Nikola Jokić’s season-long deluge of dimes has helped him rise to No. 1 in the latest Kia MVP Ladder.
It would be accurate on twin counts to say Nikola Jokić passes Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the tightly-contested Kia Race to the MVP.
As in, reclaimed the No. 1 spot this week. As in, throwing dimes all over the floor for the Nuggets lately and helping them win — and in the process, give themselves a puncher’s chance of pulling close to the West-leading Oklahoma City Thunder and Gilgeous-Alexander.
His 19-assist game last Monday against the Pacers was the finest display of ball delivery by a big man this generation, if not all time. Of course, that’s nothing new for Jokić, whose court vision, touch and selflessness is what makes him already a legendary player.
His season is seeing an uptick because the Nuggets are surging at the right time — thanks to such teammates as Jamal Murray, finally catching his stride after a sluggish start. In the first few months of the season, saddled with slumping teammates, Jokić was forced to score, perhaps more than he wanted. Lately, it’s his passing and rebounding — and steals! — juicing the Nuggets, who are finally giving him help.
It just emphasizes how this is a special season by Jokić, statistically better than any of his three MVP seasons and historic in many ways.
It should all get interesting because the regular season’s stretch run is also the stretch run for the MVP Ladder. With six weeks remaining, there’s the chance Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokić could switch places once or twice or more before it’s all over, reflecting the closeness of the coin-flippy race and the type of season each is enjoying.
This is the right time to circle March 9 and 10 on the calendar when the Nuggets visit OKC for a back-to-back showdown that could weigh heavily on who stands at the top spot of the ladder — maybe for good.
Setting the stage this week: Massive game upcoming Friday in Boston (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) when the East-leading Cavaliers attempt to tie the season series with the Celtics at two games apiece. Do the Celtics have any chance to reel in the Cavs’ 6.5-game-lead for the top seed in the East? MVP contender Jayson Tatum will have a voice in that as he takes on Donovan Mitchell (No. 7 on the ladder) and Evan Mobley.
The stat to know: LeBron James, who cracks the top-five on the ladder this week, turned 40 in December. Since then, he’s averaging 26 points, eight assists, just under eight rebounds and very efficiently shooting 54%.
What they are saying: “The most remarkable thing is not just the 19 assists, but the satisfaction and joy that Nikola gets from making his teammates better. He’d be happy getting 19 assists, no points, and us winning than any other superstar that I’ve ever come across. And that speaks to who he is.” — Nuggets coach Michael Malone on Jokić.
Last ranking: No. 2
Season stats: 29.2 points, 12.6 rebounds, 10.4 assists
His case: He’s coming off a 32-point triple-double where he made 13 of 16 shots Thursday against the Bucks, yet another typical (for him) night. He has more triple-doubles (27 and counting) this season than any of his MVP seasons.
Jokić has recorded a triple-double in 21% of his career games, which is the highest percentage of anyone. His best game in February? Lots of candidates, but his 28-11-9 came in only 29 minutes against the Suns.
Last ranking: No. 1
Season stats: 32.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 6.2 assists
His case: Those waiting for Gilgeous-Alexander’s efficiency to dip are … still waiting. Perhaps in vain, too. He has 20 games of 35-plus points and has made at least half his shots in every month except the four-game October, all while doing this for the No. 1 team in the West and without a big man for much of the year.
His best in February: a 50-piece against the Suns where he shot 62%. He also had eight rebounds, five assists and a pair of steals in that game.
Last ranking: No. 4
Season stats: 26.6 points, 8.7 rebounds, 5.8 assists
His case: Tatum’s consistency remains steady as the calendar flips to March, and perhaps the biggest leap has been his playmaking — with 33 assists over his last four games.
His signature game in February was 40 points in a 27-point whipping of the Knicks, which he then followed up with 25-10-9 in another blowout win over New York.
Last ranking: No. 3
Season stats: 30.9 points, 12.1 rebounds, 5.8 assists
His case: The league’s second-leading scorer remains a double-double machine and stellar on the defensive end. He must stay healthy, though, to keep the Bucks in the top-six in the East.
His best February game was when he had 23 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists in a win over Miami. Antetokounmpo, however, only played six games this month.
Last ranking: No. 6
Season stats: 24.9 points, 8 rebounds, 8.7 assists
His case: He’s shooting 55% and 43% on 3-pointers in the last two weeks, just before and since the All-Star Weekend. That efficiency is partly the reason why James has risen to the top five on the Ladder, and he has been all-around solid for much of the season.
His best game in February? It’s hard to say. Was it his 40-point performance against Portland while coming off a loss? Or 42 against the Warriors with 17 rebounds and eight assists? How about a big finish against the Mavericks en route to 27 points and 12 rebounds? They all qualify.
6. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
7. Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
8. Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks
9. Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
10. Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies
And five more (listed alphabetically): Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors; Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers, Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings; Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets; Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks
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Shaun Powell has covered the NBA for more than 25 years. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on X.
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