Nikola Jokić Is Building a Strong MVP Case in Another Historic Season

Jokić’s record-breaking stats and triple-doubles have him firmly in the MVP race despite tough competition.

Nikola Jokić is a true unicorn in today’s NBA. He’s the kind of guy who’d rather be back in his hometown in Serbia, casually betting on horse races, than basking in the spotlight of the NBA. When he steps on the court each night, it’s just another day at the office for him. That laid-back, business-as-usual approach isn’t what you’d expect from a superstar—but neither is the jaw-dropping level of play Jokić is delivering this season.

Already a three-time MVP, Jokić is somehow taking his game to even greater heights, making a strong case for a fourth MVP award. As it stands, he has the second-shortest odds to win the honor (+220 via BetMGM), trailing only Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (-325). While the odds may not currently favor him, Jokić’s jaw-dropping stats and historic performances make him impossible to ignore.

Through 39 games this season, Jokić is averaging an absurd 29.9 points, 13.1 rebounds, and 10.1 assists per game. Those numbers place him third in scoring, third in rebounding, and second in assists across the league. While notching a triple-double in a single game is a feat for most players, Jokić has turned it into a routine. He’s recorded 150 triple-doubles in just 713 career games, and according to the NBA, that means he’s averaging a triple-double in 21% of his games—the highest rate in league history. And when Jokić hits those marks, the Nuggets are nearly unstoppable, boasting a 119-31 record in those 150 games.

His 53.6 combined points, rebounds, and assists (PRA) per game this season is a number we haven’t seen in decades. The last player to hit that threshold was none other than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who averaged 55.99 PRA during his dominant 1971-72 season.

If Jokić can surpass Gilgeous-Alexander in the MVP race, he would become just the third player in NBA history to win four MVPs, joining LeBron James and Wilt Chamberlain. He’d also be one of only six players to reach that milestone. The only names ahead of him? Michael Jordan and Bill Russell, who each have five, and Abdul-Jabbar, who leads the pack with six.

Jokić isn’t just rewriting the record books—he’s redefining what greatness looks like in the NBA. Whether or not he claims MVP No. 4, his legacy as one of the all-time greats is already cemented. But knowing Jokić, he’d probably just shrug, clock out for the day, and start planning his next horse race.

Featured Image Photo Credit: Imagn