Jokic Won't Be MVP, Here's Why!

This outcome appears increasingly likely as journalists publicly reveal their votes. The majority have placed Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the top spot, positioning him as the frontrunner for the MVP title. According to current projections, the Serbian center won't even secure second place, instead landing in third, behind Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs.

It seems almost unbelievable that a player averaging a triple-double with 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 10.7 assists per game won't be among the top two candidates. For comparison, Shai is averaging 31.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 6.6 assists, while Wembanyama averages 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 3.1 assists.

Nikola Jokic himself has repeatedly stated that individual awards don't interest him and that winning championships is his priority. The path to another championship ring will be exceptionally challenging. Their first playoff opponent is Minnesota, a team that traditionally poses problems for the Nuggets.

Should they overcome that hurdle, potential opponents include San Antonio with Wembanyama, and in the conference finals, Oklahoma and Shai. Of course, these are all just predictions; the true state of affairs will be revealed on the court.

While it's true that Wembanyama is the best defender among the candidates, the narrative that Jokic doesn't play defense is inaccurate, as confirmed by data published by "ESPN." Since 2020, Nikola has been among the league leaders in contested shots, meaning attempts to disrupt or block opposing players' shots.

During that period, the Serbian center impacted 857 shots, with opponents shooting 44.3% in those situations. For comparison, Rudy Gobert, who has been considered the league's best defender for years, contested 739 shots, with a slightly better opponent field goal percentage of 42.5%.

Despite these figures, many analysts in America continue to insist on the argument that Jokic doesn't play defense.