As the 2023 NBA Playoffs inch closer, there continues to be a lot of talk that Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic is closing in on his third straight regular season MVP award.
It’s no wonder why, as he’s averaging 24.6 points, 11.7 rebounds and 10.0 assists per game while shooting an unbelievable 63.3 percent from the field, as well as 39.8 percent from 3-point range.
Thanks to Jokic’s stellar play, the Nuggets have the best record in the Western Conference at 44-19.
But plenty of people still feel that the Milwaukee Bucks‘ Giannis Antetokounmpo is the game’s best player, and analyst Brian Windhorst endorsed him as his pick for this season’s MVP award.
Giannis has Brian Windhorst's MVP vote right now ☑️
"This guy does so much for his team at both ends of the court. … We've rarely seen it in the history of the league." pic.twitter.com/NxVtNfdH5J
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) March 2, 2023
The Greek Freak is putting up 31.3 points per game on 54.1 percent shooting, 12.0 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game, and his Bucks have a slightly better record than Denver at 45-17.
Furthermore, they’re currently on an amazing 16-game winning streak, and he has had not one but two 50-point outbursts during that streak.
What the Bucks have done lately is even more impressive considering they haven’t been at full strength for much of this season.
Forward Khris Middleton, who is arguably their second-best player, has played in just 20 games this season, and he has been periodically in and out of their lineup.
To those who give Antetokounmpo the nod over Jokic, the edge the former has over the latter is defense.
While Jokic isn’t a bad defender per see, Antetokounmpo is considered an elite defender, and he won the Defensive Player of the Year award just three years ago.
If the Bucks ever get and stay healthy, he could have them on a collision course with Jokic’s crew in the NBA Finals this summer.
NEXT: The Bucks’ Dominance In The East Is Only Growing
