The NBA MVP Race
Nikola Jokić. The best player in the world. Period.
Yet, somehow, he could be robbed of the MVP that is rightfully his this coming June. As NBA fans, we need to realize that we cannot let this man get robbed—especially after the season he has put on this year.
Right now, the frontrunner for the NBA MVP award is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA). SGA is a generational scorer; currently, he leads the league in points per game (PPG). He is also the best player on the best team in the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder, who currently have a record of 53-12.
At the moment, Vegas has given the best odds to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to win MVP. Sports analysts like Stephen A. Smith and Kendrick Perkins have repeatedly stated that they think SGA is the MVP and that nothing can stop him from winning it.
I understand where they are coming from. It’s easy to say that the best scorer on the best team in the West should win the MVP. But damn, it’s almost like Nikola Jokić doesn’t exist.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is in the top four in two NBA categories: points, in which he currently leads with 32.7 PPG, and scoring efficiency. Quite impressive.
Nikola Jokić, on the other hand, is in the top four in six NBA categories! These categories include (sit tight, this could take a bit): points per game, scoring efficiency, steals, assists, total rebounds, and defensive rebounds.
Holy crap.
You may still be thinking, “Well, SGA’s team is number one in the Western Conference,” and yeah, I hear ya. But damn it, Nikola Jokić’s team (the Denver Nuggets) is right behind them in second place in the West.
Nikola Jokić is currently having one of the greatest individual NBA seasons of all time. His averages: 28.9 points per game (3rd in the NBA), 13 rebounds per game (3rd in the NBA), 10.5 assists per game (2nd in the NBA), and he is number one in efficiency.
When you compare these stats to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s, it’s pretty easy to see who the more valuable player is (it’s Nikola Jokić).
It pains me to diss SGA like this. However, I will not stand by and watch the best player in the world get robbed of an NBA MVP just because of voter fatigue.
In 1997, Karl Malone won the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award—an award that everyone knew should have gone to Michael Jordan. The only reason it didn’t go to Jordan was because of disgusting voter fatigue.
Jordan was the best player in the world. Everyone knew it.
Right now, Nikola Jokić is the best player in the world. Everyone knows it.
If the OKC Thunder lost SGA and the Denver Nuggets lost Nikola Jokić, I guarantee you the Thunder would still make the playoffs. I think the Nuggets would be drowning, fighting for a Play-In spot. That is how much Nikola Jokić means to his team. He is the best player in the world. No player is having a greater season than him this season. He deserves his fourth MVP.
It is tricky when it comes to voting for the NBA’s Most Valuable Player. Ever since Russell Westbrook averaged a triple-double back in 2017—something no one had done since Oscar Robertson in the ’60s—MVP voting has been a tricky slope.
Despite this, I think one thing is clear about this year.
Yes, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is an amazing player. When it’s all said and done, he could be one of the greatest scorers to ever live. But Nikola Jokić is having one of the best seasons EVER.
When it is all said and done for Jokić, we may forget the argument of the greatest big man to ever live.
We may put him in the conversation of the greatest player to ever live.