It is a two-man race for the league MVP as the NBA season sprints to the finish line.
Oklahoma City Thunder‘s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the favorite, while Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic — a three-time winner of the award — is right behind him.
One NBA star believes that Jokic, who is averaging a triple-double this season, will be hurt by his past when it comes time for the panel to cast their votes.
Golden State Warrior Draymond Green shared on his podcast that because the Denver big man has already won the award three times, including last year, the voters will have ‘Jokic fatigue’ and want a new and fresh face raising the hardware.
“I think the only thing I would say is, as deserving as he is with that stat line, what he’s up against is the fact that people become accustomed to greatness,” Green said on his podcast.
“Take LeBron [James], for instance — LeBron probably should have six or seven MVPs.
“But people get kind of accustomed to and bored with greatness, right?
“That’s one of the challenges he’s facing.
“If Joker were having this exact season statistically — putting up these numbers — and had never won MVP before, he would undoubtedly be MVP, no question.
“But because people have grown used to him averaging those kinds of numbers, he almost gets bumped down for it.”
Green went on to say that he understands why Gilgeous-Alexander is in all likelihood going to win the award, but then challenged the system of it all.
“When you look at who’s won MVP over the years, it’s very hard to deny Shai,” Green continued.
“And that’s where I think the voting system becomes a problem.
“The reality is, it’s so opinionated. There’s no clear criteria, no set guidelines.
“If there were a small committee making the decision, they would probably make them co-MVPs. You know what I’m saying? That’s how close it is.”
If it always went to the best player in the league, then Green is correct, James would surely have a handful of more MVP awards than his current four.
Michael Jordan won it five times and probably should have at least two more.
Jokic is deserving and so is Gilgeous-Alexander.
Green is right that the solution for this season would probably be co-MVPs, but that has never happened in the history of the award.
And it’s not going to start now.
Gilgeous-Alexander will win the award, as he has been the best player, on the best team, for the majority of the season.
Is Gilgeous-Alexander better than Jokic? No.
But in this instance, it doesn’t matter.
And that’s why Green wants the system and voting process to change.
