Nikola Jokic is having another phenomenal season, which could earn him his third MVP title in the last four years.
It’s been another exceptional year for the Denver Nuggets. After winning the championship last season, they finished the regular season as the second-best team in the NBA Western Conference. It’s clear that Nikola Jokic deserves a lot of credit for that, and the MVP debate is leaning in his favor. One of those supporting the Serbian big man is JJ Redick, who has explained his choice.
“MVP for me, again, it came down to 3 guys, it came down to Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Ultimately, I gave, by the slightest of margins, I gave my vote to Nikola Jokic for MVP. I had Luka Doncic in second, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in third, I had Jayson Tatum in fourth in MVP, and Jalen Brunson in fifth in MVP. Giannis was the other guy I gave consideration to, just outside the top 5.
I think Jokic was the best basketball player in the NBA this season, I think Luka was the second best basketball player in the NBA this season. You certainly have to factor in the injuries the Dallas Mavericks had, the trades mid-season, trying to integrate a rookie center, and I get all of that. It’s probably why I weighed him slightly ahead of Shai, who led the second-youngest team in the NBA to first place in the Western Conference”, JJ Redick said.
Doncic averaged 33.9 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 9.8 assists this season, while Shai put up 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 9.0 assists. Jokic’s numbers might look less appealing compared to them, averaging 30.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 6.2 assists, but Jokic has once again dominated the advanced stats, leading the NBA for win shares, player efficiency rating, and value over replacement player.