This MVP race has been a two-horse race for months now between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Thunder and Nikola Jokic of the Nuggets. Jokic is the reigning MVP and has won the award three of the past four years, while SGA is vying to win for the first time after coming close last season.
Gilgeous-Alexander has been a solid favorite in betting markets, and would certainly be an excellent choice. He’s averaging 33 points, 5 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game while playing stout defense and being the engine of the best team in basketball.
But Jokic’s accomplishments have been nothing to sneeze at either. He’s putting up 29.1 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 10.3 assists per game and while the Nuggets are 15.5 games back of the Thunder, Jokic has the Nuggets in the mix for the two seed in the West and he’s tasked with a ridiculous burden, working with a supporting cast that pales in comparison to what SGA has in Oklahoma City.
They are clearly both worthy candidates for the award, but the deck seems to be stacked against Jokic. Factoring in the legacy element, voter fatigue, and team performance, it’s going to be very, very difficult for him to win MVP for a fourth time.
SGA retakes lead in MVP Ladder over Jokic
Still, the two have gone back and forth at the top of NBA.com’s MVP Ladder the past few weeks as Jokic’s historic dominance has become impossible to ignore - even if some national media members and awards voters are trying to. Jokic jumped Shai for the lead last week according to Shaun Powell, but the two flipped places yet again.
As Jokic has been missing games with injuries to his elbow and ankle, the Nuggets have sputtered a bit. Meanwhile, SGA just keeps coming and the Thunder keep surging. He’s taken back the lead and it feels more and more decisive with every passing game.
Jokic has been out since Saturday, March 15th, missing five straight games, in which the Nuggets have lost three. Jokic has been one of the most durable stars in the league, and it’s no fault of his own that he’s dealing with multiple injuries. Also, it’s probably in his, and the team’s best interest for him to get as much rest as possible and get right for the playoffs.
But in terms of the MVP race, sadly, this week and a half off may end up being a death sentence and the final nail in the coffin. In the grand scheme of things, it’s not a big deal, and he likely wouldn’t have won anyway (for mostly nonsensical reasons), but I think Nuggets fans can officially give up the dream.