Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray thinks it's downright foolish people are still debating who deserves the 2020-21 NBA MVP Award. Murray's teammate Nikola Jokic would seem to be the clear favorite. But longtime NBA center and current analyst Kendrick Perkins feels otherwise.
Perkins tweeted Monday he felt Phoenix Suns point guard Chris Paul should be the favorite for MVP. That prompted a response from Murray, who seemingly deemed Big Perk's opinion to be laughable.
Omg lol…. YOU carry on
— Jamal Murray (@BeMore27) May 3, 2021
On the one hand, Paul has been an enormous driver for a Suns team currently tied atop the Western Conference standings.
The “Point God” has been terrific in his first year in the desert, averaging 16.5 points, 8.8 assists and 4.5 rebounds on 49.4 percent shooting from the field and 38.4 percent shooting from beyond the arc. He has also had a transformative effect on Phoenix's defense, as the Suns rank fifth in the NBA in defensive rating.
But it's becoming incredibly difficult to find reasons why Nikola Jokic is not the most deserving player.
The 26-year-old center is putting up outrageous numbers, averaging 26.2 points, 10.9 rebounds and 8.5 assists on 56.8 percent shooting from the field, including 41.2 percent shooting from beyond the arc. He has also been a defensive playmaker, averaging 1.4 steals to go with 0.7 blocks per contest.
Perhaps more importantly, Jokic has been available. He has played every game for the Nuggets, which has been quite imperative especially after Murray's season-ending injury. Nikola Jokic handily leads the NBA in win shares (14.0) and box-plus minus (11.6). He also dwarfs other contenders in value over replacement player (7.7) and holds an edge in player efficiency rating (31.1).
The likes of Paul, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Stephen Curry all have cases for the award. But, as Murray suggests, it's absurd not to believe Jokic is the clear favorite.
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