There are just a few games left in the NBA regular season for the leading candidates to polish up their MVP cases. When it comes to statistics, Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic may just have the strongest argument to take home the award.
Let’s dive into the three reasons why Jokic should win his fourth MVP trophy.
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1. His Historic Numbers
As is the case almost every season, Jokic’s strongest MVP argument is his ridiculous statistical averages. In 62 appearances so far, he’s averaging 27.9 points, 12.9 rebounds and 10.9 assists per game.
At this pace he’s on track to become the first player in NBA history to lead the league in both rebounds and assists per game. He’s not reaching these numbers recklessly either. His efficiency has been elite at 57.1% shooting from the floor and 38.3% from three-point range.
Pair this with the fact that Jokic is the league leader in most advanced offensive metrics, and the result is a truly one-of-a-kind season.
After three MVP wins, voters might be numb to Jokic’s statistical greatness by this point. But he continues to put up numbers that deserve recognition.
2. His Importance To The Nuggets
Over the last decade, the Denver Nuggets have climbed into the top tier of contending teams, and only did so after making Jokic their franchise cornerstone. He spent years rising through the rotation and into superstar discussions.
After becoming the centerpiece of the franchise, he led the Nuggets to their first ever NBA title in 2023. Even the roster decisions seem tailored to bring in complimentary pieces that fit perfectly with Jokic’s game, which isn’t exactly difficult given his versatility.
A number of players have made stops around the league before landing in Denver. Almost immediately, guys like Aaron Gordon grew into elite role players on a championship team. Jokic’s elite facilitating has made this development happen quickly.
When it comes down to overall importance to a team, it’s hard to argue that anyone’s more valuable than Jokic.
3. Denver’s Hot Streak
In the last few weeks of this race, Jokic has made serious strides thanks to the Nuggets’ elevated play. He dropped 40 points and 13 rebounds on Saturday to take down Victor Wembanyama and the red-hot San Antonio Spurs, extending Denver’s win streak to eight games.
This streak comes after an impressive month in which the Nuggets beat the Spurs, the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers in huge wins for playoff seeding.
Jokic’s argument in this sense may not be as strong as a few other candidates, but the strong finish certainly doesn’t hurt his MVP case.
Ultimately, voter fatigue and a 50-28 record may cause voters to look elsewhere on their ballots. But on paper, Jokic is a top-two candidate at worst.
James Parker is a sports writer for Ball Exclusives, follow him on X @TheJames_Parker
