Nikola Jokic

Nuggets Notes: Jokic, Watson, MPJ

March 27th, 2025 at 6:10pm CST by Rory Maher

Nuggets head coach Michael Malone was “nervous” ahead of Wednesday’s matchup with Milwaukee due to the absences of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, as Bennett Durando of The Denver Post relays. Malone explained that teams have a tendency to “relax” when facing shorthanded rosters — just a couple weeks ago, Denver pulled off a major upset in Golden State without Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic.

While it may not have been the best version of the Nuggets, particularly defensively, they came out victorious in Jokic’s first game back from elbow and ankle injuries. The three-time MVP looked rejuvenated after being sidelined for the previous five games leading up to Wednesday, according to Tony Jones of The Athletic, who writes that Jokic had been playing through the ailments for a while before he and the training staff decided he needed time off to heal.

“I felt a lot better than I thought I was going to feel,” said Jokic, who finished with 39 points (on 16-of-25 shooting), 10 rebounds and 10 assists. “I don’t want to say percentages or anything, but I feel much better than I thought I was going to be. I still feel the ankle a little bit, but it’s much, much, much less than how it was before.

“I think the most important thing is that we were able to win the game. What we want to do is figure out how to establish a rhythm in these last stretch of games. We want to be able to go to the playoffs and perform at our peak, and we can’t do that without being on the floor. We have to find some consistency. That’s what I want out of the rest of the regular season.”

Here’s more on the Nuggets:

Jokic’s left ankle injury — an impingement — was particularly problematic, with the 30-year-old center telling reporters after the game that he was unable to jump off that leg for a time, per Luca Evans of The Denver Post. “It was really painful, and it was just better to feel good,” Jokic said. “And I don’t want to be on the floor and be nervous because I cannot play how I want to play, and on the level that I want to play.” Jokic is known for his durability and willingness to play through injuries.
Third-year forward Peyton Watson, who will be eligible for a rookie scale extension in the offseason, has been playing some of his best basketball of the season as of late, Durando writes for The Denver Post. “Peyton’s playing so good,” Murray raved. “He’s not just playing with confidence, but he’s being so active on both ends of the floor. Cutting, moving even if he doesn’t get it, setting screens, rebounding, back-taps, running the floor, causing confusion.” Over the past six games, the 22-year-old is averaging 13.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.3 blocks while shooting 58.2% from the field (50% from deep) in 30.2 minutes per contest.
Michael Porter Jr. broke out of a prolonged slump in Wednesday’s win, finishing with 23 points on just nine field goal attempts (he made seven, including 6-of-8 from three-point range). After the game, Porter said a lingering hamstring injury was to blame for his shooting woes — he’s at 33.3% from three since the All-Star break, compared to 41.7% in 52 games before the break. If the Nuggets hope to win another title in 2025, they’ll need a much more consistent version of Porter in the postseason, according to Troy Renck of The Denver Post, who argues that the 26-year-old is a detriment to the team when he isn’t making shots.

Nikola Jokic Returning For Nuggets Wednesday

March 26th, 2025 at 7:16pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Three-time MVP Nuggets center Nikola Jokic is returning to the hardwood for Denver’s Wednesday clash with the Bucks, the team has announced (via Twitter).

The 6’11” superstar had been on the shelf for Denver since the club’s 126-123 loss against Washington on March 15 due to a left ankle impingement.

Milwaukee, conversely, will be missing both of its nine-time All-Stars — plus two rotational big men, to boot.

Bucks guard Damian Lillard is out indefinitely due to a blood clot in his right calf. He’ll be joined on the bench by two-time MVP forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, who’s dealing with a sprained left foot, Milwaukee announced today (Twitter link).

Jokic is angling to pick up his fourth MVP honor across the last five years. He’s averaging a triple-double for the 45-28 Nuggets, with excellent shooting efficiency. The seven-time All-Star is averaging 29.1 PPG, 12.8 RPG, 10.3 APG, 1.8 SPG and 0.7 BPG. He’s connecting on .575/.413/.807 shooting splits.

Denver has also made Jokic’s fellow starters Christian Braun, Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon available. Braun is dealing with a left foot strain, Porter has a strained low back, and Gordon is managing a right calf injury plus a left ankle sprain.

The absences of Antetokounmpo and Lillard are compounded by the long-term unavailability of sixth man big Bobby Portis (suspension) and reserve center Jericho Sims (thumb surgery), both out until at least April.

