Denver Nuggets: The NBA MVP should be Nikola Jokic

Though half the season, Nikola Jokic is the NBA MVP. 

It is almost a cliche to say a former MVP should be considered for the MVP again, especially when that player is in their prime, but when that player drops 49 points and adds 14 rebounds and 10 assists to win in an OT thriller, you can start being liberal with the cliches.

Nikola Jokic is showing not only why he was the MVP last year but why he should retake the MVP Award vote this year.

Jokic is having an MVP season, and his lack of team success only highlights his achievements. Nikola Jokić is leading his team in every statistical category, which is not easy to do, and we know that because no player has ever done that. Jokic is the league leader in Triple Doubles with 10 in 38 games to add to his case.

While Stephen Curry got off to a hot start and was standing as the King of the Hill for a while, Jokic has been consistent in topping the leagues not only in scoring but in rebounding. Jokic is the second leading rebounder and is ranked in the top 10 in scoring and assists.

Jokic has also increased his output on the defensive end seeing his defensive plus-minus at 4.7, near the top of the league tied with Draymond Green. Jokic also leads the league in win-shares and value over replacement players.

Many could say at 23-20 that the Denver Nuggets are not good enough to warrant another Jokic MVP discussion. Denver has had the injury bug terrible this year, with Jamal Murray still out and Michael Porter Jr. sidelined indefinitely. Jokic is the Denver Nuggets, and without him, this team would be at the bottom in the league.

When the dust clears on the season, and you see a player putting up historical numbers and leading his team in every statistical category, it is easy to know who the NBA MVP is. Nikola Jokic deserves to be the NBA MVP again because he is not only elite on the offensive side of the ball, but he is now great on defense, and the league is noticing.