By Nikola Miloradovic / info@eurohoops.net
Despite dealing with elbow issues, Jokic refused to sit out the second game of the back-to-back against the Thunder, especially after his team lost the first matchup. As expected, he dominated and led the Denver Nuggets to an important victory, securing second place in the Western Conference standings.
Jokic was two assists shy of another impressive triple-double and is currently in the top three of the NBA for points, rebounds, and assists, a feat never before accomplished for an entire season. He’s on track to become only the second player since 1962 to average a triple-double throughout the season.
Once again, he has a strong argument in the MVP race, which is arguably between him and Oklahoma’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander this season.
“This is my third or fourth year in a row, so I’m really — I don’t know. I cannot control it. Obviously, I think I’m playing the best basketball of my life. So if that’s enough, it’s enough. If not, the guy deserves it. He’s really amazing,” said Jokic.
In his own way, the Joker explained why he didn’t want to miss the rematch against the Thunder.
“Because if I don’t play, then I’m gonna work out with (strength coach) Felipe (Eichenberger), and that’s much harder than playing.”
His head coach, Michael Malone, believes Jokic’s biggest obstacle in the MVP race is the fact that he has already won the award three times in the last four years.
“Obviously, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a great player, and if he wins his first MVP, he’s deserving of that. My thing is this: If you didn’t know that Nikola won three MVPs, and I put Player A and Player B on paper… the guy that was averaging a triple-double, the guy who is top-three in the three major statistical categories, things that no one has ever done — he wins the MVP 10 times out of 10. And if you don’t think so, I think you guys are all bulls—ting,” Malone said.