Injury/Health Notes: Lillard, Tatum, Jokic, Sheppard

March 26th, 2025 at 7:55am CST by Luke Adams

After initially being listed as out last week due to calf soreness, Damian Lillard was experiencing discomfort and pain inconsistent with a typical calf strain, according to Eric Nehm and Sam Amick of The Athletic, who hear from a source that the Bucks guard sought clarity on the cause.

That prompted a “rigorous discovery process” that ultimately involved Lillard meeting with five of the country’s top hematologists, either in person or via Zoom, with each of those specialists receiving his MRIs and sonograms. Lillard, who was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in his calf, began taking blood thinners last Friday, per The Athletic’s source, and the early indications are that the treatment is working well.

In a separate story for The Athletic, Nehm explores how the Bucks will get by without Lillard, noting that leaning on defense is probably their best path forward. That effort begins with having a strong perimeter defender like Ryan Rollins starting in place of Lillard.

“Obviously, nobody is going to be Dame but Dame,” Bucks center Brook Lopez said earlier this week. “But (Rollins) has done a great job coming in, being himself and finding a niche, that like Dame, only he can do. It’s specifically Ryan. He comes out there and he makes a difference in his way. He gets into guys, defends them full-court, picks up 94 feet.”

Here are a few more injury-related notes from around the NBA:

The Celtics‘ injury report for Wednesday’s game in Phoenix is another sign that Jayson Tatum‘s ankle injury isn’t significant. Tatum isn’t expected to play vs. the Suns, but he hasn’t officially been ruled out yet — he’s listed as doubtful (Twitter link).
Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, who has missed the team’s past five games, has been upgraded to doubtful for Wednesday’s matchup with Milwaukee (Twitter link via DNVR Sports). Jokic’s initial injury report designation last week indicated he was dealing with both a right elbow contusion and a left ankle impingement, but only the ankle issue is still listed, which suggests the elbow is no longer a problem.
Rockets rookie Reed Sheppard, out since March 6 with a fracture in his right thumb, had a scan on Sunday that showed good calcification around the fractured bone, according to head coach Ime Udoka, who said on Tuesday that Sheppard would be reevaluated in four or five days. Sheppard is still wearing a splint on the thumb part-time, but he takes it off when he works out, per Danielle Lerner of The Houston Chronicle (Twitter link).

Nuggets Notes: Jokic, Braun, First-Round Opponents, Jordan

March 23rd, 2025 at 9:50pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Nikola Jokic missed his fourth straight game on Sunday vs. the Rockets due to a left ankle impingement but Nuggets coach Michael Malone is hopeful his superstar center won’t be out much longer, according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon.

The Nuggets begin a five-game homestand after playing at Houston, starting with a matchup against the Bulls on Monday. Malone said Jokic won’t play in that contest, but he believes the three-time MVP can return sometime during the stretch of home games.

“We’re just trying to get home and kind of see where he’s at,” Malone said. “It’d be great to have a chance to get our starting five some run together, because we haven’t had a lot of opportunity to do that this season.”

Jokic and Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are the top candidates for this season’s Most Valuable Player award.

We have more on the Nuggets:

Christian Braun has quietly moved into the conversation for the league’s Most Improved Player award, Bennett Durando of the Denver Post writes. “I would hope that I’m in that mix,” he said. “I know there’s a lot of guys that get a lot of mentions, and they deserve it, too. But I want to be in that mix. I feel like I work hard to be in that mix. And that’s not just an individual award. I think that it shows how good those guys around me are, too.” As Durando points out, Braun posted one 20-point performance in his first two seasons, but has 16 of them this year. He’s averaging 15.2 points (a 7.9 point increase from last season), 5.0 rebounds (up 35%), 2.4 assists (up 50%) and 1.1 steals (up 120%) per game.
The Clippers and Rockets are the two best matchups among the Nuggets’ potential first-round opponents, Durando opines. The Clippers may not be as equipped to expose Denver’s defensive deficiencies and league-low three-point volume, he notes. The Lakers and Timberwolves would present the most problems for them in the first round, in Durando’s estimation.
DeAndre Jordan played 38 minutes on Sunday after not getting off the bench in the previous 10 games. He contributed 11 points and 15 rebounds in a five-point win over the Rockets. “DJ is one of the best defensive rebounders. He’s one of our best rim protectors and if we’re getting our butts kicked on the glass, let me put out one of our biggest, strongest guys that has a very impressive 17-year resume,” Malone said (video link). “Special day for Deandre because this is where he’s from, playing in front of a lot of family and friends. Fifteen rebounds, 12 defensive, four assists, a steal — did a lot of really good things for us.” Jordan, 36, was re-signed on a one-year, veteran’s minimum deal last summer and will be a free agent again this offseason.

