Who’s winning NBA MVP this year? With the regular season heating up, the race is getting intense. Nikola Jokic is once again the frontrunner, chasing his fourth MVP in five years with jaw-dropping numbers—28.9 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.4 assists. But he’s got company. Another star is closing in, still chasing his first MVP after eight seasons—and funny enough, Jokic himself is backing him.

After the Denver Nuggets’ 103-110 loss to the Boston Celtics, Nikola Jokic took part in a Q&A session, where he was asked about Jayson Tatum’s rise in the MVP conversation.

While Jaylen Brown and Al Horford led Boston’s offense with 22 and 19 points, Tatum quietly stuffed the stat sheet with 16 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists.

When asked about “playing against a guy like Jayson” and how he’s been pushing for MVP status in recent years, Jokic didn’t hesitate—he gave Tatum his flowers.

“Beating him? I mean, yeah, I think he’s playing really good, you know. They have a really good system there and he’s really driving with that system” said Jokic. “He’s shooting the ball well, he can do multiple things on the floor, and he’s leading…. he led them last year to the to the championship. So, you know, I think he’s a superstar”.

Despite having made first-team All-NBA in three consecutive seasons, Tatum has never finished within the top three of MVP voting. However, a recent straw poll conducted by ESPN ranked the player at the 4 position. He was placed right behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, and Giannis Antetokounmpo. The previous poll also had Tatum holding the 4 spot, with Jokic leading.

There is no guarantee that Tatum can win MVP. However, he could end up in the 3 spot this time around. After all, his average score of 26.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists has been instrumental in the Boston Celtics’ current 43-18 win record. If all goes well, the team could very well record a two-peat.

Furthermore, Jayson Tatum has a clear path to overtaking Giannis Antetokounmpo in the MVP race, given that the Greek Freak has only played 47 games this season, while Tatum has suited up for 58. If Giannis misses six more games, he’ll become ineligible for the award, giving Tatum an even stronger case. However, despite the favorable odds, the Celtics star isn’t overthinking it.

“Honestly, no,” Jayson Tatum admitted when asked if he feels appreciated for his accomplishments. “If you took the name and the face away from all my accomplishments and you’re just like, ‘This is what this Player A accomplished at 26,’ people would talk about [me] a lot differently.”

Tatum’s frustration likely stems from losing the Eastern Conference Finals MVP and Finals MVP to Jaylen Brown last year. On top of that, he reportedly believes his performance in the 2022 Finals is still held against him, further shaping the narrative around his career.

Nevertheless, the Celtics’ power forward should have some faith. After all, he has the support of not just Nikola Jokic but another basketball legend who represented one of the most brutal NBA rosters of all time.

Isiah Thomas draws a comparison between Jayson Tatum and Kevin Durant: “Tatum’s (at) his own pace”

Isiah Thomas hosted a segment of The State Farm ‘Gametime’ show after the Celtics’ loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The matchup saw Jayson Tatum going on a monstrous run by recording 46 points, 16 rebounds, and 9 assists. Thomas’s co-host, Quentin Richardson praised the Celtics star by saying, “He knows that ‘I’m a bad man in this league, and when I apply myself, ain’t nothing nobody could do to me. And for me, I love to see him getting downhill, going to the basket”.

Richardson believes that JT is “aggressive going”. He is efficient on all three levels of scoring, and he’s taking steps mentally, especially in this season, to being ‘that dude’. This led Thomas to make a unique comparison.

“You know, it sounds like you are talking about a young Kevin Durant,” said the Detroit Pistons legend. “16, 6-11, at this stage, doing all the stuff Durant was doing, Tatum’s (at) his own pace”.

Kevin Durant has walked off with just one MVP title in his 18-year-long NBA career. Despite this, he is regarded today as one of the most experienced and remarkable veterans of the modern NBA. If Jayson Tatum follows his pace, it will guarantee him high respect from the NBA community. MVP titles will follow that respect and success.