Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic is once again in All-Star form after winning his very first MVP last season. While he does have stiff competition to win the prestigious award in 2021/22 in the likes of Steph Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Kevin Durant, The Joker simply can't be counted out to repeat.

Here are 3 reasons Jokic should be a favorite to win MVP for the second year in a row.

3. He does everything at a high level

Jokic is one of the most versatile bigs the NBA has ever seen. He scores at all three levels, facilitates like a point guard, and grabs rebounds like nobody's business. This season, Jokic is showing out on a nightly basis, averaging 25.9 points, 13.9 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game. While his points and dimes are down slightly, the Nuggets center is actually shooting the ball better right now than last season, posting a 61% effective field goal clip.

The Joker is literally unstoppable, no matter the opponent. On Wednesday night, he erupted for 49 points in an overtime win against the Clippers but he also had 14 boards and 10 assists, setting up the game-winning three from Aaron Gordon with a mind-boggling cross-court pass. His vision for a big is off the charts and even though Jokic isn't the most athletic around, he always finds a way to either score at will or get his teammates involved with open looks at the basket.

2. Carrying the Nuggets without key players

The Nuggets probably have no right being in a playoff spot right now given how depleted their roster is. Without Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr, their next-best players to The Joker, Denver is still in sixth place with a 23-20 record. Why? Because of Jokic's ability to put the team on his back every single game. Sure, there are some other pieces who have done their part, including Will Barton and Aaron Gordon, but The Joker's consistency is the number one reason why the Nuggets actually have a chance at making the postseason.

The reigning MVP has scored more than 20 points in every single game in 2021/22 except for five. In the process, Jokic has shown out for 30+ on eight different occasions, notching 10 triple-doubles as well. He might be a big, but The Joker is the player who makes the Nuggets click. The fact that Denver isn't out of contention is impressive in itself. Jokic is keeping them afloat while showcasing his brilliance every single night and making it look easy.

1. Jokic has improved in other areas

If you thought it was wild in itself that Jokic could average over 20 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists per contest, he's even gotten better in other aspects compared to his MVP campaign in 2020/21. The Joker is averaging more steals per game, shooting more threes (although the clip has dropped from 38% to 36%), and is draining his two-pointers at a career-best 63%. He's also really improved defensively, which might not show on the stat sheet, but it's very important to the ultimate success of the Nuggets.

It's a shame that Denver is dealing with so many absences because the MVP award is usually awarded to a player on a contender. But if Nikola Jokic can get the Nuggets into the postseason as a top-five seed while continuing to terrorize his foes in every way imaginable, there's little doubt he will be a serious candidate to take home Most Valuable Player again.