Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander fought it twice this week, and the MVP debate was well treated.
In two games, this is how both of them performed:
Jokic: 58.1% shot 59 points (3 of 13 shots), with 31 rebounds, 17 assists, 4 blocks and 2 steals.
Gilgeous-Alexander: 50% shooting percentage is 65 points (5 from 3 shots), 11 rebounds, 12 assists, 5 blocks and 2 steals.
OKC won the first 127-103 game on Sunday night, while Jokic ensured that the Nuggets took the revenge 140-127 to win the victory a few days later.
The big man himself admits that his basketball has reached new heights this season, but as he has been very frustrated with the MVP battle as he has something to do with most NBAs.
“It’s my third or fourth year in a row, so I really – I don’t know. I can’t control it,” Jokic said. “Obviously, I think I’m playing the best basketball of my life. So if enough, it’s enough. If not, that guy deserves it. He’s really great.”
In the fourth quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander had only two points on 1 of 2 shots.
“Just to give people a different look,” Jokic said. “He is definitely the top player in this league. He’s really talented. He’s so cunning. I’m going to say that his midrange is really, really, really historical. He’s a great player, so we’re trying to get him to shoot badly or get out of the ball.”
Nuggets coach Michael Malone believes that MVP battle is not a battle at all.
“Obviously, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a great player, if he wins the first MVP, he deserves it,” Malone said. “My thing is: If you don’t know that Nikola won three MVPs and I put Player A and Player B on paper… That guy is on paper and there’s no one who wins, that’s a person who wins, that’s a person who wins, that’s a certain win, that’s a certain third, that’s a third win. 10 times out of 10 MVPs. If you don’t think that, I think you’re all Bulls*******.”
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