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Did Nikola Jokic Deserve the MVP?

The NBA MVP is the most prestigious award for an individual during the regular season. All-time greats have achieved this honor, but not a lot have been able to win it more than once, let alone repeat. Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets has now joined that elite club; beating out Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Despite the voters going with Jokic as MVP, there were tons of skeptics. Some believed that Giannis was the rightful winner, while others picked Embiid as the man for the award. Why is this MVP as controversial as it has been? Did Jokic deserve the MVP? The answer is simple; YES!

It’s Not Just Analytics

Fadeaway World.com

One of the biggest misconceptions about Nikola Jokic’s MVP case is that it is only analytics based. Yes, some of the advanced statistics that are thrown out there are simply not needed. Whether it is VORP, or RAPTOR, they are not accurate depictions on who an MVP truly is. However, some numbers are being ignored to simple highlight the outlandish ones that some media members have pushed. The standard stats that we have all come accustomed to speak volumes in regards of Jokic. He averaged 27 points per game, 13.8 rebounds per game, and 7.9 assists per game. His PER of 32.8 is the highest PER in NBA history for a single season. Then there is being the first player in NBA history to accumulate 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 500 assists. The analytics do not tell the story of how great Jokic was this season.

 

Context Matters

The Spun.com

Going into the season, we all knew that the Denver Nuggets would miss Jamal Murray for majority of the season; if not the entire year. What we didn’t expect was Michael Porter Jr. to only play nine games before being shut down with another back injury. This led to Jokic having to lead a group of players being thrusted into roles that they had not anticipated. The Nuggets finished the season still on track by garnering a record of 48-34 and claiming the sixth seed in the Western Conference. Nikola Jokic did an amazing job as the leader; keeping them out of the play-in tournament. Some argue that Embiid, Giannis, and even Devin Booker should be awarded more for winning more games. However, the context should matter. The Nuggets did not have a single player average more than 15 points per game outside of Jokic. He also was the only one out of the top four MVP candidates to not play with a 2022 All-Star.

Then there are the historical factors that come into play. We see people infuriated over Jokic now having more MVPs than Shaq and Kobe. Context matters in that discussion. 2005 could’ve gone to Shaq, but what other years? Kobe had a legitimate case in 2006, but what years before or after was he robbed of the award? LeBron James to some should have more than four MVPs, but it matters to give the exact times and reasons for why he should have won MVP in a year he didn’t receive the honor. Yes, Jokic is not on the same platform as Shaq or Kobe, but this year’s MVP is not an indictment on the award and it’s history.

 

The Eye Test 

Photo by Ethan Mito/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images

That is what Kendrick Perkins had to say about the award a couple of days ago. The eye test favored Joel Embiid, but somehow Nikola Jokic did not?  If you watch this season and think Jokic does not pass the eye test, then what makes someone pass it? A 49 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists performance should definitely pass everyone’s eye test. Playoff success could be a factor, as that was a topic of discussion due to him not making it out the first-round this postseason. However, he averaged 31 points and 13.2 rebounds in their matchup against the Golden St. Warriors. The eye test does not make sense if someone like Nikola Jokic cannot pass it. The man is the MVP this year and he is a rightful winner.

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NBA Basketball
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Denver NuggetsMVPNikola Jokic

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