“This is my third or fourth year in a row, so I’m really — I don’t know. I cannot control it,” Jokić said. “Obviously, I think I’m playing the best basketball of my life. So if that’s enough, it’s enough. If not, the guy deserves it. He’s really amazing.” Nuggets coach Michael Malone was happy to step up and make the case for his guy.

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic currently sits behind Oklahoma City Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the 2025 NBA MVP odds, but Kevin Durant does not want to hear Jokic referred to as an "underdog.