Nuggets news: Nikola Jokic's hilarious reaction to big man MVP this year

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic remains to be one of the strong contenders in the ongoing race for the MVP award in the 2020-21 season.

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic remains to be one of the strong contenders in the ongoing race for the MVP award in the 2020-21 season. He hilariously spoke on his candidacy and joked that he is just glad that big men are still in the running for the league's top individual honor, especially in today's game, per Mike Singer.

Nikola Jokic, on the possibility a big man could win MVP this year: “I’m just glad … we’re still popular.”

— Mike Singer (@msinger) April 20, 2021

The NBA MVP award has already been dominated by guards and forwards as the style of basketball has drastically changed over the past decade. In fact, San Antonio Spurs great Tim Duncan, who often called himself a power forward, was the last center to win the award in back-to-back seasons back in 2002 and 2003.

In the 2020-21 season, Jokic is on a tear as he is currently averaging 26.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 8.8 assists through 57 games played. With Nuggets guard Jamal Murray already ruled out for the remainder of their campaign due to a torn ACL injury, the Serbian center is expected to shoulder a heavier load in their coming games.

Meanwhile, another dominant big man in Joel Embiid from the Philadelphia 76ers is also vying for the MVP award with averages of 29.9 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists through 38 contests. With huge numbers being produced by the two front liners, this season's MVP honor would definitely see a tight race among its top contenders.

More than getting individual awards, Nikola Jokic definitely wants to prioritize team success as he aims to build on their 37-20 record and further climb the Western Conference standings before heading to the postseason. Despite this, the possibility of him winning the award would certainly prove that big men are still playing an important role in today's brand of basketball.