The Joker, SGA, Joker, SGA, Joker, SGA…the back and forth continues and likely will not cease until the regular season ends. Nikola Jokić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are in the heat of a tight MVP race to the finish line, and it’s the most exciting element of this NBA campaign. Each night, both players increase their chances and further their case. SGA is gunning for his first, and Jokić is looking to nab his fourth in five years. Whichever man lifts the award ultimately, each one was just as deserving as the other. Of course, if you ask Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone, the voters may have some voter fatigue. The championship coach took to stats on a stat sheet to show why Jokić is deserving, all while uplifting SGA in praiseworthy fashion at the same time.
Nuggets’ Michael Malone Delivers Persuasive MVP Argument
Denver Nuggets Head Coach Michael Malone Calls MVP Race A ‘Player A, Player B’ Type-Scenario
The amazing aspect of this year’s MVP race is that you can’t argue or complain about who eventually wins. SGA has earned all the votes he accumulates, as does Jokić. Either way, both players are deserving and each warrants equal consideration. Unfortunately, only one may come out on top. Malone, who has been Jokić’s coach for ten years, is pining harder than ever to make sure the MVP honors fall on the right shoulders. That being said, Malone is in no way disrespecting Gilgeous-Alexander. The coach spoke about the MVP conversation after the Nuggets defeated the Thunder on the second of the weekend’s back-to-back showcase featuring the two teams. At the same time, though, Malone did not shy away from supporting his player [7:15 mark]. He also took a shot at the media and voters for their MVP outlook.
“Obviously, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a great player, and if he wins his first MVP, he’s deserving of that. My thing is this, you know, if you didn’t know that Nikola won three MVPs and I put player A and player B on paper and you had no idea that the guy who’s averaging a triple-double, the guy who’s top three in the three major statistical categories, things that no one’s ever done, he wins the MVP 10 times out of 10, and if you don’t think so, I think you guys are all full of ___.”
Top Dollar Promotion
Malone supports Jokić exactly how any superstar wants to be seen and regarded by their head coach. In his monologue, Malone goes on to say that Jokić is doing things this season that have never been done historically. He’s not intending to take anything away from SGA; he is simply promoting his player. If you listen to his comments, his support is crystal clear and to the point, not to mention quite persuasive.
Jokić is having an incredible year and has put up several almost unbelievable stat lines. He’s having a career year in points, assists, and three-point shooting. On top of that, Jokić is averaging a triple-double along the way. Malone agreed that this season is Jokić’s best, and we should be inclined to agree with him.
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