All eyes are on Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets after the devastating news that his point guard Jamal Murray will be out for the remainder of the season. Murray tore his ACL earlier this week, which now put the spotlight on the league's leading MVP candidate.

“He's got to be the guy that kind of rights the ship, puts the team on his back,” head coach Michael Malone said of the Nuggets star, via Harrison Wind of DNVR Sports. “Because that's what MVP's do. And in my humble opinion I think he is the MVP this season.”

Jokic has had another monster campaign this season. He has been averaging career-highs across the board and has kept the Nuggets afloat in the middle of the Western Conference playoff picture. Now that his partner in crime is out, The Joker will have to step his game up even more to make sure they stay in contention.

The Nuggets have been on a roll this past month before stumbling into some adversity this week. Jokic has been at the thick of things and Malone is hoping that his superstar can step up to the plate and bring Denver to where they want to be.

“I really think lately he's allowing that frustration of the whistle to really get to him, and it's understandable. I understand and can appreciate,” Malone added. “Now with no Jamal and 18 games to go, we need the best version of everybody. But especially Nikola.”

With the Los Angeles Lakers and the Portland Trail Blazers breathing down their necks, it's up to Nikola Jokic to find his next gear and take this shorthanded Nuggets squad to a Top-4 finish in the West.