In the first game of the Minnesota Timberwolves v Denver Nuggets series, all eyes were on Nikola Jokic, who recently won his third NBA MVP award. Some critics doubted his MVP status in the past due to his lack of postseason success, but his performance this season silenced any doubts. Jokic joins an elite group of players to have won three or more MVP trophies in NBA history.
Jokic’s MVP-worthy stats speak for themselves: averaging 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 9 assists per game, along with shooting 35.9% from the 3-point line and recording 25 triple-doubles. What sets Jokic apart from other superstars is his ability to control the game without dominating the ball. Unlike players like Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who rely heavily on scoring and ball-handling, Jokic orchestrates plays and makes his teammates better.
By pulling the strings of the game, Jokic elevates the performance of his teammates like Aaron Gordon and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. He turns good players into key contributors on a championship-caliber team. Jokic’s unique style of play and ability to impact the game in multiple ways make him a deserving recipient of the MVP award.