Amid a crazy start to the 2024-25 NBA regular season, you can bet the absolute last thing on the mind of Nikola Jokic is the MVP award. Sure, he’s the reigning league MVP and he’s won three of the last four awards, but other than expressions of humility, he has never cared for individual accolades.
Surely, he’s focused on the Nuggets and trying to help the team rise up the Western Conference standings. With a questionable supporting cast, Jokic has had to take on more responsibility than ever this season, but he has answered the bell and then some.
Despite the Nuggets’ early season struggles and clear flaws, Jokic has kept the Nuggets afloat and more, leading the team to an improbable 19-13 record that has them just two games back of the 2 seed in the loss column.
Meanwhile, he’s somehow averaging career highs almost across the board, putting up a ridiculous 30.7 points, 13.0 rebounds, 9.7 assists, 2.2 three-pointers, and 1.7 steals per game on 49.2% three-point shooting. Between those mind-melting stats and the Nuggets’ solid record, Jokic has emerged as the frontrunner to win yet another MVP award.
Ant calls SGA the MVP, says he should have won last year
But not everyone is quite convinced about Jokic and his chances to win the award again. After the Timberwolves suffered a defeat at the hands of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder on Tuesday, Anthony Edwards had some high praise for SGA.
After watching Gilgeous-Alexander drop 40, Ant said of Shai, “The MVP of the NBA”. He went on to call SGA “Unguardable”, before saying, “I hope they give [MVP] to him this year for sure. I feel like he should have won it last year, but he's playing out his mind right now."
It’s a little odd to hear a rival, and one that is usually so bullish and confident, waxing poetic about a peer like this. We are used to hearing Edwards with his braggadocious personality, explaining why is the best. So this is an interesting new look for Ant, acknowledging the superiority of his rival like this.
Edwards’ comments subtle shots at Jokic
Whether intended or not, it’s impossible for Edwards not to realize these comments could be construed as offensive towards Jokic. He did bring up the MVP, saying, "I don't know if they could give it to [Jokic] again," but didn’t explain why.
In the next breath, he was also saying how he hopes SGA wins and that he should have won last year. It’s unclear how much thought Ant has actually given the matter. This interview was moments after a tough defeat in which Gilgeous-Alexander was incredible.
But still, it makes no sense that Jokic hasn’t earned more respect from his peers by now. I doubt the Joker will hear about this, or care at all, but this can be added to the long list of bulletin board material the Nuggets have received this year and used as further motivation.