In 12 months 10 of his illustrious NBA profession, it looks as if reigning MVP Nikola Jokic is best than ever.
To assist carry his Denver Nuggets to a pointy 7-3 report, Jokic is averaging an astonishing 29.7 factors, 13.7 rebounds, 11.7 assists, 1.7 steals, and one block per recreation whereas additionally having fun with an environment friendly true taking pictures proportion of 67.1. For perspective, he’s averaging a near-30-point triple-double and sits fourth within the league in scoring whereas main all the NBA in rebounds and assists. If that weren’t sufficient, the Serbian massive man is fourth within the league in 3-point taking pictures proportion (56.4) on a reasonably excessive quantity of 4 makes an attempt per recreation. Phew.
For all intents and functions, after a regular-season MVP or NBA Finals MVP in every of his final 4 seasons, Jokic has been transcendent by way of 10 video games, even by his already excessive requirements. He’s the clear greatest participant on the planet — there isn’t a “arguably” — and the hole between him and the No. 2 participant (whoever that is perhaps) appears wider than ever.
However for those who ask Denver head coach Michael Malone, Jokic’s play to this point this season apparently hasn’t been that spectacular. After Jokic dropped 37 factors, 18 rebounds, and 15 assists on the Dallas Mavericks in an exciting Sunday night time win, Malone mentioned he hoped Jokic would “most likely be fifth in MVP voting.”
Wait, what? Oh, Malone was joking, and it’s simple to see why:
Malone on Jokic’s 37-18-15; “what’s Jokic fifth in MVP voting now? So he’s gotta do extra for us.” pic.twitter.com/4yh9mMc8RM
— Jake Shapiro (@Shapalicious) November 11, 2024
Malone won’t ever affirm it himself, however there’s an honest probability he noticed an absurd NBA MVP ladder that put the Los Angeles Lakers’ Anthony Davis and the Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum over Jokic on this 12 months’s early MVP dialog final week. Whereas these two stars have additionally been superior, given how completely unbelievable Jokic has been for a Nuggets group that has wanted him to play this effectively simply to have an opportunity to win, lists like that reek of “voter fatigue,” a.ok.a. individuals being bored with Jokic profitable the league’s most prestigious particular person honor within the common season. Once more.
And it’s not exhausting to see why Malone seemingly thinks that that sentiment is ridiculous, as he watches his celebrity participant put his group on his again each single night time:
AD leads the way in which within the first @KIA MVP Ladder of the season 👀
Full Listing: https://t.co/oSFdBrXZV0 pic.twitter.com/Ib3Clh0cLc
— NBA TV (@NBATV) November 8, 2024
It’s nonetheless so early, and something can occur in an arduous 82-game season. Extra importantly, Jokic can be previous the purpose of caring about chasing regular-season MVPs. He and the Nuggets are attempting to win championships before everything, that means they are going to seemingly have him flip off the jets the nearer we get to the postseason so he can preserve his power for a hopeful (and lengthy) NBA title run. Jokic’s Nuggets have greater fish to fry lately.
However I’m gonna inform you this proper now and bear in mind it effectively. Davis is having an excellent season. So is Tatum. So is the Phoenix Suns’ Kevin Durant. They’re nonetheless nowhere close to the identical stratosphere as Jokic proper now. It’s not even shut. Nobody impacts or controls a recreation extra, and he someway took one other large step ahead. And if the all-time middle truly does common even, say, an impeccably environment friendly 25-point triple-double all through all the season for a contending Nuggets group, he shall be taking house a fourth NBA MVP award.
Full cease. Voter fatigue about Jokic be damned.
The esteemed honor would lose a ton of credibility if anybody else acquired it in that state of affairs.
