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Nikola Jokic was the 2020-21 NBA Most Valuable Player, edging out second-place Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid and third-place Golden State Warriors point guard Steph Curry, who were all finalists for the award.
The Denver Nuggets center averaged 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds and 8.3 assists in the regular season with a field goal of 56.6% to earn himself the MVP title in the previous season. He could top his previous and outperform every other player in the league to win the 2021-22 NBA MVP award and here's why.
Three reasons why Nikola Jokic can win the MVP award again in the 2021-22 NBA season
#1 Durability/Availability
To win the MVP you must be available for games, as your inability to play games will hamper your chances a great deal. No one was more available than Jokic was in the previous season, as he was one of 11 players in the league to have featured in all 72 games. But he did so while carrying his team on his back and hitting a career-high in points, field goals, rebounds and assists.
He could reenact such durability in the coming season and surpass his previous season records while doing so. This will ultimately aid him in winning the NBA's most prestigious award for a second time consecutively.
#2 Statistical advantage
The Denver Nuggets finished first in the Northwest Division, third in the NBA Western Conference with a record of 47-25 and made it to the NBA Western Conference Finals for the fourth time in franchise history, which was their first time since 2009. Although they lost to the L.A. Lakers (1-4) in the finals, having defeated the Utah Jazz and L.A. Clippers (4-3), the Joker played a huge role in the team's successful campaign.
Jokic led the team in the 2020-21 NBA season in points, field goals, offensive rebounds, assists and steals, averaging 26.4 points, 10.2 points from the field, 8.0 offensive rebounds, 8.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game. He has been faulted in the past for his weakness in netting three-pointers, but in the previous season Jokic registered a three-point accuracy of 38.8% per game.
#3 More offensive responsibility
With Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray out for a few months as he recovers from his ACL surgery, Jokic will play a more offensive role for the team. This will see the Joker record more shots and more points for the Nuggets, which will better his chances of winning the NBA MVP for a second time.
Jokic on the floor without Murray, which saw him averaging 29.7 points, 11.2 rebounds and 9.2 assists with a field goal of 55.1% per 36 minutes played. There was an obvious spike in his shot attempts, which rose from 17.5 to 20.2 per 36 minutes. We expect Jokic to put up explosive numbers in the NBA regular season with Murray recovering as it will fall on his shoulders to keep the Nuggets atop in the West.
