Mandatory Credit: Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports
Nikola Jokic has made it clear he should be the only choice for NBA MVP this season.
The Denver Nuggets entered the season with dreams of winning a championship. Then Jamal Murray went down with a season-ending knee injury. That would have ended the dream for most teams. But the Nuggets have Nikola Jokic.
The 26-year-old Jokic has played in every game this season and is a key reason why the Nuggets remain legitimate contenders in the Western Conference. He is also the only logical choice for the NBA‘s MVP award this season.
Joel Embiid is likely the top frontrunner to Jokic for MVP. Let’s look at a few reasons why it should be no contest for the Nuggets star in 2021.
3. The Nuggets are still a top-4 seed in the West despite injuries
Murray going down was a huge blow to the Nuggets. He was right behind Jokic in terms of scoring and looked to be blossoming into a star in his own right. Now he is forced to watch on the sidelines with crutches.
Such an injury could have derailed most teams. All Jokic has done is kept playing at an elite level to keep the Nuggets in a spot to host a first-round playoff series. The team is the No. 4 seed as of Monday afternoon and only one game back of the LA Clippers for the No. 3 spot.
The stats are already there for Jokic. When it comes to talking about value, keeping his Nuggets in contention atop the West is another easy reason to vote for him. Aside from Russell Westbrook and Moses Malone, most MVPs over the last 40 years have come from a team with a top-3 record in their respective conference. But Denver’s 44-24 record would also have the Nuggets tied for second if they played in the East.
Add in Will Barton’s recent injury and Jokic is carrying this team and continuing to perform at a high level while doing so.