Former Boston Celtics star Paul Pierce has voiced his support for Nikola Jokic as the rightful recipient of this season’s MVP award.
Pierce highlighted Jokic’s outstanding performance, emphasizing his consistent dominance on the court and Denver Nuggets’ strong position in the standings.
In addition to Jokic, Pierce mentioned several other deserving candidates, including Jayson Tatum, Luka Doncic, Anthony Edwards, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
While acknowledging the competition, Pierce reiterated his belief that Jokic stands out among the contenders due to his exceptional contributions to the Nuggets’ success.
“It’s the Joker,” Pierce said. “He’s putting up crazy numbers as usual, Denver is right where they need to be. But obviously you got other good guys, who could fit the bill.
“Jayson Tatum’s in there, Luka Doncic obviously. Luka Doncic is a top three seed away from an MVP. But you can make an argument for Tatum. You can make an argument for Anthony Edwards, for Giannis [Antetokounmpo], Shai [Gilgeous-Alexander]. I just think Joker. It’s close though.”
Kevin Garnett said that the MVP award should go to the player having the best year and the best player in the NBA.
Responding to Garnett’s perspective on the MVP criteria, Pierce pointed to Doncic’s impressive numbers throughout the season. “Well, the stat wise, it’s Luka Doncic,” Pierce responded.
Doncic’s stellar averages of 33.9 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 9.8 assists per game position him as a strong contender for the prestigious accolade.
However, Jokic’s remarkable impact on both ends of the floor cannot be overlooked, with the Serbian center averaging 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 9 assists per game for the Nuggets.
