Denver Nuggets: 3 threats to Nikola Jokic’s MVP title
By Adam Taylor
Denver Nuggets: 3 threats to Nikola Jokic’s MVP title – 2. Luka Doncic
Luka Doncic is the Thanos of the NBA. He’s inevitable. The question of him winning an MVP award (or a championship for that matter) isn’t if, but when. Doncic was a force of nature last season and finished 6th in MVP voting.
After a year in which Doncic helped the Dallas Mavericks finish 5th in the Western Conference, Doncic could be ready to take another step in his journey to superstardom. The third-year guard ended last season with 27.7 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists, numbers so similar to Nikola Jokic that Doncic has a right to feel aggrieved.
That’s why, this coming season, after developing his game further, Doncic will be in the running for the MVP title. There’s only a handful of players in the league who impact their team’s chances of winning to the level that Doncic does.
A lot will rest on the availability of Kristaps Porzingis because when the unicorn big-man is playing second-fiddle to Doncic, we see a whole new level to the superstar guard’s game. With a three-point shot still a work in progress, Doncic requires floor spacing to be most effective, so if he has developed a more reliable deep ball (he shot 35 percent last season) he could be the first choice MVP next season.