Nikola Jokic is the current frontrunner for the 21-22 NBA MVP based on a new straw poll conducted by ESPN. Jokic was ranked second in the previous straw poll. 

Jokic finished 62 first-place votes and a total of 860 points, followed by Joel Embiid, who had 29 first-place votes and 719 total points, and Giannis Antetokounmpo, who had nine first-place votes and 593 total points. 

Ja Morant placed fourth while Jayson Tatum finished fifth. Luka Doncic and Devin Booker were the only other players to received third-place votes outside of the top three finishers. 

If Jokic repeats as MVP, he would join Antetokounmpo, Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Steve Nash and Tim Duncan as back-to-back winners of the award this century.