Nikola Jokic's MVP Case

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Nikola Jokic is a force to be reckoned with on the basketball court, and as the season progresses, he is becoming the clear front runner for the MVP award. The Denver Nuggets center is having an incredible year, and his statistics speak for themselves.

First, let's take a look at Jokic's averages for the season. In terms of points per game, he is averaging 24.7, which puts him sixteenth in the league. He is also averaging 10.9 rebounds per game, which is good for 5th in the league, and 9.8 assists per game, which is second in the league.

Though this may not stick out as MVP numbers, Jokic's impact on the game goes beyond just his traditional statistics. He leads the league in player efficiency rating (PER) at 31.8, and his win shares per 48 minutes is also the best in the league at .315.

To put Jokic's statistics into perspective, let's compare them to some of the other players who are in the MVP conversation. Below is a table that shows their averages for the season:

PlayerPoints Per GameRebounds Per GameAssists Per Game
Nikola Jokic24.710.99.8
Luka Doncic33.898.8
Joel Embiid33.49.84.3
Giannis Antetokounmpo3111.95.3
Kevin Durant29.76.75.3

Jokic's numbers do not completely stand out compared to these other MVP candidates, but his record breaking PER stands out historically. Also, the Nuggets are currently the 1 seed in the West so team success is another major factor to his MVP case.

But Jokic's impact on the game goes beyond just his statistics, his passing vision and efficiency is something that put him on a different level. He has a unique ability to find the open man, often making jaw-dropping passes that lead to easy buckets for his teammates. His assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.9 is also the second best in the league among players who average at least 4 assists per game, which is a testament to how careful and precise he is with the ball.

Nikola Jokic is having an incredible season and is the clear front runner for the MVP award. His statistics, efficiency, and passing vision make him one of the best players in the league, and he is a huge reason why the Denver Nuggets are currently one of the top teams in the Western Conference.

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