Northwest Notes: Avdija, Walker, Nuggets, Jokic, Ingles

March 22nd, 2025 at 10:59pm CST by Arthur Hill

Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija is enjoying the best scoring stretch of his career, writes Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian. Avdija posted a season-high 36 points in Friday’s win over Denver, bringing him to 162 over the last six games. He was a productive scorer during his first four NBA seasons in Washington, but he has raised his game since being traded to Portland last summer.

“I don’t think I’ve played like this before,” he said. “I think I knew I had it in me. But I’m not really thinking about it. I’m just playing. I’m just free. I love playing around the guys. I love making plays. I love being on the court with our team, regardless of how I score or how much I score.”

Avdija is among the reasons Portland has become a surprise contender for the final play-in spot in the West. Not only is he scoring at a career-best rate of 15.9 PPG, he’s also pushing the ball up-court and setting up teammates, averaging 5.7 assists during those same six games.

“His play-making is getting better,” coach Chauncey Billups said. “He actually cares about play-making. He’s learning and learning and learning about his guys. They’re learning him.”

There’s more from the Northwest Division:

Jabari Walker, who missed the past four games while in concussion protocol, is listed as questionable for the Trail Blazers‘ meeting with Boston on Sunday, tweets Sean Highkin of Rose Garden Report. Anfernee Simons and Donovan Clingan, who sat out Friday’s game due to illness, are also questionable.
The defensive issues that have been plaguing the Nuggets were on display again Friday at Portland, observes Troy Renck of The Denver Post. They surrendered 128 points to a Blazers team that was missing its leading scorer and fell to 8-8 since the All-Star break. Renck adds that losing Bruce Brown and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in the last two offseasons has left coach Michael Malone with no answers for certain matchup problems.
Nuggets star Nikola Jokic will miss his fourth straight game Sunday in Houston with a left ankle impingement, according to Vinny Benedetto of The Denver Post (Twitter link). Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun are all probable.
Joe Ingles hasn’t played much this season, but Timberwolves coach Chris Finch put him in the starting lineup on Friday so his eight-year-old autistic son could watch him play, per Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. Jacob Ingles was recently able to sit through his first game without sensory overload, and Finch wanted to do something to honor the family. “This is the stuff,” Ingles said, “I’ll remember forever.”

Injury Updates: Jokic, Murray, Hachimura, Giddey, Ball, Robinson

March 19th, 2025 at 9:49pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Nuggets are missing Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray for Wednesday’s matchup with the Lakers, writes Tim MacMahon of ESPN. Both players also sat out Monday’s win at Golden State.

Jokic has a left ankle impingement as well as a contusion on his right elbow. Murray is dealing with a sprained right ankle and had difficulty moving during a session with assistant coach John Beckett more than two hours before the game, according to MacMahon.

During a pregame meeting with the media before the final determinations were made, coach Michael Malone said, “you listen to your body,” adding that he trusts the players and training staff to make the right decisions. He reacted angrily to a suggestion that the Nuggets are intentionally resting their best players.

“I think that’s just a bunch of bulls–t,” Malone said. “I mean, in the last 10 years, Nikola Jokic has played the second most games in the NBA. Ten years. And the guys in that top 10, none of them are superstars. So if Nikola is not playing, it’s not because he’s sitting. It’s not because he needs rest. It’s because he’s hurt and he’s trying to play through things that most wouldn’t. We’re at a point right now where we have to do what’s best for not just Nikola, but for all our guys, as we move forward and try to close out this season.”

