Nikola Jokić
Nikola Jokić has spent the last several years redefining dominance in the NBA, and his latest performance only reinforces why he remains at the heart of the MVP conversation.
In a commanding display against the Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder, Jokić put up an astounding stat line: 35 points on 15-of-20 shooting, 18 rebounds, eight assists, a steal, and a block—all while committing just one turnover in 40 minutes. His efforts propelled the Denver Nuggets to a crucial 140-127 victory, splitting their back-to-back series against OKC.
Yet, despite the ongoing MVP race between him and Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jokić remains characteristically indifferent to the discussion. The Serbian big man, known for his unassuming demeanor, reflected not on awards but on his growth as a player.
“This is my third or fourth year in a row [in MVP contention], so I’m really—I don’t know. I cannot control it,” Jokić told reporters. “Obviously, I think I’m playing the best basketball of my life. So if that’s enough, it’s enough. If not, [Gilgeous-Alexander] deserves it. He’s really amazing.”
Given his already historic resume, Jokić’s assertion is bold. He is one of only nine players in NBA history to have won three MVP awards, including legends like Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and LeBron James. However, the numbers suggest he might be right—this could be his best season yet.
A statistical masterpiece
Jokić is reaching career highs across the board, averaging 28.9 points, 13 rebounds, and 10.5 assists per game. That puts him in exclusive company, on pace to become just the third player in NBA history—alongside Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook—to average a triple-double for a season.
His efficiency is even more staggering: a career-best 43% from beyond the arc and an elite actual shooting percentage of 66.2%.
While his 70.1% actual shooting percentage from 2022-23 remains unmatched, his increased usage rate this season makes his current efficiency even more impressive. His offensive responsibility has grown, yet his ability to generate elite scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates has only flourished.
His playmaking has never been sharper. According to Second Spectrum, Jokić is creating 27.2 points per game through career—high assists. He’s also setting screens that generate 10.6 points per game, another personal best. Altogether, factoring in his scoring and assists, Jokić is responsible for an astonishing 65.8 points per 36 minutes, which defines his offensive brilliance.
Advanced analytics back up his case further. His estimated plus-minus places him at a league-leading +7.8 points per 100 possessions. His 32.3 player efficiency rating (PER) is near his career-best mark of 32.8 from his 2021-22 MVP campaign. His .316 win shares per 48 minutes would rank among the top 10 in NBA history.
To put that in perspective, Gilgeous-Alexander’s .315 win shares would be 11th all-time—further highlighting just how tight this MVP race is.
The engine of Denver’s dominance
The Nuggets’ offensive potency with Jokić on the floor is staggering. Denver is scoring a blistering 125.8 points per 100 possessions with their superstar big man in the lineup, the most efficient mark of his tenure in Colorado. Jokić’s ability to dismantle defenses, regardless of their strength, is a testament to his unrivaled impact on the game.
He orchestrated a masterclass against Oklahoma City’s vaunted defense, shooting 61% from the field, 56% from three, and 90% from the line.
“We didn’t win much [before Monday] against the top teams,” Jokić admitted postgame. “Hopefully, we can show ourselves that we can be good when we need it the most.”
With Jokić at the helm, the Nuggets have every reason to believe they can. His blend of scoring, playmaking, and efficiency is an anomaly in basketball history, and even as he remains unfazed by the MVP chatter, the numbers tell a different story—one that suggests he may be reaching the pinnacle of his already legendary career.
As head coach Michael Malone put it, “If you didn’t know that Nikola won three MVPs, and I put Player A and Player B on paper, and you had no idea that the guy who’s averaging a triple-double, the guy who’s top-three in the major statistical categories [had already won three] … he wins the MVP 10 times out of 10. And if you don’t think so, you guys are all bulls****ing.”
Whether Jokić captures his fourth MVP or not, one thing is undeniable: he’s playing at a level that cements his place among the greatest players the game has ever seen. And for the Denver Nuggets, their title hopes remain as strong as ever.