Denver Nuggets head coach Mike Malone believes the MVP conversation has been blown out of proportion and has “turned off” his superstar, Nikola Jokic.
According to Nuggets writer Joel Rush, “This year has taken an ugly, nasty turn in the MVP conversation. And I think it’s turned a lot of people off, including [Nikola Jokic]…” Malone said. “It’s not promoting my guy, it’s tearing down every other guy. And that’s just ridiculous.”
"Celebrate them!"
Michael Malone on MVP talk:
"This year has taken an ugly, nasty turn in the MVP conversation. And I think it's turned a lot of people off, including [Nikola Jokic]…
It's not promoting my guy, it's tearing down every other guy. And that's just ridiculous." pic.twitter.com/1dx6PUORNQ
— Joel Rush (@JoelRushNBA) March 23, 2023
Over the last couple of weeks, the MVP chatter has become one of the most spoken-about topics in the NBA, and Jokic has been looked at as one of the prime contenders to win the award for the third time in a row. But, there has been an increasing call for the MVP to go to Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid.
Going by Malone’s comments, Jokic looks like he’s just plain annoyed with the whole buzz, and it comes in the middle of his questionable defense and the Nuggets’ wobbly run in the final stretch of the regular season.
It will be up to the head coach to ensure that the Serbian and his team don’t lose sight of the larger picture — winning an NBA title. For now, one thing is clear: Jokic’s not a happy man.
Battle Of The Centers: Nikola Jokic vs. Joel Embiid
In what comes as a tight battle, Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic are big men who are playing at an elite level at the moment. While the Sixers star is averaging 33.2 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.2 assists, Jokic is at 24.8 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 9.9 assists.
The latest NBA MVP rankings put Embiid at No. 1 and Jokic second. Their respective teams’ contrasting runs have played a part in the positioning. This has also led to former players, experts, and voting members taking their stance on the MVP.
Both players have been vocal about their thoughts on the whole conversation. And with both teams set to make the playoffs, only time will tell if Embiid will win his maiden MVP award this season or if Jokic can create history by recording his third MVP in a row.
We sincerely appreciate and respect you as a reader of our site. It would help us a lot if you follow us on Google News because of the latest update.
Thanks for following us. We really appreciate your support.
