Nikola Jokić has firmly established himself as one of the best players in the modern NBA over the last few seasons. His remarkable court vision and offense prowess have turned the Denver Nuggets into a juggernaut. They even won the 2023 NBA championship on the back of a record-breaking Jokic performance. Fans of the Nuggets would hope for more of the same this postseason too, with Jokic continuing to perform at an All-NBA level.

The 29-year-old Serb continues to mesmerize fans with his remarkable basketballing abilities week in and week out. And this season is no different. Jokic has averaged 26.6 points, 12.4 rebounds and 9 assists per game. Furthermore, with only two regular-season games remaining, Jokic has led Denver to the first spot in the Western Conference standings. His outstanding form, coupled with the Nuggets being the first seed, has made Nikola Jokić the 2024 MVP award frontrunner. Even former Warrior Gilbert Arenas shares the same sentiments.

During a recent episode of the Nightcap podcast, co-host Shannon Sharpe claimed that the MVP race was over after Jokic’s 41-point performance against the Timberwolves. To which Arenas replied by saying, “When Embiid went down, it was over. If this was last year or the year before, we wouldn’t even be questioning who the MVP is… He earned this one.” Gilbert Arenas’ remarks came just days after he called Nikola Jokić “the worst MVP winner.” He said, “Jokic is probably, statistically, when it comes to overall game, the worst MVP winner,” Arenas said. “He’s the worst MVP winner in the last 40 years.”

Arenas’ comments about Nikola Jokić took many fans by surprise, given that Jokic has arguably been the NBA’s top player for the past few seasons, winning the title for two consecutive years (2021, 2022). Jokic’s 2023 title win with the Nuggets alongside Finals MVP, further cemented that assessment. But could winning the 2024 MVP award be the moment that silences Jokic’s critics once and for all?

Players who could challenge Nikola Jokić for the 2024 MVP

By leading the Denver Nuggets to the first seed, Nikola Jokić has proven that he still remains one of the best players in the NBA. Furthermore, he has also notched up remarkable numbers, almost averaging a triple-double for the season. Bookmakers in Las Vegas have declared Jokic the favorite to win the 2024 MVP award, offering -3030 odds.

However, he still faces some competition from fellow European Luka Dončić. Statistically, Luka has endured an even more productive season than Jokic. He has averaged 33.9 points, 9.8 assists, and 9.2 rebounds in 70 games this season. However, Jokic has the upper hand on Luka, with the Mavericks currently occupying the fifth seed. Despite this, Luka remains Joker’s closest competitor.

Apart from Luka, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the OKC Thunder stands as the next most likely candidate to prevent Jokic from securing his third NBA MVP award, with odds of +3000. However, contenders like Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks, who were once in the running, have faded as the regular season nears its end.

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