Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic is one of the NBA’s top players and a three-time Most Valuable Player (MVP) winner. He is a unique talent and every year, he continues to play at a high level. His ability to facilitate like a point guard but also be a force in a post has helped him accomplish great things and as time goes on, he continues to add his name to the history books. Jokic has won three of the last MVP awards including last season. Jokic and the Nuggets started the season on a rough note, but they have managed to pick things up and they are no longer towards the bottom of the Western Conference. With a long season ahead, the Nuggets will need their star to once again perform at a high level. In other words, he will have to put up MVP numbers. Can Jokic win another MVP?
Will Nikola Jokic Win Another MVP?
Jokic won his first MVP award in the 2020-21 season. He did so after averaging 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 8.3 assists and 1.3 steals. He won the award over Steph Curry and Joel Embiid. Jokic was already making an impact in the league, but his MVP win helped solidify his status as one of the NBA’s stars.
He did not stop there, and he won MVP the following season. He did so by averaging 27.1 points, 13.8 rebounds, 7.9 assists and 1.5 steals. This win made him the 13th player in NBA history to win back-to-back awards. Giannis Antetokounmpo did it right before him. Curry won the award in 2015 and 2016. Besides Antetokounmpo and Curry, Jokic joined players such as LeBron James, Steve Nash, Tim Duncan, and Michael Jordan in the back-to-back MVP club.
Jokic was in the running for the 2022-23 MVP, but Embiid took home the award that season. Embiid’s win stopped Jokic from being the only player outside of Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, and Larry Bird to win three MVP awards in a row. The Nuggets center did get the last laugh, as they won the championship that season. He and the Nuggets made history with the franchise’s first championship in their history, and with the idea of repeating on their minds, Jokic followed up with another strong season.
Jokic Wins 2024 MVP In Tight Race
The 2024 MVP race was one of the most exciting ones. The three finalists had remarkable seasons, and some would say the MVP was up for grabs that year. The finalists were Jokic, Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. All three players had strong seasons, and some would argue that Gilgeous-Alexander, who finished second in voting was the frontrunner. But in the end, Jokic’s season was strong enough for him to get his third MVP.
What’s Next for Jokic?
With a new season underway, it is still early, but the MVP race is always something to keep an eye on.
As it stands, Jokic is the favorite to win. DraftKings has his odds currently at +210. Behind him are players like Gilgeous-Alexander, Jayson Tatum, and Anthony Edwards. Jokic currently averages 29.7 points, 13.7 rebounds, 11.7 assists, and 1.7 steals. It is another season of him doing a bit of everything and putting up triple-double numbers. While he has missed a few games due to personal reasons, what he has done so far on the court is stellar. The season is young, and there is plenty of basketball to be played, but as it stands, Jokic is leading the way in the MVP race. Is another one on the horizon? The odds are in his favor.
