After yet another outstanding performance on Sunday, Denver Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic was treated to a host of MVP chants by the adoring home crowd, as he helped his team secure a 116-113 victory against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Asked about his reaction to the Nuggets supporters' suggestion that he ought to be a frontrunner to this season's MVP race, Jokic responded in true Joker fashion.
Jokic on if he’s starting to get used to the MVP chants: “Yeah, but I missed free-throws when they started. I made the last one. I think I missed two when they started chanting. I like…Thank you!.”
— Harrison Wind (@HarrisonWind) January 14, 2019
Jokic was obviously appreciative of how the crowd has recognized his outstanding season thus far, but the 23-year-old also explained that the cheering served as somewhat of a jinx for him.
Jokic had a monster night on Sunday dropping a 40-point, 10-rebound double-double, along with four three-pointers and eight assists. The 6-foot-10 Serbian went 15-of-23 from the field and 6-of-8 from the field. In his mind, the two missed free throws may have been a result of all the premature MVP chants.
Nevertheless, Jokic has definitely been playing on an MVP level all season long. Sunday's performance was only the latest of undeniably the best season of his career thus far. Jokic is currently putting up averages of 19.7 points (on 50.6 percent shooting), 1.2 three-pointers, 10.2 rebounds, 7.5 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.7 blocks, and 3.2 turnovers in 31.4 minutes of action.
These are definitely eye-popping numbers for Jokic, but more importantly, he has led the Nuggets to the best record in the Western Conference to date. Denver are currently at 29-13, and have somehow held off the juggernaut that is the Golden State Warriors, who continue to be a half game behind Jokic and co.
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