Barton to Yokic three.

Yes! Got it again!

Denver's back in the lead by three.

Time out, Memphis!

Convince me, he's not the MVP!

Yeah, Nicola Yokic is the clear frontrunner, but the idea that this year's NBA-M-BP ballot is some no-brainer, that's a joke.

This election season is so heated that LeBron James can't even begin to sniff Yokic,

and Joelle Embede, and now Steph Curry, the third-party spoiler that might just derail it all.

Today, Zach Lowe breaks down the favorites, and he also tells me how stupid I should feel

for doubting the hottest playoff team

in the entire league. The New York Knicks. I'm Pablo Torre. It's Friday, April 23rd. This

is ESPN big.

Zach Lowe, thank you for joining me, man, on an important NBA day.

Always a pleasure to see you.

Zach Lowe covers the NBA for ESPN and is the host of the Low Post podcast.

So I brought you here originally to talk about the MVP race. You're an MVP voter. You take this job extraordinarily seriously as you should.

And I want to get to all of that. But we now have to start because I live in New York City.

I am friends with so many Knicks fans, Zach. I'm reading a text

on my phone from my friend Kevin Brennan, who is a guy full disclosure who had a wedding

where people were chanting Nick's tape. The betrothed did not walk out. Somehow, but today,

and days like today are going to test that, Zach, because he texted me this.

You need to change whatever you have planned for tomorrow and immediately do a podcast on the hottest

...