Nugg Love
Fansided

Denver Nuggets players who could contend for NBA awards

By Grayson Moore

DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 1: Will Barton #5 and Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets celebrate during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on February 1, 2018 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 1: Will Barton #5 and Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets celebrate during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on February 1, 2018 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
DENVER, CO – FEBRUARY 25: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets attempts to block a shot by James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets at Pepsi Center on February 25, 2018, in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Tafoya/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – FEBRUARY 25: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets attempts to block a shot by James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets at Pepsi Center on February 25, 2018, in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Tafoya/Getty Images) /

MVP Candidate: Nikola Jokic

There is really nobody else on the Nuggets roster who could contend for MVP. And honestly, Jokic is more likely to contend for the award than you might think.

More from Nugg Love

I have noted before that Nikola Jokic is one of 6 players ever to put up 18+ points, 10+ rebounds, and 6+ assists per game in a season. Jokic is the youngest player on that list, and he’s the only one to do it in 33 minutes or less. Every other person on that list has won at least 1 MVP and is/will be in the Hall of Fame. Every other person on that list also put up 23+ points in at least 34.5 minutes per game.

My point is if Nikola Jokic can increase his points per game average while playing more minutes on the court, he will have to be at least considered for the award. I don’t think the league has ever seen a big man so graceful or so good at passing, and if he leads the Nuggets to the 5th seed or higher, he could garner the national attention necessary to win the award.

Russell Westbrook has shown that you don’t need team success or a big market to win the Maurice Polodoff trophy. If Nikola Jokic boosts his stats high enough while elevating the Nuggets to the level needed to obtain national attention, he will have to be at least considered by the voters.

Home/Nuggets News