Jokic vs Shai.... Who's the real Mvp?

Written By: Aaron Allen

The regular season is now over and everybody is of course talking about who's going to win their series, or who’s going to win the chip this year. However, this year is much different, as regular season awards are being announced and handed out, there is one award that is still highly thought of by the fans regarding who will win the most prestigious award there is to earn in the regular season, and that is the MVP award. Most would say the MVP race has never been this close in history with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander putting up great stats all across the board and even being the league's leading scorer this season. He also led his team to the best record in the NBA. Most of the time even in a close race, the one with the better record would be the one to come out on top, but that is not the case this season. Nikola Jokić had nothing short of a historical season being one of only 3 players to average a triple double throughout the season. So the question still reigns, who was the Most Valuable Player this season? 

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been dominating the league for the past 2 years and unfortunately came up short of the MVP last year and it went to Nikola Jokić. This year Shai has played even better than his debatable MVP season last year making it hard to even question who is at the top of the MVP race. Shai averaged a total of 32.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.4 assists, along with these exceptional numbers he had on the season, he as well led his team to the best record in the NBA as mentioned. Most years, this would be an undeniable unanimous MVP but Nikola Jokić is having just a good of a season if not better in some peoples eyes. Jokić has been on a tear throughout the league earning the MVP award 3 times out of 4 seasons. This season he showed no signs of stopping and had a great, even considered historical, season averaging 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists. With these numbers this puts Jokić in a very small elite category of players who have averaged a triple double throughout the season. These stats are hard to look at and not be awarded with the MVP trophy. 

Although looking at the records, Shai and the Oklahoma City Thunder have not just the best record in their conference, but throughout the entirety of the league, it is also important to look at where the Denver Nuggets are, and consider where they would be without the help of Jokić. He is undoubtedly a major part of the Denver Nuggets being the leading scorer, and the one who really facilitates the ball throughout the games making these big time plays and beautiful passes for an easy bucket. Both had an amazing season that honestly both deserve the MVP award, but at the end of the day there is only 1 player that can come home with that trophy. So is it Shai, or is it Jokić?