There’s more injury news to pass along:

Lakers forward Rui Hachimura is sitting out his eighth straight game tonight due to tendinopathy in his left knee, but coach J.J. Redick said he’s making progress and is considered day-to-day, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN (Twitter link). Hachimura has been taking part in three-on-three scrimmages and participated in warm-ups before tonight’s contest.
Bulls guard Josh Giddey, who had been sidelined since March 10 with a sprained right ankle, is making his return in Wednesday’s game at Phoenix. Coach Billy Donovan plans to give Giddey his normal workload of 30-32 minutes and said he may play again Thursday at Sacramento, tweets K.C. Johnson of Chicago Sports Network.
Lonzo Ball didn’t accompany the Bulls on their six-game road trip, but he has started shooting with his injured wrist, Johnson adds (Twitter link). Donovan said Ball, who sprained the wrist in late February, still has a long road toward recovery.
Knicks center Mitchell Robinson remains on a minutes restriction after returning last month from ankle surgery, but coach Tom Thibodeau views it as more of a guideline than a definite policy, per James L. Edwards III of The Athletic (Twitter link). Thibodeau said the limit is around 24 minutes, which is what Robinson played Monday night, but he’s willing to extend it depending on how his center feels.

Nuggets Notes: Malone, Defense, Gordon, Westbrook, Jokic, Murray, Braun

March 18th, 2025 at 8:42pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Head coach Michael Malone believes the Nuggets will have an abbreviated stay in the postseason if they don’t improve defensively, according to Bennett Durando of the Denver Post.

“If we’re going to be a team that is serious about making the postseason and being a team that can win a round, win another round,” Malone said, “if we don’t start defending for four quarters, we’re never gonna get that opportunity.”

The Nuggets are averaging the third-most points in the league. However, they rank in the bottom 10 — 24th overall — in points allowed at 116.7 per game. They’re in the middle of the pack in defensive field goal percentage and 21st in defensive three-point percentage. They’re also in the bottom 10 in turnovers forced.

We have more on the Nuggets:

Their outing on Monday was encouraging. The Nuggets sat three starters — Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Christian Braun — but still ended the Warriors’ winning streak with a 114-105 victory. Aaron Gordon poured in a season-high 38 points and Russell Westbrook was solid all-around with 12 points, 11 rebounds, 16 assists and three steals. Malone had high praise for the veteran guard afterward, Tim MacMahon of ESPN relays. “I felt from the get-go Russ’ tenacity, his intensity, what he brings every single night,” Malone said. “Just being a leader in the huddles, getting on guys, uplifting guys, whatever is needed at the time. That’s why Russ has been such a great addition to us all season long.” Westbrook could be a free agent after the season — he holds a modest $3.47MM option on his contract for next season.
The Nuggets have banked 44 victories but they’ve been in a win-one, lose-one rut most of this month. In the last three games, they sandwiched victories over the Lakers and Warriors with a home loss to the lottery-bound Wizards. “I think the entire season has pretty much been like this,” Jokic told Tony Jones of The Athletic. “We kind of don’t know what team is going to go out there. Some nights have been good, and some nights have been bad. I think the good thing is that we have actually won most of the games.”
Gordon is listed as probable to play against the Lakers on Wednesday due to right calf injury management and a left ankle sprain, the team’s PR department tweets. Jokic (right elbow contusion/left ankle impingement), Murray (right ankle sprain) and Braun (left foot inflammation) are all listed as questionable.

Western Notes: Jokic, SGA, Thunder, Zion, Doncic

March 12th, 2025 at 4:02pm CST by Luke Adams

The NBA’s top two MVP candidates split a pair of games in Oklahoma City on Sunday and Monday, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander‘s Thunder securing a 24-point win in the first game and Nikola Jokic‘s Nuggets responding with a 13-point victory in the second end of the back-to-back.

In between those two contests, according to Fred Katz and Tony Jones of The Athletic, Nuggets coach Michael Malone broached the subject of having Jokic, who is dealing with elbow and ankle injuries, sit out on Monday. The Nuggets center’s reply? “Hell no.”

After Jokic led Denver to a victory on Monday with 35 points, 18 rebounds, and eight assists, his coach made the case that the star big man deserves his fourth Most Valuable Player award.

“Obviously, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a great player, and if he wins his first MVP, he’s deserving of that,” Malone said. “My thing is this: If you didn’t know that Nikola won three MVPs, and I put Player A and Player B on paper … the guy that was averaging a triple-double, the guy that is top-three in the three major statistical categories, things that no one has ever done, he wins the MVP 10 times out of 10. And if you don’t think so, I think you guys are all bulls—ting.”

Asked by ESPN’s Tim MacMahon if team record should factor into the equation, Malone pointed out that the Nuggets were the No. 1 seed in the West in 2023, the only year of the last four in which Jokic wasn’t named MVP. However, Malone added that he won’t be upset if Gilgeous-Alexander wins the award and that he simply feels the need to advocate for his guy in the midst of another historic season. As for Jokic’s two cents on the MVP race?

