Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic has recorded more 40-point games this December than he did during his MVP season last year. In 31 games this season, Jokic has four 40-point games.
Last season, Jokic finished with three in 74 starts. The center also posted 66 double-doubles and 19 triple-doubles in the 2021-22 season. Currently, the 27-year-old has recorded 24 double-doubles and seven triple-doubles so far this season.
According to several NBA betting sites, Nikola Jokic has the third-best odds to win the MVP in 2023. Few sportsbooks offer better odds for Luka Doncic and Jayson Tatum.
Nikola Jokic has more 40-point games this December than he did in his last MVP season. pic.twitter.com/NU5CGCMu2B
— StatMuse (@statmuse) December 29, 2022
On December 14, Nikola Jokic scored a season-high 43 points in 34 minutes in the Nuggets’ 141–128 win over the Washington Wizards. He finished 17 of 20 (85%) from the field and 9 of 10 (90%) from the foul line.
The center then recorded 40-plus points against the Charlotte Hornets (Dec. 18), Phoenix Suns (Dec. 25) and Sacramento Kings (Dec. 28). In Denver’s 119-115 win over the Hornets, the eight-year veteran grabbed a career-high 27 rebounds in 40 minutes of action.
Nuggets center Nikola Jokic has recorded more 40-point games this December than he did in his 2021-22 MVP season.
Per ESPN’s Tim McMahon, an undisclosed source told reporters Tuesday that Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic is more likely to join Denver’s Jokic than the other way around. Of course, the center’s high contract complicates things.
In the offseason, Nikola Jokic agreed to a five-year, $264 million supermax extension with the Nuggets. He is making $33,047,803 this season and is projected to make $46.55 million next season. Then it just goes up. The two-time MVP also has 61,446 player picks for the 2027-28 season.
According to ESPN’s Tim McMahon, Luka Doncic joining Nikola Jokic in Denver is more likely than Jokic joining Doncic in Dallas. pic.twitter.com/imnshIR07w
— Basketball Forever (@bballforever_) December 28, 2022
If Jokic and Doncic want to win championships, the two might as well be on the same team. The Nuggets center leads the NBA in wins (6.6), player efficiency rating (32.3), box plus/minus (12.2) and triple doubles.
According to Basketball-Reference Statistics, Nikola Jokic has a 48.5 percent chance of being a Hall of Famer. Winning a chip raises that percentage. Although some fans would argue that both Jokic and Doncic are solid locks at this point.
