Revealed: October 31, 2025
Nikola Jokic had a really sturdy case to be the MVP final yr, and thus far, he’s ensuring he has one other one this yr. He fell quick after an unimaginable yr by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, however there was an argument to be made for the Denver Nuggets star. He’s off to a historic begin thus far, and he is likely to be the early favourite, though Gilgeous-Alexander can also be red-hot proper now.
Nikola Jokic notches historic fourth triple-double to open season
Triple-doubles, due to Russell Westbrook, have change into a bit normalized. It’s in no way stunning that gamers document them now. Even function gamers generally stumble into them. They occur so continuously that the NBA world is desensitized to how exhausting it truly is to document 10 or extra in three stats. So many gamers are so versatile that three of 10 factors, blocks, rebounds, assists, or steals is one thing they will do fairly usually. That features Nikola Jokic.
Final season, the Denver Nuggets middle averaged a triple-double with an astonishing 29.6 factors, 10.2 assists, and 12.7 rebounds. These are absurd numbers, and whereas his scoring is down to begin the yr, he’s averaging a triple-double once more with 20.3 factors, 11.3 assists, and 14.5 rebounds.
In all 4 contests, Jokic has recorded one. Within the opener, he had 21 factors, 10 assists, and 13 rebounds. That was Denver’s lone loss, and a poor capturing evening for Jokic (8/23 from the sector) spoiled a traditionally environment friendly 50-point contest from Aaron Gordon. Jokic responded by recording three extra triple-doubles in wins and capturing above 60% in all three of them. He had 14 factors, 15 assists, and 14 rebounds in Sport 2. He adopted that up with 25 factors, 10 assists, and 19 rebounds. Final evening, he tied Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook along with his fourth straight triple-double to begin the season with 21 factors, 10 assists, and 12 rebounds.
Clearly, the assists are the one factor that Jokic can’t get as continuously for the triple-doubles. He’s had solely 10 in three of the 4, so it is likely to be more durable to maintain. After all, assists are the toughest stat to document as a result of they’re solely depending on the participant making the shot after the move. It’s out of Jokic’s arms at that time, however he is an efficient sufficient passer that there’s an actual shot he units the document with a fifth consecutive triple-double subsequent outing.
Jokic is slowly constructing a case as among the finest gamers of all time. He shoots effectively, passes like no different, and rebounds effectively. Only a few gamers have ever been in a position to do what he does, particularly as a real huge man. He’s not a stretch 4; he’s a official middle who makes behind-the-back passes and sees issues once they’re not even there. If that wasn’t evident earlier than, it ought to be evident now as he’s on a sizzling streak solely two others in NBA historical past have ever reached.
The Nuggets gained a title with Jokic on the middle, and so long as he’s this good, they nonetheless have an opportunity even within the loaded Western Convention. Due to an offseason to revamp the expertise round Jokic, specifically swapping Michael Porter Jr. for Cam Johnson, the Nuggets are again to being official contenders. Jokic is a strolling triple-double, as evidenced by this historic run of video games, and the Nuggets are extremely harmful.
There’s a case to be made that Jokic ought to’ve had the final 5 MVP awards. He had two in a row in 2021 and 2022, which can have led to some voter fatigue in 2023. That’s when Joel Embiid gained, however many nonetheless consider Jokic was the extra deserving candidate. Jokic gained it once more in 2024, and regardless of the unimaginable season Gilgeous-Alexander had in 2025, there was an actual debate between the 2 as to who ought to get it. If this continues, Jokic may find yourself with a formidable fourth MVP award.
