Nikola Jokic rarely appears uncomfortable on the basketball court, yet the annual debate surrounding the league`s Most Valuable Player award is a notable exception.
When asked about the award, his expression clearly shows discomfort. He dismisses questions about it as quickly as he makes a sharp pass. Jokic has been a top-five MVP candidate in six of the last seven seasons, winning three times. This year, however, he did something uncharacteristic.
He actually spoke up, making an argument for why he should win.
“I think I`m playing the best basketball of my life. So if that`s enough, it`s enough,” Jokic said after the Denver Nuggets` 140-127 win over his main challenger for this year`s award, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“If not, [Gilgeous-Alexander] deserves it. He`s really amazing.”
In this statement, Jokic didn`t express a personal desire to win what would be his fourth MVP trophy, which would put him alongside LeBron James and Wilt Chamberlain. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar holds the record with six, followed by Michael Jordan and Bill Russell with five each.
Nor did he mention how much the award would mean to him on a personal level.
Jokic`s point was straightforward: he believes he played better this year than ever before, including his previous MVP seasons. If this premise is accepted, then winning the award again logically follows.
Statistical data largely supports his claim.
Beyond averaging a triple-double and leading the league with 33 such games this season, Jokic ranked in the top three for scoring (29.6), rebounds (12.7), assists (10.2), and steals (1.8). He was also among the top 20 players in 3-point shooting percentage (41.7%). This combination of statistics is unprecedented, and he continues to achieve historical feats.
However, this season features a significant factor that distinguishes it from his previous winning years, creating a complication in what might otherwise be an obvious decision.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander also delivered an exceptional season, topping the league in scoring (32.7 points per game) and providing All-NBA level defense. He led the NBA`s youngest team to 68 wins with the highest average victory margin (plus-12.9 PPG) in league history, surpassing the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers` record.
This sets up a classic MVP debate: the best player on the league`s best team versus the player with the most dominant statistical performance.
The discussion only seemed to intensify briefly when the Nuggets and Thunder split two consecutive games.
In the first game, a nationally televised Thunder win, Gilgeous-Alexander made his case with 40 points, 8 assists, and 3 steals, stating afterward:
“I love MVPs, I love All-Stars, I love all the accolades that come with it, but none of it matters if you don`t win.”
Jokic responded the following night in a less-watched game, leading the Nuggets to victory with 35 points, 18 rebounds, and 8 assists, making his own statement on the court.
For a brief period, sports broadcasts and media outlets debated the award winner, and teammates publicly supported their respective stars. Voters had about a month to consider before submitting ballots. Since that time, both players have consistently praised each other`s remarkable seasons.
Any lingering debate, however, has now been overshadowed by the upcoming playoff series between the two teams.
This second-round clash between the Thunder and the Nuggets will bring the MVP narrative back into focus. The award announcement is scheduled to happen during this round of the playoffs on a live TNT broadcast.
Consequently, Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic (along with Giannis Antetokounmpo, another candidate) will likely be asked to participate in a livestream announcement for basketball`s most prestigious individual award, even as their primary focus has completely shifted to team success in the playoffs.
After the Nuggets` tough Game 7 victory over the LA Clippers in the first round, Jokic remarked about the award:
“It is the last thing on both of our minds.”
The MVP votes were cast well in advance. Historically, winning the MVP award hasn`t guaranteed an NBA title since Stephen Curry achieved it in 2015. In fact, none of the last nine MVP winners reached the conference finals.
However, when asked specifically about Gilgeous-Alexander as a player, Jokic was much more willing to share his thoughts.
“He`s a very different player,” Jokic commented. “He`s playing on so many levels, speed, as a scorer. Everything looks so easy for him. Even when you are like, `Oh, that`s a good defense.` It feels so easy for him and he`s amazing with a change of speed, change of rhythm, ballhandling. He can post up guys, he can go by guys, his shooting at the midrange is unguardable basically. He`s a very special player.”
Gilgeous-Alexander has approached the attention of the MVP race differently. He has openly acknowledged the significance of the award and his desire to win it. However, he consistently emphasizes that the Thunder`s success is his ultimate priority.
This approach has left the task of campaigning to others. Former Denver coach Michael Malone often advocated for Jokic, but after his unexpected departure late in the season, Nuggets swingman Christian Braun stepped into that role.
“I think that Nikola had maybe the greatest season ever,” Braun stated. “I don`t know if you`ll ever see a player do what he did ever again in one singular regular season. They were both great. The Thunder are an amazing team, Shai`s an amazing player. So there isn`t any wrong choice. But to see what Nikola did night in and night out, I don`t know that you`ll ever see that again.”
Last December, Thunder center Chet Holmgren famously tweeted:
“Lu Dort for DPOY and Shai for MVP or we riot.”
This MVP narrative adds an intriguing element to the series, although both star players are likely to try and disregard it.
When asked if Jokic cared about winning, Braun responded:
“I know for a fact he doesn`t.”
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault echoed this sentiment.
“I know Shai a lot better than I know Jokic,” Daigneault commented. “But I think I know enough to know that neither one of them are going to get distracted by that. Both of them are going to be fully invested in the series. It`s a supplement to the series. But it`s really, it`s not part of the series at all.”
