The Denver Nuggets are contenders. While the Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, and Oklahoma City Thunder have been the talk of the Western Conference this year, the Nuggets have crept up the standings. Their blueprint to winning has been team ball, but that doesn't mean the spotlight can't be focused on one player: Nikola Jokic.
This season, Jokic has averaged 20.4 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 7.7 assists while shooting .507 percent from the floor in 31.5 minutes per game.
In comparing other MVP candidates such as James Harden and Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jokic is far behind in the race. However, his numbers only tell half the story. While most MVP Awards will often go to teams with a winning season, the Nuggets' success has proven why Jokic is in the running and deserves to be mentioned with the game's best.
The Nuggets haven't been to the playoffs since the 2012-13 season. Their highest win total over that span came last season with 46. Although they still missed the playoffs, the foundation for success was laid and it all started with Jokic's play.
What works against Jokic is that he's not as dynamic as Giannis or Harden. Is he a dominant player? Yes, but compared to the step-back of Harden and the coast-to-coast brilliance of The Greek Freak, Jokic is not on that level. What he does have are the leadership abilities that Harden lacks and that Giannis is still learning to harness.
The Rockets are one of the elite teams in the NBA, but winning a title will elude them until Harden becomes a complete player. Yes, any player averaging close to 35 points a game is well deserving of MVP, but is he as complete as Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant? Giannis is still learning the game and he has the tools to possibly be better than LeBron, Jordan, and Bryant.
Then, we can take into account the importance of Jokic. Yes, after comparing his numbers to those of Andre Drummond, Anthony Davis, and Joel Embiid, one might think he's not even the best big man in the game. But a closer look will still reveal his importance to one of the top three teams in the NBA.
Take away Jokic, and the Denver Nuggets are the 8th seed at best, or even worse.
Embiid can lean on Jimmy Butler and Ben Simmons if he's having an off night. Anthony Davis, despite the struggles of the New Orleans Pelicans, still has a former All-Star in Jrue Holiday, a double-double machine in Julius Randle, and let's not forget how Davis still struggled with DeMarcus Cousins lined up beside him last season. But who has Jokic's back?
The Nuggets are a team on the rise built on young talent. They have seven players averaging double figures this season. But, who are they? Harden can rely on the services of veteran help from Chris Paul, P.J. Tucker, Eric Gordon, and Clint Capela. Giannis Antetokounmpo has Eric Bledsoe, Khris Middleton, and former All-Star Brook Lopez.
For Jokic, the help has come in all shapes, sizes, and ages. Paul Millsap is a former All-Star, but after that, the talent pool is filled with players in their early 20s. With the injury bug hitting Denver hard this season, their shooting guard position has been a revolving door. The importance for that is, a center with good perimeter player on the wings will have room to operate on the block.
Now, with the Nuggets healthy, voters will get a true glimpse at just how valuable he is, not only to Denver, but the NBA as a whole. On the year, Jokic is leading the Nuggets in scoring, rebounding, and assists. How many players his size can say that?
At this moment, the award is Harden's to lose. There's no debating what he has accomplished this season, but the Nuggets are by far the surprise team of the 2018-19 season. With that said, it's only right that their leader takes center stage in the MVP race.
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