Nikola Jokic Will Have 'Greatest' Non-MVP Season Ever If SGA Wins Award, Adelman Says

Denver Nuggets head coach David Adelman had high praise for superstar center Nikola Jokić.

“If Nikola doesn’t win MVP, it will be the greatest season of all time to not win MVP,” Adelman said, per Tony Jones of The Athletic.

Jokić, who has earned MVP honors in three of the past four years, is in the midst of another impressive season as he battles with Oklahoma City Thunder star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the award.

In 69 starts, he's averaged a career-high 29.8 points and 10.3 assists to go along with 12.8 rebounds per game for the Nuggets. With one game left in the regular season, Jokić officially became the third player in NBA history to average a triple-double.

He hasn't sacrificed his efficiency despite attempting a career-high 19.6 shots per game either. Jokić has maintained a 66.2 true shooting percentage this season, which ranks No. 10 in the association (via NBA.com).

Gilgeous-Alexander is the main threat to his MVP candidacy, as the three-time All-Star has helped lead the Thunder to a 67-14 record.

His scoring average of 32.7 points per game leads the NBA. Gilgeous-Alexander is also pulling down 5.0 rebounds and dishing out 6.4 assists per game while posting 51.9/37.5/89.8 shooting splits.

Adelman made it clear that he believes Jokić has put together one of the best individual seasons in NBA history regardless of potential MVP recognition.