In a clip from NBA Unplugged with Kevin Hart, the legendary comic gives his thoughts on Nikola Jokic and the 2024 MVP race. Speaking bluntly on the show, Hart explained why he has a problem with Jokic potentially winning another MVP this season — which would put him in truly elite company.
“They cannot give [Nikola Jokic] any more MVPs,” said Hart. “It’s not good for the NBA.”
Kevin also agreed with Cedric the Entertainer on how Jokic’s season isn’t on par with that of other candidates like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
“[Joker] is having a great year, but it doesn’t feel like that dominant year the way I would say [Shai Gilgeous-Alexander] is.”
Apparently, in the eyes of Kevin Hart and friends, Nikola Jokic hasn’t yet done enough to be a 3x MVP winner. Of course, he’s hardly alone in this thinking and Jokic’s calm and carless demeanor can rub many observers the wrong way. Just this month, former NBA guard Gilbert Arenas took a diss at Joker and now Kevin Hart is taking a turn trolling the 2x MVP. To Hart’s credit, only a select few players in NBA history have ever won three MVPs and they are all among the best players in basketball history.
To date, only eight players have ever won three MVPs or more, including Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Moses Malone, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, and LeBron James. Jokic could become the ninth player on that list pretty soon but he still lacks in playoff pedigree.
Coming off his first title with the Nuggets, Jokic has already ascended into the upper ranks of NBA superstardom. But for Jokic to earn the same respect as some of the other all-time legends, he’ll have to step up in the playoffs for more than just one season. With his Nuggets atop the West once again, the odds are looking favorable for the Nuggets to repeat as champions and forever mark their place in the history books.
Nikola Jokic Will Win His Third MVP
The Joker was on his way to winning his third MVP last season before a late-season duty gave Joel Embiid the edge at the last minute. But after leading the Nuggets to a title and winning Finals MVP in June, Jokic validated his earlier trophies and swung the door wide open for his MVP campaign this year.
Again, from the start, Jokic was a top-flight most valuable candidate with averages of 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 9.0 assists on 57% shooting. It’s been nothing short of a masterpiece for Jokic and the Nuggets have taken full advantage of his greatness by surrounding him with teammates such as Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., and Aaron Gordon.
Mix those factors in with injuries to several superstars (including Joel Embiid) and it’s fair to say the MVP this season was the Joker’s to lose. And now, with everything going so well, it’s all but a give he’ll win the award unless Luka Doncic makes a push.
For now, Jokic’s goals are completely about the playoffs and what battles may be to come on the quest to repeat as an NBA champion. MVP or not, Jokic is still the best player in basketball right now until proven otherwise and the road to the West runs through him.
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