NBA MVP Favorites

The third guy we’re going to talk about is Nikola Jokic.

The first thing that has to be talked about when bringing up Jokic’s MVP case is his numbers cause the dude is the king of them right now.

The Joker is averaging 26.5ppg, 11.5apg, and 8.7apg, which all rank in the top ten in each category, and Jokic is second in PER, right behind Embiid, at 30.86.

Now what Jokic has over LeBron and Embiid is the advanced stats.

According to Basketball Reference, Jokic leads the league offensive win shares, total win shares, offensive box plus minus, box plus minus, and value over replacement. Also, he is third in defensive box plus minus, and fifth in assist percentage.

Does anyone know what all of this means exactly? Nope, I know that I don’t, but it all sounds great. Plus, you’ve got to be pretty good player when all of the analytic nerds love you.

Another thing Jokic has going for him is that nobody has captivated fans this season quite like the Joker has thus far. As opposed to LeBron and Embiid, it feels like Jokic does something crazy every night. It’s funny saying that since Jokic looks like a loaf of bread compared to the Greek God bodies of Lebron and Embiid, but it’s true. Jokic seems to always record a ridiculous assist, or hoist up an award rainbow three that splashes down through the net.

Having said all of that, the MVP usually goes to a player on a top team. As of writing this, the Nuggets are in seventh in the West, with a record of 15-11.

If the Nuggets don’t pick up their play, then it’s unlikely that Jokic wins the MVP on a team that ends up with the sixth or seventh seed.

However, Denver is only two games back of the fourth seeded Phoenix Suns. If the Nuggets go on a hot streak that gets them to fourth, or even third in the West, lead by Jokic, then the Joker has a serious MVP case. As for now, Jokic remains just a notch below LeBron and Embiid.