Last season, the National Basketball Association had an intense race for the title of the best player of the season. It was attended by two basketball players, two centers – Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers and Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets. Many Phila fans and NBA fans assumed that this would be a new page for Embiid, who would finally receive the best player award, but this did not happen, and Embiid was again left with nothing. Jokic ultimately won the 2022 MVP award, averaging 27.1 points, 13.8 rebounds and 7.9 assists per game on 58% shooting. He also had a Player Efficiency Rating of 32.8, the best in NBA history.
This season, the current MVP is expected to continue to show monstrous statistics and be able to lead Denver to victories. However, there is also the possibility of regression due to the return of Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. Moreover, in the history of the NBA, only three players have previously won three MVPs in a row – Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird and Bill Russell. Triple drinking is a rare feat. Let’s take a look at the chances of winning the NBA Player of the Year award, Nikola Jokic, in the 2022-2023 season.
Is Jokic considered the favorite?
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Unfortunately, the current two-time MVP didn’t get a lot of votes from NBA general managers when they were traditionally asked to predict who would win the MVP next season. However, fans, bloggers, lovers of bets in bookmakers and Android APK applications also do not really believe in the feat of the Serbian center for the third time in a row. They believe that Jokic will not win the title three times in a row. It’s like it’s forbidden somehow. A common phrase that we can hear in fan discussions: “There is no way Jokic will be given MVP 3 times in a row!”
From the debut of MVP in the 1955–56 season until the 1979–80 season, players voted for the prestigious award. Notably, Russell and Chamberlain’s MVP hat-trick came in the era of player voting. Byrd is the only player to have won three consecutive MVPs in the era of media voting that began with the 1980–81 season. Perhaps Jokic is not considered a favorite for this very reason.
What does Nikola Jokic need to do to win the MVP title for the 3rd time in a row?
Keep in mind that only 35 players in NBA history have been MVPs. But what does Jokic need to dispel the doubts of the naysayers and take the top spot in the MVP race in the 2022-2023 season? To do this, you need to consider his achievements in the past two seasons. Jokic’s stats improved in almost every metric from his first MVP season to his second as only his assists per game, 3-point percentage and free throw percentage went down. He led the league in winning percentage in both seasons, and in his second MVP season, he was in the top 12 in points, rebounds, assists, steals and field goal percentage.
What numbers does Jokic need to put in to get enough MVP votes this season? He is already the only player in NBA history to average at least 25 points, 13 rebounds and 7 assists in a single season. If Jokic’s result does not enter the TOP-10, then this will certainly not be enough. The likelihood of such an event is high, since injured Jamal Murray and Porter Jr. have returned to Denver, who will also take away points, rebounds, and assists from Nikola.
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Can Nikola Jokic win the MVP award this season?
In order for the Serbian center to count on an MVP, the Nuggets will need a much better record than in Jokic’s first two seasons, where he was the best player in the League. In the 2020–21 season, they entered the playoffs with a 47–25 win-loss margin, finishing third in the West and fifth in the NBA. They were 48-34 last season (sixth in the West, 10th overall). Recall that each of the three players who have achieved a triple win, brought their teams to the top of the standings. Jokic will need to tie the team’s overall success to another statistically dominant season.
Last season, he scored 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 500 assists for the first time in league history, the highest player efficiency rating in league history. These are incredible feats to try to match or surpass, but getting votes for a third MVP in a row may have to make history all over again.
Summing up
We believe that Nikola Jokic will still not be able to receive the prestigious award for the third time in a row. The decisive factor in this situation will play the return of Murray and Porter Jr., against which background, the Serb’s statistical indicators will greatly decrease. Get basketball ideas and related information online here with us.