“This is my third or fourth year in a row, so I’m really — I don’t know. I cannot control it,” the Nuggets star said of the debate. “Obviously, I think I’m playing the best basketball of my life. So if that’s enough, it’s enough. If not, the guy (Gilgeous-Alexander) deserves it. He’s really amazing.”

Here are a few more notes from around the Western Conference:

The Oklahoma City Council has signed off on the next step toward the Thunder‘s new arena, approving contracts with a pair of construction companies who will partner to build the new venue, according to a a press release. Prairie Surf Studios, which currently occupies the space where the arena will be located, is scheduled to be demolished this spring. After that, the plan is to begin construction on the new building in 2026 and complete it in 2028.
Less than two weeks after recording the first triple-double of his NBA career, Pelicans forward Zion Williamson had another one on Tuesday, racking up 22 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds in a win over the Clippers. While New Orleans is well out of this season’s postseason race, Williamson’s excellent all-around play in recent weeks has been an encouraging sign for his development, notes Brett Martel of The Associated Press. “When he’s in high-level conditioning, like he is, he’s really tough to guard and he’s doing it all,” head coach Willie Green said. “He’s rebounding. He’s defending.”
The Lakers got off to a terrific start in the Luka Doncic era, reeling off eight consecutive wins from February 20 to March 6. However, as John Hollinger of The Athletic writes, the underlying numbers suggest it will take some more time for the star guard to build chemistry with his new teammates. Doncic’s shooting numbers as a Laker so far (.399 FG%, .322 3PT%) are well below his usual rates, while his turnover rate (4.2 per game) is up.

Northwest Notes: SGA, Thunder, Gobert, Thybulle

March 10th, 2025 at 9:01am CST by Arthur Hill

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander prevailed over Nikola Jokic in Sunday’s battle of MVP favorites and the Thunder displayed why they’re headed for the No. 1 seed in the West, writes Joel Lorenzi of The Oklahoman. The MVP contest is considered to be a two-man race, and Lorenzi notes that SGA and Jokic were relatively even through three quarters. But Gilgeous-Alexander finished strong, posting nine points in the fourth quarter while making several clutch shots to end up with 40 points, eight rebounds and five assists.

“It’s been very fun,” he said of the season-long competition with Jokic. “Most of the appreciation comes from, honestly, my teammates. No matter how good of a basketball player I am, if we don’t check the win column as much as we do, the conversation wouldn’t be the conversation.”

It was important for the Thunder to be able to prove themselves in a nationally televised game against one of the NBA’s elite teams. The Nuggets are viewed as legitimate title contender after winning a championship two years ago, while there are still questions about Oklahoma City despite its 53-11 record.

“We have greatness among us,” Alex Caruso said. “When we play at our highest level, we’re a great team. It’s just about doing it consistently, and matching the pedigree play-after-play with some of these top teams. From the beginning of the game today, (Denver) came in like they were playing against the top team in the West. We came in like it was a noon game against the Nuggets on Sunday. …. When we play at an elite level we’re, in my opinion, the best team in the world.”

There’s more from the Northwest Division:

Warriors forward Draymond Green is among those who have expressed doubt about the Thunder as true title contenders, per Zach Kram of ESPN. “There’s a certain seriousness that it takes to win in this league, and there’s a certain fear you have to instill in teams in order to win,” Green said on his podcast earlier this season. “I just don’t know if they’re instilling that fear in teams.” Kram lists 22 reasons why Oklahoma City should have earned the league’s respect by now.
Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert was able to return Sunday after missing 10 games with a lower back injury. He was a game-time decision and was cleared to play less than an hour before tip-off, according to Kent Youngblood of The Star Tribune. “I always try to work on the root of the problem to make sure it doesn’t happen again,” Gobert said. “Playing with pain is part of the game. But there is pain that keeps you from moving, or that can get worse. Right now, I feel like I’m strong. I feel balanced.”
Trail Blazers swingman Matisse Thybulle is moving closer to making his season debut, tweets Sean Highkin of Rose Garden Report. Thybulle will practice with Portland’s G League affiliate this week as part of his reconditioning and could be cleared to play on the upcoming homestand.

Poll: Who Is The NBA’s 2024/25 MVP?

