An updated KIA NBA MVP Ladder is here, and Nikola Jokic's numbers are almost unbeatable

Saturday, 16 March 2024 at 00:00

The new KIA MVP Ladder is here, and with the NBA regular season coming to an end in little over a month, the race to win this trophy is at its final stretch. With Joel Embiid's injury, Nikola Jokic took the first spot and appears that he's not letting it go.

With a few changes, the updated MVP race presents itself with Nikola Jokic on top. The Joker has been playing amazing basketball consistently for almost five years now, and this 2023-24 season will most likely crown him again as the most valuable player.

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Jokic fits every major criteria to be selected once again as the MVP. He's the center piece of the reigning champions Denver Nuggets, he's the reigning finals MVP and his team is currently tied with OKC for the first spot in the Western Conference Standings.

In addition, the Joker registered 787 rebounds this season, that's more boards that the ones he got when he won his first MVP, in the 2021-22 NBA season. The same thing happens with his 586 assists registered so far. Something to keep in mind is that this season still has nearly 20 more games to be played so yeah, Nikola Jokic's numbers are really beyond anything real right now.

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The second spot is for another incredibly consistant player, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Shai is averaging 31.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 6.4 assists. For the last 14 games played by the Thunder, Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30+ points 12 times. His team is in a great form, very similar to Denver's case. They've won 10 of their last 11 games. So Shai is making a strong case for him as well...

Giannis Antetokounmpo comes in third place, but a few steps behind the first two players. Giannis has been up there every single season for a while now, and having won this award two consecutive times, it's unlikely for him to win it once again, especially considering his team record.

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Luka Doncic and Jayson Tatum are the followers, in that specific order. Both players have been fantastic throughout the season. Luka is giving everything he's got to make a playoff push with his team. Dallas struggles have been discussed largely during this season, being this probably the main reason for Luka not competing on top of the list. Jayson Tatum is the best player in the best team and has been that way the whole season, but he's surrounded by such an elite squad that this perhaps ends up affecting the perception of the general audience towards him.