Nikola Jokic was voted the NBA’s best player by fellow players in a recent All-Star Weekend poll conducted by The Athletic, as reported by Joe Vardon on Tuesday, February 17.
The Denver Nuggets center received five votes, edging out Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who earned three, and Luka Doncic and Donovan Mitchell, each receiving two votes. Only one vote went to Kevin Durant, while no players selected LeBron James or Stephen Curry.
Jokic is averaging 28.7 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 10.7 assists per game this season while shooting 59% from the field and 42% from three-point range across 39 appearances. His efficiency and playmaking remain a benchmark for the league, further validating the player vote.
Gilgeous-Alexander continues to lead Oklahoma City with 31.8 points and 6.4 assists per contest in 49 games, shooting 55.4% from the field. Doncic is posting 32.8 points, 8.6 assists, and 7.8 rebounds for the Los Angeles Lakers, while Donovan Mitchell averages 29.0 points and 5.9 assists in 51 games with Cleveland.
Jokic’s Nuggets sit third in the Western Conference at 35-20, trailing Oklahoma City (42-14) and San Antonio (38-16). Denver has combined a 50.7% shooting rate with 118.4 points per game, relying heavily on Jokic’s inside-out scoring and elite passing.
