Somehow, it's a given in the market that Nikola Jokic cards aren't as hot as they should be. That's a shame because the Denver Nuggets' All-Star has defied expectations by transcending the big man position in the modern NBA. That, and leading his team towards contention and relevancy during the past few seasons.

Although Jokic's accomplishments are worthy of recognition, his stock hasn't reflected that yet. We take a look at how undervalued he is in the market and the outlook of his cards during this season.

Reasons why Nikola Jokic cards deserve more love from the market

It's pretty easy to overlook the Serbian center right now in the NBA. With Stephen Curry holding a masterclass on offense and Chris Paul leading the Phoenix Suns to an impressive winning streak, Jokic's accomplishments aren't really grabbing the headlines recently. Even if that's the case, what the Nuggets' franchise player has done so far is still breathtaking.

Nuggets, Nikola Jokic, NBA MVP

To put things into perspective, Jokic's MVP run last season should be given a second look. In the 72 games he played during the regular season, the Joker averaged a solid 26.4 points per game by connecting 56% from the field, 38% from beyond the arc, and 86% from the free-throw line. He also contributed 10.8 rebounds, 8.3 assists, and 1.3 steals in 34.6 minutes per game.

The biggest takeaway from the previous season was Jokic's advanced stats. His 9.2 offensive box score and 11.7 box plus/minus were first in those two categories while his 2.5 defensive score was among the top in the NBA. Thanks to his unique combination of size, skill, and efficiency, the league rewarded him with the regular season MVP award for running a 72-game campaign that was unheard of for a big man in the modern NBA.

While Jokic's run last season deserves every ounce of respect, his performance now is starting to mimic his MVP campaign. In the 14 games he has played for the Nuggets, the All-Star is averaging 26.4 points on a much-higher efficiency than ever with shooting splits of 59/41/74. He's also adding 13.6 rebounds, 6.4 assists, and 1.2 steals in 32.4 minutes per contest.

But just like last season, Jokic is ahead of the pack when it comes to his advanced stats. The Joker is currently first when it comes to offensive (10), defensive (5), and box plus/minus (15.1) scores. Of course, this is a feat that largely goes unnoticed in the league because of several factors. Some of which include the absence of Denver's staple starters, such as Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr., and Denver's 9-10 record, placing them 9th in the Western Conference right now.

Although the odds are against Mile High City right now, it hasn't stopped Jokic from overachieving for his team. The best example was when Denver faced the Miami Heat a couple of weeks ago, the same match that saw Jokic starting a beef with Markieff Morris. In that contest, the Joker cooly drained 25 points on 71% shooting from the field while adding 15 rebounds, 10 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. His overall game paved the way to a Nuggets' victory that clearly showcased how elite the Serbian is on the court.

With this kind of performance, it's easy to see how high the ceiling of Nikola Jokic cards is in the market right now. Since the season hasn't reached the halfway point yet, there's still some time for the Joker's stock to go up.

The verdict on Nikola Jokic cards in the market

When choosing a stock to invest in, the Joker's stock isn't that high on most collector's lists. Among the Nikola Jokic cards in the market right now, it's his PSA 10 2015 Prizm Silver rookie card that commands the most attention in the hobby. The unfortunate thing is that its value hasn't taken another leap upward since his MVP season.

As of now, the card's value on eBay has slightly gone down from $3,550 last October to $3,383 earlier this month. Compared to Devin Booker, another member of the 2015 Draft Class, his PSA 10 Prizm Silver rookie card is higher with a $4,100 value.

All things considered, Nikola Jokic cards aren't exactly a bad investment right now. With his price currently at a plateau, now is the ideal time to stock up on a future Hall of Famer while prices are relatively low. And with Murray slated to return sometime next year, collectors can expect Jokic to play at a higher gear once the playoff race starts to heat up.