The Ringer’s Zach Lowe put out an NBA Christmas Day recap podcast, and one of his “hot takes” was that Nikola Jokic has passed Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the MVP race. SGA, of course, won the award last year, leading the Thunder to the title in dominant fashion.
With OKC coming into the season as massive favorites to repeat, and Shai picking up right where he left off, a second straight MVP award seemed like a foregone conclusion, especially with his team threatening to win 70+ games.
But recently, that has all changed. The Thunder have looked very beatable lately, dropping three games to the Spurs in the past few weeks, with another loss to the Wolves mixed in. They still lead the West, with a 26-5 record, but they’ve gone just 2-4 in their last six games.
The Spurs are just 2.5 games back in the standings, with the Nuggets also breathing down their necks, just 3.5 games out of first place. The gap being so narrow could make all the difference in the MVP race, as a big part of his campaign is the way his team has demolished the rest of the league.
But with things being closer to even, Jokic’s resume starts to look even more impressive, and mixed with Denver’s success, it actually puts him in the driver's seat to win his fourth MVP Award, something done by only five players in the history of the sport.
4th MVP Award would grow Joker’s GOAT case
The only players with four or more MVPs are Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (6), Bill Russell (5), Michael Jordan (5), Wilt Chamberlain (4), and LeBron James (4). Those are all NBA icons who are considered to be in the top 5 or 10 players to ever play basketball by any metric.
A fourth MVP at age 31 would absolutely put Joker in that conversation, and his stats have him above some of the other legends mentioned. The key at that point would all come down to winning. All of the other players near the top of the pantheon are multi-time champions, with most winning it all several times.
Jokic has the 2023 title, and lack of team success is hardly his fault, but still, to be accepted as the GOAT, or a top five player of all time - something that is well within reach - he is going to need to add some rings.
The Nuggets have a great shot to get there this season, and that should be the case for the next few years, but it’s not going to be easy. OKC looks vulnerable, but they’re still a juggernaut, and the main reason they look human is because of what’s happening with Wemby and the team in San Antonio.
But if the Joker can overcome all that, and lead Denver to another championship or two while securing a fourth, and maybe even fifth MVP someday? All bets are off.