Former NBA Champion, Richard Jefferson feels Nikola Jokic rightfully in MVP talk

Denver Nuggets starman Nikola Jokic is playing some insane level basketball this season. This has been by far his best season in the NBA and he has honestly lived up to the hype and maybe exceeded it at times with his performances. He has inspired the Nuggets to turn around with his exceptional performances, as they started poorly and gradually got better.

Jokic has been the star of the season for the Nuggets as they have simply kept the intensity from the last season in the bubble. The Nuggets were the underdogs who reached the East Conference finals last season and that miraculous run has continued for Jokic into this season as well.

Former NBA champion Richard Jefferson spoke about the Serb and his form in the “The Jump’. He mentioned how LeBron James and Joel Embiid have been exemplary with their performances this season. But for him, Jokic stands out from the rest and he believes that the three players deserve to be in the MVP talk.

“I think he’s (Jokic) Top-3 in the MVP race. I think it’s really him, LeBron, and Embiid in the Eastern Conference. All three of them are dominating in different ways.

“But Jokic especially because of Denver’s slow start, he has picked it up and I think that definitely has vaulted him higher in that MVP race.”

Jokic currently averages an outrageous double double in each game with 27 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists this season. The numbers speak for themselves but one must also remember how Jokic is not someone with exceptional athleticism and speed and therefore to achieve these numbers is simply phenomenal.

He is very skillful with the ball in chance creation which he either provides an assist or scores himself. He is someone who always keeps on thinking and his intellect and understanding of the game is another aspect which is very underrated.

Despite his MVP level performances, the Nuggets have been pretty average this season. They finished in the 3rd seed last season courtesy of Jamal Murray and Jokic. But this season the tables have turned and they have not been at the same level. Jamal has been very inconsistent and therefore the pressure has been on Jokic to deliver every game.

Jokic has that ability to take Nuggets on his back but they need their other players to come to the party and script a season like the last one.