Nikola Jokic is an eight-time All-Star and three-time NBA MVP, and for the last few years, he's widely been regarded as the best basketball player in the world. There are new challengers for that title this season, but based on the past few games out of the Joker, he doesn't look like he's ready to cede that title away just yet.
On the latest "All-NBA Podcast," Adam Mares and Tim Legler brought up the three names that are currently challenging Jokic for his title: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Doncic, and Victor Wembanyama. All of them have had great seasons, and Shai and Wemby are currently ahead of Jokic by most accounts in the MVP voting.
But the greatest player on the planet debate has been raging over the last few weeks just as much as the MVP debate. And the Joker has been playing at that level, almost as if to signal, "I'm still here."
Jokic has been on a heater
Adam Mares said, "Nikola Jokic has been sort of penciled into that title for the last three to four years," referring to the world's greatest player. And for the past four games, Jokic has been that guy.
Jokic's had four monster triple-doubles in a row, including two over a two-game span with totals that had never been accomplished before in NBA history. His first great game came against the Blazers, and he had 22 points, 14 rebounds, and 14 assists.
The next two were the historic games. Against the Suns, Jokic recorded 23 points, 17 rebounds, and 17 assists, and against the Mavericks the following night, he went for 23 points, 21 rebounds, and 19 assists, some of which even caused an uproar because some thought they were questionable.
And in the last game against the Jazz, Jokic scored 33 points, had 15 rebounds, and dished out 12 more assists, while shooting 81% from the floor. The Nuggets won all four games.
It could be Jokic's best season to date
It's pretty wild to think that Jokic is largely having the best season he's ever had and we're still having this debate now, but the Nuggets' fourth-place standing in the West and 47-28 record have done him no favors. He's had more triple-doubles this year than in any season he won the MVP, and he's only three from passing his career high of 34 in a season set last year in what will be four fewer games played on the year if Jokic doesn't miss any of the Nuggets' remaining seven.
In fact, you could argue that Jokic may be even playing his best basketball ever. Through 15 March games, Jokic is averaging 25.7 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 11.9 assists. He's never had a month with 15 or more games and those kinds of numbers.
Yes, Shai, Luka, and Wemby are great. But Jokic is still playing at the world's best player level. He just may not be the MVP this year.