Three-time NBA MVP Award winner Nikola Jokic is used to receiving accolades. At this point, it has become a habit for the Denver Nuggets star. However, despite a tremendous 2024-25 campaign, Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander took home MVP honors this past season. Jokic is focused on winning and does not seem to pay attention to individual awards, but perhaps SGA winning MVP over him provided at least a small amount of extra motivation.
Jokic is currently participating in EuroBasket -- where he has been nothing short of unstoppable. He has been especially unselfish at times, but on Saturday he took matters into his own hands. The big man led Serbia to a win after scoring 39 points while also recording 10 rebounds, four assists and three steals. He connected on 14 of his 22 shots from the field.
In other contests, Jokic may have finished with a 30-point triple-double. On Saturday, however, Jokic looked especially determined as he finished just shy of scoring 40 points. He was not going to let his team lose.
So, what does Jokic's impressive EuroBasket performance have to do with the NBA MVP Award? Well, it goes without saying, but his current play won't impact his chances of earning the honor during the 2025-26 regular season. With that said, Jokic is displaying added offensive aggression and intensity.
Nikola Jokic's EuroBasket approach will intrigue Nuggets fans
The 30-year-old averaged 29.6 points per game on 57.6 percent field goal and 41.7 percent three-point shooting in 2024-25 -- yet, he still finished second in MVP voting. It would not be shocking to see Jokic end up averaging 30-plus points per contest during the upcoming NBA campaign.
The fact that the Nuggets failed to win a championship once again will also give him more motivation. As mentioned, Jokic offers a team-first approach, so helping the Nuggets return to the NBA Finals will be a priority. If that means he has to score more, Jokic will likely be willing to accept the challenge.
Jokic's EuroBasket play may not directly impact 2025-26 NBA MVP voting, but it could be indicative of what is to come during the new season. And if Nikola Jokic decides to become an even more aggressive scorer, opposing NBA defenses will be in serious trouble. He will never abandon his elite passing, but Jokic is almost impossible to contain when he finds his rhythm offensively.