Nikola Jokic ‘is one of the more respected reigning MVPs,’ says Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone
LOS ANGELES – Nikola JokicThis season’s prolific MVP caliber play has outperformed other MVP contenders. Denver Nuggets Coach Michael Malone said few other reigning MVPs have ever been treated like this.
“I think he’s one of the more respected reigning MVPs I can think of out of the spotlight,” Malone told the Nuggets’ 87-85 lose arrive LA Clippers on Tuesday.
“But if you open the dictionary, look it up consistently, there’s a picture of Nikola there. It’s back to the bubble, it’s back to last year’s 72-game season, and this year we already know that. Jamal [Murray] will be out for a long time. When you add a Michael Porter, when you add a PJ Dozier arrive there [injured] list, it becomes even more unbelievable what he’s doing. “
Jokic entered Tuesday averaging 25.8 points, career-high 14.2 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 56.1% shooting this season. Last season, when he took home his first MVP trophy, Jokic averaged 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 8.3 assists and 56.6% shots.
He had 21 points, 13 rebounds and 8 assists while shooting 9 to 14 (64.3%).
This season, Jokic has had to bring the Nuggets with Murray still on his way back from a torn ACL and Porter playing just nine games due to back surgery that kept him out indefinitely.
Despite Denver’s dizzying array of players and coaches in and out of injuries and health and safety regulations, Jokic kept the Nuggets in the playoff hunt with some of his best basketballs. that. In Denver’s previous eight games, Jokic averaged 26.1 points and a league-best 17.3 rebounds.
But there’s been a lot of talk about MVP around things like Golden Empire Warriors‘ Stephen the curry, the brooklyn network‘ Kevin Durant and Milwaukee Bucks‘ Giannis Antetokounmpo, among others.
“I mean, Nikola Jokic is not sexy,” Malone said. “He’s not. There’s nothing about Nikola… his wife might disagree. But if you’re a true student of the game, a coach, a lover of the game and playing right. way, then you appreciate him at the level that he should be appreciated at.
“But he’s not going to be on SportsCenter to knock someone down. He’s not going to stop a shot into the third row. But if you value passing, IQ, reading the game, that’s just what it is. He works every night from goalscoring, rebounding, perspective on the game, and eventually I’m starting to hear that he’s getting more credit at defender, and it’s well deserved.”
