At this point of the regular season, two stars have emerged as the clear favorites to win the MVP award – Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. While either one of them may end up winning, an NBA insider reveals the identity of another player who can take the said accolade home and it seems this guy isn’t Jayson Tatum.
Throughout the regular season, Jokic, Gilgeous-Alexander, and Tatum have separated themselves from the rest of the NBA by elevating their respective teams to the next level. The Denver Nuggets center leads the league in player efficiency rating, both offensive and defensive box plus/minus ratings, and wins shares.
Gilgeous-Alexander, on the other hand, has taken the Oklahoma City Thunder from a rebuilding squad to a contending team this year. His two-way game consists of 30.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and a league-leading 2.0 steals per game. As a result, the OKC star has lifted his team to the top spot in the Western Conference, with Denver close behind.
Tatum, meanwhile, is the best player on the best team in East. The Boston Celtics forward has averaged 27.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per contest this year. But even with his impressive numbers, he isn’t considered the biggest threat to Jokic and Gilgeous-Alexander’s bid to win MVP this season.
NBA Insider Reveals MVP Alternative to Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
As it stands, the biggest threat to the two frontrunners is never Tatum. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, it’s actually Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks, as can be seen in a video shared by Bally Sports Southwest on X:
Who will succeed Joel Embiid in hoisting the Michael Jordan Trophy?
The latest essay from our @TheSteinLine breaks down the NBA’s MVP race with just under a month to go in the regular season:#MFFL | @dallasmavs on @BallySports 📺 pic.twitter.com/uNpv3l4Q6Y
— Bally Sports Southwest (@BallySportsSW) March 19, 2024
While Jokic and Gilgeous-Alexander each present a convincing case to win MVP, Doncic’s performance these past few weeks has been insane. The Mavs star’s run of consecutive 30+point triple-doubles is an NBA record, and his presence alone on the court is a game-changer for Dallas.
Of course, anything can still happen in the regular season’s final month. If anything, fans should keep an eye, not only on the two frontrunners, but on Doncic as well to see if he can take home the MVP this year.
For More Great Basketball Content
Follow me on Twitter at @BeatKit22 and follow us @HardwoodHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in college and professional sports, click here!
