Assist King + Rebound King! Nuggets Back on Track, MVP Race May Lose All Suspense

In the NBA, there are few players who can redefine what is possible on the court in the way that Nikola Jokić does. The Denver Nuggets’ superstar, who has become synonymous with triple-doubles and dominant all-around play, is once again rewriting the record books and making the MVP race look like a one-horse race. After a rough start to the season, the Nuggets have bounced back, and Jokić has been at the heart of their resurgence. In their 135-122 victory over the Miami Heat, Jokić not only showcased his usual brilliance but further solidified his claim as the frontrunner for this year’s MVP award.

For the Nuggets, the road to recovery has not been easy. Much like the defending champions from last season, the Heat, Denver faced its own challenges early in the 2023-2024 campaign. The team struggled with losses to the Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Clippers, as well as injuries to key players like Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon. The team was also dealing with roster adjustments and trying to find its rhythm after the summer departures of some key contributors. But as the season has progressed, Denver has slowly started to find its form, and with Jokić leading the charge, they’ve now won four consecutive games, lifting their record to 6-3 and returning to fifth place in the Western Conference.

The stark contrast between the two teams in this matchup—Miami and Denver—was evident. While the Heat have been struggling with roster turnover, injuries to key players, and a drop in overall form, the Nuggets' struggles seem like a mere hiccup when compared to the transcendent abilities of Jokić. His play in the victory over Miami was nothing short of historic. In just three quarters, Jokić finished with a triple-double: 30 points, 11 rebounds, and 14 assists, along with two steals. He played 40 minutes, shooting an incredible 11-13 from the field, 1-1 from three, and 7-7 from the free-throw line, finishing the game with a true shooting percentage of over 93%. The Nuggets' efficiency and dominance when Jokić is on the court are staggering—when he is in the game, the Nuggets' offense runs at an astounding 125.0 efficiency rating per 100 possessions, with a net rating of +10.7. Without him on the floor, however, the Nuggets' offensive efficiency drops to a miserable 81.2, and they get outscored by 26.1 points per 100 possessions.

Jokić’s impact is more than just raw stats. It’s the way he influences every aspect of the game. His ability to orchestrate the offense, score efficiently, and dominate the glass is unparalleled. In fact, the numbers speak for themselves. Through nine games this season, Jokić has posted five triple-doubles and two 40-point performances. In every game, he’s played a major role in Denver’s success, often being the one to carry them to victory. For example, against the Thunder, Jokić recorded a triple-double with 16 points, 12 rebounds, and 13 assists. In a win against the Clippers, he dropped 41 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists. His ability to fill up the stat sheet consistently has been one of the driving forces behind Denver's rise back to playoff contention.

In terms of overall numbers, Jokić is currently averaging 28.9 points, 13.1 rebounds, and 11.1 assists per game. He leads the league in rebounds and assists and is ranked fifth in scoring. What is even more remarkable is his efficiency: shooting 55.6% from the field, 52.8% from three, and 82.3% from the free-throw line. His true shooting percentage is an otherworldly 65.6%. Jokić has improved even further from last season—particularly in his three-point shooting, which has seen a major boost after a rough postseason last year where he shot just 26.4% from deep. This season, he’s shooting 52.8% from three, doubling his accuracy from the year before. This dramatic improvement has made him an even more dangerous offensive weapon, one that forces defenses to respect every aspect of his game.

Looking at Jokić’s impact on advanced statistics, the numbers continue to paint a picture of utter dominance. He currently leads the league in Player Efficiency Rating (PER) at 31.6, with Anthony Davis trailing closely behind at 30.5. In Box Plus-Minus (BPM), Jokić’s mark of 13.9 is significantly higher than second-place Jayson Tatum’s 9.1. When it comes to Win Shares (WS), Jokić again leads the pack with 2.1, just ahead of Domantas Sabonis at 1.9. Jokić’s per-48-minute Win Shares (WS/48) is 0.300, comfortably ahead of Sabonis (0.281). His Value Over Replacement Player (VORP) is 1.3, with Tatum second at 1.0. These numbers reflect not only Jokić’s personal brilliance but also his unmatched ability to elevate his team.

The race for the MVP is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in recent memory, and Nikola Jokić has firmly placed himself at the top of the conversation. While he currently sits third on the first official MVP rankings, trailing Davis and Tatum, it’s clear that Jokić’s all-around play and consistency give him a strong case for the award. As the Nuggets continue to rise in the standings, Jokić’s case for MVP only becomes stronger. If the Nuggets’ current trajectory holds and they continue to win at a high rate, it seems inevitable that Jokić will be in the running for his third MVP award.

This season could mark a milestone for Jokić—he could become the first player to win four MVP awards in five years. That would be an unprecedented achievement, and if the Nuggets continue their strong play and Jokić maintains his current level of performance, the MVP race may lose all suspense. His combination of scoring, rebounding, playmaking, and efficiency is unmatched in the league, and it’s clear that he is not only the best player on the Nuggets but also one of the most impactful players in NBA history.

For Jokić, the biggest challenge now is maintaining his current level of play and keeping the Nuggets on track as one of the top teams in the West. With Murray and Gordon battling injuries, and the team still adjusting to some changes in the roster, the Nuggets will need Jokić to keep carrying them. If he does, there’s little doubt that MVP will once again be his to lose.