Steve Nash Backs Nikola Jokic As The 2021 NBA MVP: "He's Clearly The MVP This Year"

(via The Denver Post)

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Denver Nuggets superstar has found support in a former NBA MVP that believes he should win the award this season. The big man has been terrific this season, and most people around the NBA are convinced he should win the coveted trophy after his good performances with the team. 

Steve Nash had high praise for him ahead of the Brooklyn Nets-Denver Nuggets game on Saturday night, explaining why Nikola should win the award this campaign. 

“Clearly, (Nikola) Jokic is the MVP this year,” Nash said pregame, via The Denver Post. “He’s kind of gone wire-to-wire at this high level. He makes his teammates better and everything go. They lose Jamal Murray and they haven’t really skipped a beat. That shows how good he is.”

“He’s such a willing and contagious passer,” Nash said. “He can make the assist, but he can also make the right read. It becomes the hockey assist where the ball moves to one or two guys down the line, and they get open shots. He facilitates that style of play and that willingness to pass. He’s able to knock down that first domino.”

Jokic, 26, would be the first second-round pick to win the MVP award in the last 50 years, emulating what Willis Reed did in 1970. The difference here is that Reed was the 8th overall pick, which already was the second round at that time. 

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In doing so, he'd also be the lowest-drafted MVP ever, surpassing Nash himself and Giannis Antetokounmpo by a lot. The back-to-back MVP winners were both ranked 15th. So things are getting pretty interesting for Jokic, who could make history this season with his Nuggets. 

They are favorites to come out of the West this season. However, things won't be easy for them, knowing that the Clippers, Jazz, and even a healthy Lakers team can make life very hard for them. Jokic finished the game with 29 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists but taking the L as the Nuggets succumbed to the Nets, 129-119.