March 8th, 2025 at 8:14am CST by Tristan Tucker

Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic concluded Friday’s overtime game against the Suns with the league’s first-ever 30/20/20 game, having totaled 31 points, 21 rebounds and 22 assists.

In some ways, the three-time MVP’s history-making stat line is almost unsurprising. Jokic continues to be on the forefront of award discussions while putting up video-game level stat lines every night.

The 30-year-old big man is averaging career highs of 28.9 points and 10.6 assists per game, while his 12.9 rebounds per game would be the second-best mark of his career. He’s doing this on an incredibly efficient .577/.439/.818 shooting split. His 43.9% three-point percentage and 4.4 attempts from deep per game are also both career highs.

And while Jokic’s stats might be unsurprising after three MVPs and six All-NBA appearances, it does not mean they should go overlooked. This kind of production is what fans read about in history books and resembles something of an old Wilt Chamberlain stat line.

Being an MVP isn’t all about individual statistics, however. Being the league’s most valuable player means leading a winning situation and making one’s teammates better. Jokic fulfills this criteria, having helped the Nuggets overcome a relatively shaky start to the season. Denver won nine straight from late January to late February and has emerged victorious in 14 of its last 17 games.

Christian Braun is having a season worthy of the Most Improved Player award and Russell Westbrook is proving to be a nice fit, along with other contributions up and down the lineup from the Nuggets’ starters and role players. Jokic has good players around him, but there’s no doubt he’s helping set them up for success.

Despite Jokic’s historic achievements, he’s still trailing Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in NBA.com’s most recent MVP ladder. Entering Friday, Gilgeous-Alexander appeared to be the runaway favorite for the award.

Gilgeous-Alexander, by the way, is absolutely deserving of the praise. He’s averaging a league-leading and career-high 32.8 points along with 5.1 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game. His 1.8 steals per night are second to only Dyson Daniels and he has posted an impressive .526/.378/.898 shooting line.

As we wrote Thursday, Gilgeous-Alexander’s efficiency is off the charts. His true-shooting and usage percentages are career highs, and he ranks first in the league among guards in the former category.

The Canadian superstar finished second in MVP voting last year and may very well come away with the award this year. He has become the NBA’s surest bet to score 50 points on a given night, having done so four times in the last seven weeks after having previously never accomplished the feat in his career.

Like Jokic, Gilgeous-Alexander accomplishes the two-pronged test of winning games and helping his teammates. The Thunder own the league’s second-best record at 52-11, sitting atop the Western Conference. Oklahoma City has only dropped two games since the start of February, winning 15 of its previous 17.

What’s more, the Thunder are doing this in the face of multiple injuries to key players. Marquee free agent addition Isaiah Hartenstein missed over 20 games due to injury this season while star second-year center Chet Holmgren has been limited to just 18 appearances. Lockdown defender Alex Caruso, acquired via trade, has also missed over 20 games.

There’s no doubt multiple Thunder players like Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace and Aaron Wiggins, to name a few, deserve individual praise. But Gilgeous-Alexander’s presence and elite offensive production are certainly helping bring out the best in those players as well.

Beyond the two hottest names in Jokic and Gilgeous-Alexander, it’s easy to forget other players are worthy of being thrown into the conversation as well. Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s 30.8 points and 12.1 rebounds per game should not be overlooked. Jayson Tatum, Karl-Anthony Towns and Evan Mobley are also putting up tremendous numbers on contending teams. But all signs point to Jokic and Gilgeous-Alexander being the top two in voting.

As NBA.com’s Shaun Powell writes, the Nuggets and Thunder play each other for the final two times this regular season on Sunday afternoon and Monday evening in back-to-back games. The results of those two contests could help sway voters in one direction or another. Premier matchups between the league’s best tend to go the most-noticed among fans, so it will be interesting to see if Jokic continues to close the perceived gap in the race. For what it’s worth, Basketball Reference’s 2024/25 NBA MVP tracker gives Jokic a 65.1% chance to win the award.

Regardless of what happens, it will be interesting to see if the clash between Jokic and Gilgeous-Alexander ends up as close as Jokic’s first MVP win over Joel Embiid in ’21/22, the tightest race in recent memory. Both Jokic and Gilgeous-Alexander are worthy of the honor and are putting up generational-type seasons.

That leads us to today’s question: Who should win the ’24/25 MVP award? Head to the comments to share your pick between Jokic and Gilgeous-Alexander or to let us know if you believe another player should come away with the award.

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