown and Mike Budenholzer have been named the NBA's Coaches of the Month for February.

Brown's Kings finished with a 8-4 record last month.

Budenholzer lead the Bucks to a perfect 10-0 record. 

Jalen Brunson and Nikola Jokic have been named the NBA's Players of the Month for February.

Brunson averaged 27.3 points, 6.0 assists and 4.3 rebounds for the New York Knicks as they went 9-2.

Jokic averaged 22.6 points, 14.2 rebounds and 10.2 assists as the Denver Nuggets went 9-3.

Walker Kessler and Paolo Banchero have been named the NBA's Rookies of the Month for February.

Kessler averaged 10.6 points, 11.4 rebounds and 3.2 blocks in February.

Banchero averaged 16.6 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists for the month.