“I will say that I think I’m playing the best basketball of my life, so if that’s enough, that’s enough,” Nikola Jokić said when asked about the MVP race. SoJokić is undeniably one of the top two MVP candidates this season. Averaging 28.9 points, 13 rebounds, and 10.5 assists, he is at the top of his game. Nikola Jokić is probably playing the best basketball of his life. With a jaw-dropping 30-20-20 triple-double, he’s cementing his legacy as one of the greatest to ever play the game.
Jokić’s dominance today is the result of years of growth and a pivotal decision by the Denver Nuggets early in his career. Jokić wasn’t some highly-touted superstar when he entered the league. In fact, Denver took a huge gamble on him. Back in 2017, the Nuggets had a tough decision: build around Jokić or Jusuf Nurkić? Nurkić was the starter at first, but Jokić was too good to ignore. So, Denver made a bold move and traded Nurkić to Portland. They went all in on Jokić with this.
Was it a smart move? Absolutely. By trading away Nurkić, the Nuggets gave Jokić full control of the offense, allowing him to develop into one of the most unique centers in NBA history. This move laid the foundation for Denver’s championship run in 2023.
. “It’s worth your money to watch him play,” Tim Hardaway Sr. said after seeing him face the Pistons. Hardaway couldn’t stop praising Jokić’s ability to control the game. In his words, “You can’t get him off beat. You can’t get him off stride”. What stood out most? His selflessness. “He’s going to play for his team, not for himself,” Hardaway emphasized. That unshakable mindset is what separates Jokić from the rest.
Tim Hardaway Sr speaks on seeing Jokic play basketball in person for the first time
“I’ll tell you this man – it’s worth your money” pic.twitter.com/83evCtNdUb
— n i k o l a e s t h e t i c (@nikolaesthetic) March 10, 2025
Interestingly, Hardaway had spoken about Denver’s belief in Jokić long before this. “They knew what they had… nobody knew he’d be this good, but they knew he was a good basketball player,” he previously stated. That’s why the Nuggets went all in, making sure Jokić had the right pieces around him. They didn’t just find a star but possibly found a dynasty in the making.
The battle between Nikola Jokic and Gilgeous-Alexander
Nikola Jokić has already claimed the MVP award three times, but he’s making a compelling argument for a fourth. On Monday night, he led the Denver Nuggets to a 140-127 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Just this performance is enough to answer why he belongs to the MVP debate.
Nuggets head coach Michael Malone firmly believes Jokić is the clear frontrunner. “If you didn’t know that Nikola won three MVPs and I put Player A and Player B on paper… the guy who’s top-three in the three major statistical categories… wins the MVP 10 times out of 10,” Malone stated.
Despite the praise, Jokić remains humble. “This is my third or fourth year in a row. I can’t control it,” he said. He acknowledged his peak performance but also showed respect for his competition. He admitted that if his performance is not enough to become an MVP, then “The guy deserves it.”
Dec 8, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) reacts while being interviewed after the game against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Jokić’s numbers are great this season. He even made history as the first player to record a 30-20-20 game. Yet, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been equally impressive, leading the Thunder to a league-best 53-12 record. Averaging 32.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 6.2 assists, his consistency has kept him in the MVP conversation.
Gilgeous-Alexander remains grounded about the hype. “It’s an honor to be in the conversation itself,” he said. “No matter how good of a basketball player I am, if we don’t check the win column, the conversation wouldn’t be the conversation.”
With Jokić and Gilgeous-Alexander both putting up MVP-caliber seasons, the race is far from decided. Will Jokić’s all-around dominance earn him a fourth MVP, or will SGA’s scoring and leadership push him ahead? One thing is clear, this season is shaping up to be a battle for the ages.
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