Right now, Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets is the favorite to win this season’s NBA MVP award, and it’s hard to argue with that.
He’s averaging 26.1 points, 12.3 rebounds and 9.3 assists a game and has the defending world champion Denver Nuggets in third place in the Western Conference.
But ESPN personality Kendrick Perkins says one man is deserving of MVP consideration but isn’t being talked about — Domantis Sabonis of the Sacramento Kings.
Perkins cited Sabonis’ all-around statistical production as the reason one could make an argument for him, per ClutchPoints.
“Why are we not saying anything about [Domantas] Sabonis?… If we’re going based on numbers, he’s leading the league in triple-doubles and double-doubles,” Perkins said.
"Why are we not saying anything about [Domantas] Sabonis?… If we're going based on numbers, he's leading the league in triple-doubles and double-doubles."
Kendrick Perkins says a case can be made for Sabonis for MVP 🗣️
(via @ESPNNBA)pic.twitter.com/d5HzJaCx2t
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 28, 2024
This season, Sabonis is putting up 20.0 points, 8.5 assists and an NBA-high 13.2 rebounds per contest, and as Perkins noted, he’s leading everyone in both double-doubles and triple-doubles.
Thanks in large part to him, the Kings appear to have a strong chance at making the playoffs for a second straight season, and they currently sit in seventh place in the Western Conference.
They’re just one game behind the New Orleans Pelicans, who are in fifth place in the West.
Sabonis has made major strides as a player over the last several years, and this season, he’s even shooting 42.9 percent from 3-point range, although he rarely elects to let it fly from that distance.
Sacramento likely won’t win enough games to give him a great shot at winning the MVP, but they’re still a dangerous team due to their 3-point shooting, unselfishness, and overall offensive firepower.
It’s doubtful anyone would want to face them in the playoffs, should they get to the playoffs.
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