SUMMARY
- Nikola Jokic is predicted to win his 3rd MVP award this season.
- Fans opine that Luka Doncic Giannis Antetokounmpo deserve the award more.
After noticing that Nikola Jokic remains at the top of the most recent MVP straw poll, fans have mixed feelings and opinions about the list. As most members of the basketball community should be aware, Jokic is the franchise superstar for the Denver Nuggets and the reigning defending Finals MVP.
Jokic has already won 2 regular season MVPs over the past 3 seasons and recently added a Finals MVP to his impressive resume. Since he has been playing at a high level this season, ESPN placed him at the very top of their mock poll.
While there is no denying the greatness and impact that Nikola has on the court, some fans feel that other legitimate and more deserving candidates have not been ranked as high as they should have been. That said, a closer look at this situation is certainly required.
Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets currently hold the 4th spot in the Western Conference
Since there are still around 30 games left in the regular season to be played, it might be too soon to draw up mock polls and try to predict which player will end up winning the MVP award. The list made by ESPN had Nikola Jokic in the first position, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at 2nd, Giannis Antetokounmpo in the 3rd spot, and Luka Doncic in the 4th.
Nikola Jokic is the favorite to win MVP according to ESPN’s NBA MVP straw poll
(Via https://t.co/Gq8JOciiga) pic.twitter.com/EHi1BleQkn
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 13, 2024
Although Nikola Jokic has been playing at an elite level this season, his team hasn’t been doing as well as Nuggets fans might have hoped. At the moment, Denver holds a record of 36 wins and 18 losses, giving them the 4th spot in the Western Conference.
Jokic has been averaging 26.3 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 9 assists per game. While those numbers are very impressive, fans should remember that Jokic averaged 27.1 points and 13.8 rebounds when he won his 2nd MVP in a row.
Fans opine that Giannis Antetokounmpo or Luka Doncic should win the MVP award
Two other players who have been ranked significantly lower in the MVP conversation when compared to Nikola Jokic are Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luka Doncic. Since Giannis and the Bucks recently outplayed and dominated the Nuggets in their last game, fans opined that placing Jokic ahead of Antetokounmpo was not the right decision.
Giannis just destroyed Jokic and this is the voting results?
Flawed.
— UK Bucks (@UK_Bucks) February 13, 2024
On the other hand, Luka Doncic is averaging 34.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 9.6 assists per game this season. Those numbers are the best out of all the stars in the NBA at the moment in terms of scoring per game. Therefore, having him in the 4th position could be considered a snub.
How is Luka 4th 😭
— Divvy.Bet (@DivvyBet) February 13, 2024
He wont be by the end of the season. Luka is coming for him to claim the trophy as the rightful owner
— Luka Dogcic 77🏀🐕🎸 (@321_Contact) February 13, 2024
In any case, the final stretch of the 2023-2024 NBA season will decide which of these players end up winning the MVP award. Since Giannis and Jokic have won the award twice each, one could argue that it is time for Luka Doncic to win.