Nikola Jokic doesn't need to win MVP this season. It would be awesome for Nuggets fans, of course, but if the choice comes down to Jokic winning his third MVP and the Nuggets winning multiple playoff series, I think it would be a blowout for the latter. So maybe, just maybe, if the Nuggets can completely forget about Jokic winning MVP, they can completely focus on him being healthy from April to (hopefully) June.
For starters, Jokic is still well in the prime of his career, and that's not going to change soon. He'll be the favorite or close to the favorite to win MVP for at least the next three seasons.
Plus, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander almost has the award locked up anyway, and Jokic is clearly dealing with a few different injuries; his knee, which caused him to miss extended time, and apparently a lingering wrist issue that pops up unexpectedly, which is a scary thought for Nugs fans.
I'm not implying that the Nuggets organization is placing more value on Jokic winning MVP than it is on this year's playoffs. But I do think, if there's a clear regular season "goal" (I.E, the Warriors winning 73 games in 2016) it realistically can hinder a player or team from being at max production during the playoffs.
Nikola Jokic being fully healthy for the playoffs is priority No. 1
And there really isn't a priority No. 2. This team might be able to still rattle off a postseason run without Aaron Gordon. It wouldn't win a single series without Jokic — and would struggle to do so even with an 80 percent healthy Jokic.
In other words... Give SGA the MVP award now, and let Jokic take nights off whenever he needs to. He can't phone it in, of course, as the Nuggets are still in a race for the highest seed possible in the Western Conference. But if he can phone in the MVP race — and be the Nuggets' best player while not overexerting himself to be the league's best player — that's probably the best case scenario.
Nikola Jokic is going to dominate the playoffs no matter what happens the rest of the regular season. A small slump in February and March doesn't change that. But if the difference between Jokic being at 90 percent health in the playoffs and 100 percent health in the playoffs is him not trying to win MVP... Then Nuggets fans should be thrilled for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.