The Most Valuable Player award is the most coveted regular season honor, and currently, it’s a three-man race, all from the fiercely competitive Western Conference. Nikola Jokic holds the lead, with Luka Doncic closely following. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander trails in third place, his chances to win the award seeming slim. It’s worth noting that the Thunder have secured this award twice in the last decade (Kevin Durant in 2014 and Russell Westbrook in 2017). As we enter this crucial phase of the regular season where each victory counts, and with all three MVP frontrunners winning their recent games, it’s the perfect time to examine each player’s case for the MVP title.
The Case for Nikola Jokic:
Photo Cred: Eurohoops
In his most recent game, Jokic displayed an impressive stat line of 26 points, 18 rebounds, 16 assists, and one steal during a dominant 130-101 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. For the past four years, Nikola Jokic has consistently been considered one of the NBA’s top players. He consistently achieves triple-doubles and currently has his team as the second seed in the Western Conference, just half a game behind the first seed. If his team secures the top spot, Jokic stands a good chance of claiming his third MVP title in the last four years. His current stats stand at 26.1 (PTS), 12.3 (REB), 9 (AST), 0.9 (Blk), and 1.3 (STL), numbers that are in line with his MVP seasons, all while showing improvement in limiting turnovers. The Nuggets have a 2-1 record without Jokic this season.
The Case for Luka Doncic:
Photo Cred: SI
Last night, Luka Doncic exploded for 47 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists, sinking 9 three-pointers and adding two steals against the red-hot Houston Rockets. Before this game, the Rockets had been on an 11-game winning streak, which Luka and the Mavericks halted with a triumphant 125-107 victory. Luka is currently averaging 34 (PTS), 9.1 (REB), 9.8 (AST), 0.5 (BLK), and 1.5 (STL) per game. These numbers in points, assists, and rebounds haven’t been seen since the days of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain. If Luka maintains these stats, he could achieve a historic feat as no player has ever averaged 34 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists in a season. The Mavericks hold a 3-6 record without Luka this season.
The Case for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander:
Photo Cred: SI
In his recent game, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a relatively modest performance by his standards, scoring 19 points, grabbing two rebounds, and dishing out three assists, along with one steal. However, he redeemed himself with a game-winning shot in a 113-112 win against the Knicks. Shai is currently recognized as the best two-way player in the league, averaging 30.3 (PTS), 5.5 (REB), 6.3 (AST), 0.9 (BLK), and 2.1 (STL). He ranks third in the league in scoring and first in steals. While he has put up impressive numbers, he’s not quite at the same level as Luka and Jokic. The Thunder hold a 1-2 record without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander this season.
My Prediction:
I predict that Luka Doncic will clinch his first-ever MVP award this season. The Mavericks have won 11 of their last 12 games with Luka leading the charge. Luka’s numbers are unprecedented, and he has steered his team out of the play-in position, currently standing at the 5th seed with a chance to move up to the 4th seed. If Luka and the Mavericks continue their stellar performances, the NBA voters will likely select the first-ever Slovenian MVP.
