In some seasons, the most deserving MVP candidate becomes relatively obvious at some point along the way. That certainly wasn't the case in 2023-24. With every game behind us, there are reasonable arguments for at least four players.
Nikola Jokić again led the league in most catch-all metrics from around the internet, and his Denver Nuggets were tied for the best record in the West.
Luka Dončić secured the scoring title, led the Dallas Mavericks to 50 wins and led his team in both assists and rebounds per game.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 30-plus points, led the league in steals per game and was the biggest reason the Oklahoma City Thunder became the youngest No. 1 seed in league history.
Giannis Antetokounmpo became the first player in NBA history to average 30-plus points with a 60-plus field-goal percentage.
The merits of each could be backed up with plenty more evidence, but nothing quite stacks up with Jokić's case.
Beyond the advanced numbers, the Serb put up 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds and 9.0 assists per game, while shooting 62.6 percent on twos. He led the league in total plus-minus. He was fifth in total points, third in total rebounds, second in total assists and eighth in total steals. When he was on the floor, the Nuggets had a point differential around that of a 67-win team. When he was off, the differential was around that of a 16-win team.
No one elevates his teammates quite like the Joker. He's team-first on every possession. He seemingly makes the right read on nine out of every 10 plays. In the clutch, he and Jamal Murray form a one-two punch that feels genuinely unstoppable. He had a plus-25.7 net rating in the last five minutes of games within five points.
This could go on and on, but ultimately, the most important point may be that Jokić backed up his title run in 2023 by proving once again that he's the best player in the league. This season's MVP selection should reflect that (and early returns suggest it will).
—Andy Bailey
