Now that the free agency frenzy has come to end, let’s take a look at the top five NBA MVP rankings heading into the 2019-20 season
The 2019 NBA offseason was full of movement and fluctuation as star players were traded or moved on from their long-time franchises via free agency. Several franchise players gained more help during the offseason, while others are left wondering if they will have to carry the load for their respective teams.
There are stars whose management have surrounded them with a strong supporting cast that will showcase their talents. Here are my five way too early candidates for NBA MVP (this is based mainly on last year’s finish and whom I feel will be in the best situations to shine individually).
5. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
The 24-year-old Nikola Jokic was the main reason the Denver Nuggets were able to secure the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference last season. The big man averaged 20.1 pts, 10.8 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game during the regular season.
However, the Joker’s game rose to a new level in the 2019 playoffs, where he averaged 25.1 pts, 13.0 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game, leading the Nuggets to the second round of the Western Conference Playoffs.
With the returning cast of point guard Jamal Murray, shooting guard Gary Harris, power forward Paul Millsap, and others, Jokic will certainly have the ability to supplant his numbers from last season and catapult himself into the MVP conversation next season.
Jerami Grant, acquired in a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder, will provide Jokic with more room to work with in the paint as a stretch big. A first-time All-Star and All-NBA member in 2019, Jokic has the talent and the work ethic to lead the Nuggets far into the 2020 playoffs.