When Chris Marlowe mentioned Nikola Jokic’s average statline for the month of January, I was caught off guard by how total his domination has been: 25 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists per game. Those are MVP-esque numbers, if we’re being honest with ourselves. Nuggets fans (and Serbs) have been trying to turn the two-man MVP race (Harden vs. Giannis) into a three-man MVP race, but it wasn’t until just now that I realized that they were actually being serious and not just being blind Jokic worshipers.
Jokic’s case for MVP would be a lot stronger if he had played better in November. In those fifteen games, he averaged a measly 14 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists per game. Those are okay numbers, but not anywhere near MVP numbers. Those aren’t even All-Star numbers in the West. An MVP will play consistently well throughout the whole season, and Jokic hasn’t done that. He would have to carry his January numbers forward through the end of the season if he wants to be taken seriously as an MVP candidate, and even then it probably wouldn’t be enough. However, Finals MVP is a distinct possibility for him if he plays this well when the Nuggets are playing the Bucks in the finals.
Yeah, I went there. I went there and I’m staying there. No jokes. No tricks. Bucks-Nuggets Finals matchup. Book it. No matter who wins, I’d be happy.