If Nikola Jokic continues to play at his current otherworldly levels, it will be hard for voters not to name him MVP for the third consecutive season. [Image: Flickr.com / Erik Drost]
date hunt
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic is probably just a few months away from becoming the first back-to-back NBA player since the 1980s.
A feat not even achieved by greats like Michael Jordan and LeBron James
Jokić, the 41st draft pick in the 2014 draft, is already the lowest selection ever to win the award. If he manages to capture the MVP for the third consecutive season, he will achieve a feat that not even greats like Michael Jordan and LeBron James have achieved.
Joki’s odds of winning the MVP award have diminished over the past two weeks, and he’s now the odds-on favorite to win the award. Even with the inevitable effects of voter fatigue, his sheer edge this season is undeniable.
Nikola Jokic: Player of the Year three times?
Starting with the basics: This season, Jokić averaged 25.1 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 9.9 assists per game, ranking him 16th, 6th, and 2nd, respectively. He also shoots 62.6% from the field on more than 15 attempts per game.
To put that in perspective, the player with the highest scoring average who also shoots better from the field than Joki is Jarrett Allen, who ranks 84th in scoring (13.9 points per game).
The seven-foot-tall Serb also has a monopoly on advanced analytics. He ranks first in player efficiency (and second all-time behind the 2021-22 edition of the same), value added, and estimated earnings added.
His team is 32-13 and has the best record in the Western Conference
Above all, Jokić has the most influence in winning basketball matches. +/-, which measures the number of points a team wins or loses when a player is on the field, is the best in the league and almost 1.6 times better than fellow MVP of the league, Luka Dončić. It’s also no surprise that his team is 32-13 and has the best record in the Western Conference.
Prize races are often the highlight of a season. In college football, the “Heisman moment” is a much-needed part of every candidate’s status – well, Jokić has that stuff in spades.
Earlier this year, the Denver star dropped 40 points, 27 rebounds and 10 assists in a win over the Charlotte Hornets. Just a few days before that, he hung 43 points on 85% shooting, 14 rebounds, and eight assists over the Washington Wizards, and he also went 36/12/10 on 93% shooting against the Boston Celtics earlier this week. .
Long story short, his numbers are unquestionable.
overcome history
The historical precedent that would be set if Joki won his third consecutive MVP award would be formidable. There have only been three players to have won the award three times in a row: Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, and Larry Bird (most recent).
Awarding Jokić a third MVP would also defy traditional voting logic. LeBron James has been the undisputed MVP in the league for at least ten years, but he’s only won four MVPs and not three in a row. All-time greats like Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal and (still active) Kevin Durant have also won only one MVP award in their careers, which is already half of Jokić’s total.
Jokić has a 69.9% chance of winning the prize
Both NBA.com And Basketball reference Denver’s points center leads their MVP ladder. According to the latter, Jokić has a 69.9% chance of winning the prize, while Dončić and Joel Embiid each have a 7.5% chance.
But while one part of history is tempting, another has already been set. On Wednesday night, Jokić became the Nuggets’ all-time assists leader after hitting 13 in a 122-118 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“Honestly, it’s probably the first thing I’m proud of, just because I hope my teammates like to play with me because I share the ball,” Jokic said after the match. “So maybe, this is the first time that I’m kind of proud, probably.”
There are still 37 games left in the season, but Jokić has produced one of the most impressive first half in a single season in league history, which has him poised to make history.
Player profile: Nikola Jokic
Where is Nikola Jokic from? Nikola Jokić was born in Sombor, Serbia, where he lived with his parents, grandmother, and two brothers.
How tall is Nikola Jokic? Nikola Jokic is six feet 11 inches tall. He plays center for the Denver Nuggets but is not your typical big guy, instead playing guard.
How old is Nikola Jokic? Nikola Jokic was born on the 19th of February 1995, which makes him 27 years old and in the midst of his athletic prime.
How many MVPs does Nikola Jokic have? At the time of writing, Nikola Jokic has won the MVP award twice. He won the award in 2020-21 and again in 2021-22, beating out Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetekounmo, Steve Curry and other top contenders.
For which team does Nikola Jokic play? Nikola Jokic plays for the Denver Nuggets, the current seed in the Western League.
