With the new NBA eligibility rules, who are the current NBA MVP candidates?

In the past couple of weeks, there has been widespread debate on the NBA's eligibility rules, which require a player to play at least 65 games to qualify for major awards.

The NBA's new collective bargaining agreement was put in place to stop the league's best players from sitting out games, with the likes of LeBron James (55 games), Kawhi Leonard (52 games), and Joel Embiid (66 games) missing a large amount, as reported by Forbes.

According to the GiveMeSport website, All-star guard Tyrese Haliburton said: "I think it's a stupid rule, like plenty of the guys in the league, but this what the owners want, so as players, we got to do our job and play in 65 games if we're able to."

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Reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid would be one of the favorites to win the award again this season, but after missing 15 games already, the Philadelphia center is only eligible to miss two more games, and he is still injured.

With Embiid all but out of the race, here are the five players still in with a shout to win the NBA MVP award.

Reigning Finals MVP and two-time regular season MVP Nikola Jokic is looking to join an exclusive club of players with three MVP awards as he attempts to lead Denver to back-to-back titles.

No defense has yet to find a solution to stop the Serbian ace, with the Nuggets star man averaging 26.3 points, 12.1 rebounds, and nine assists. The Nuggets sit fourth in the West with 35 wins and 16 losses, according to the NBA website.

Oklahoma's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is having a career year for the Thunder as they have climbed their way into becoming genuine contenders to make it out of the West this season.

The OKC All-Star has averaged 31.3 points per game, 5.6 rebounds, and 6.4 assists, leading the Thunder to the top seed in the West. Until his 23-point outing against Toronto on Sunday, the Canadian was on a nine-game 30-point plus streak, as reported by the NBA.

Since joining the league in 2013, no one could have expected Giannis Antetokounmpo's rise in the league, but two MVPs later, the Bucks forward is on track to go after another one.

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The Bucks star man ranks fourth in points per game (30.9) and fifth in rebounds (11.6), leading the Bucks to third in the Eastern Conference, with fellow all-star Damian Lillard.

Jayson Tatum has been one of the premiere players in the league for a few years now, but he has failed to put a run together that has seen him win an MVP or Finals MVP.

With the addition of Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis, the Boston Celtics are real contenders to win it all this season. If Tatum continues to put up 27 points and eight rebounds, there is a chance he could win MVP and Finals MVP this season.

Luka Doncic is having a great season, and his 73 points against Atlanta at the end of January has been the staple in his year so far.

According to SportsNaut, Doncic has been spectacular this season, averaging 34.7 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 9.6 assists, but the Mavericks sit eighth in the West, which is why he sits fifth in the list.

The MVP award winner will be announced at the start of May, meaning these players have long enough to continue to establish themselves as the best player in the NBA.

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