DeMarcus Cousins got a personal issue should Nikola Jokic eventually bags the Most Valuable Player award this 2022-23 season.
In the latest segment of KG CERTIFIED, the current free-agent pointed out Jokic’s track record of wins as a basis that must be questioned on why it is difficult to get convinced of the potential three-straight MVP capturing by the Denver Nuggets superstar.
“I’m not okay with being three MVPs in a row because it then becomes a conversation of, is this the best basketball player to ever touch a basketball?” Cousins told hall of famer and show host Kevin Garnett. “I think we can all agree on that and say it’s not. Not saying he can’t be. Not saying he doesn’t deserve more down the road. But at this stage in his career, I’m not okay with saying that.
“He hasn’t won anything. He hasn’t been to a final. It’s a lot of things still in play for that.”
Jokic stormed the 2022-23 campaign with that maintained all-around impactful mastery, averaging 24.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 9.8 assists. Unlike his past two MVP seasons, this year has been a fruitful one for his club. Under his leadership, the Nuggets are boasting a 53-29 record en route to the Western Conference’s top spot.
This take by Cousins can only be considered reasonable especially on the winning standpoint. The two previous legends who managed to obtain three-peat MVP trophies have already won their respective championship upon achieving the rare feat. Wilt Chamberlain who won the MVP recognition from 1966 to 1968, clinched his first title at the middle of the said stretch as the centerpiece of the Philadelphia 76ers. Larry Bird, before even bringing home three-straight best player trophies from 1984 to 1986, had already hoisted his first championship in 1981 with the Boston Celtics.
At the side of Jokic, he is yet to lead Denver to an NBA Finals finish, and this upcoming playoffs is the daunting test for him to accomplish that.
For Cousins, if ever Jokic wins his third MVP this year, this will put him as the best center ever – overtaking the likes of Chamberlain, Shaquille O’Neal and Hakeem Olajuwon. This notion, for the former star big man, is unpleasant in his basketball standpoint.
“And now this. … We’re in the conversation. At this point, he’s the best center of all time with three in a row [MVPs]. We’re putting him over the likes of Shaquille O’Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, Tim Duncan, Wilt Chamberlain. And it’s just like a tough conversation to have because we’ve seen what these guys have done, we’ve seen how their careers have panned out,” Cousins added.
“Can we sit here and say right now, today, that Jokic is not only the best big to ever play, but the best basketball player to ever touch a ball, with three MVPs in a row? And I’m not comfortable saying that.
“I’m just not comfortable saying that.”
