Nikola Jokic, the Denver Nuggets hulking big man, doesn’t look like your typical NBA Most Valuable Player. In order to score, he doesn’t slash his way to the rim with the speed of lightning. He’s not the most athletic player, and he certainly doesn’t wow fans with acrobatic dunks. But he makes up for it a trillion-fold with his incredible basketball IQ—and an insatiable desire to win.
Jokic is proving game in and game out why he’s one of the most unique players in basketball, but also why he might just be the best. Leading a Jamal Murray-less Nuggets team to the top of the West, Jokic has recently looked like the best player in the league, and we’re starting to think he should get the MVP.
In addition to helping his team succeed, his stats are astonishing. At this current moment, he’s averaging 26.4 points, 10.9 rebounds, 8.4 assists, to go with 1.5 steals and nearly one block per contest. That’s like Larry Bird level, ladies and gentlemen.
He might not be the fastest player, but he’s making all of his opponents look like fools on the court. We’d be surprised if the Serbian big man doesn’t receive plenty of MVP votes this year, and we’re excited to see what happens.
