Closing out our top 25 rankings is the reigning finals MVP, Nikola Jokic, a player with an absurd all-around impact and proven value at all levels. The former second-round pick has become the league’s best player, a Finals MVP, and a two-time regular season MVP.
Top 25 NBA Players 2023-24: No. 1 Nikola Jokic
A Historic Offensive Talent
Over the past few years, it has become abundantly clear that Jokic is a historically great offensive player. In addition to being a 25-points-per-game scorer, Jokic is a top-notch passer, averaging almost 10 assists a game. Jokic has excellent vision and accuracy. With this elite combination, Denver can run most of their offense through him. As a result, Jokic generates tons of great looks for his teammates, making him one of the most integral and impactful offensive players. Jokic is also an elite and all-time-level rebounder. This gives him an incredible impact that can’t be matched. His elite combination of impact, production, and advanced stats make him stand out.
Season Recap
Jokic was coming off back-to-back MVPs heading into the last season, and he put together another MVP-caliber year. This included eye-popping all-around numbers and incredible impact, leading the Nuggets to the number one seed, a spot they held since mid-December and winning 53 games. The Nuggets’ culture and ball movement jump off the screen when watching them, in large part due to Jokic. As a result, Jokic entered another hotly contested MVP debate against Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo. He ultimately lost the race, finishing second to Embiid. But it was clear Jokic and the Nuggets were focused on bigger goals.
The Nuggets matched up against the eighth-seeded Timberwolves in the first round, plowing through them in five games. The Nuggets would face off against the star-studded Suns in the second round. Despite scoring outbursts from Devin Booker and Kevin Durant in Games 3 and 4, the Nuggets would close out the Suns in six games. During the series, Jokic put up a dominant 34 PPG, 13 RPG, and 10 APG. Following another brilliant Jokic series, the Nuggets would sweep past the Lakers in the Conference Finals, setting up a surprising Finals matchup against the Miami Heat. Jokic averaged an absurd 30 PPG, 14 RPG, and 7 APG during the Finals, leading the Nuggets to a five-game finals victory. Jokic was, of course, named Finals MVP for his incredible efforts. Furthermore, this was the Nuggets’ first-ever NBA title. Ultimately, Jokic’s incredible finals established him as the league’s top player.
Season Outlook: Can Jokic and the Nuggets Repeat?
Many question if the Nuggets are still favorites after an offseason where they lost Bruce Brown and Jeff Green. However, Jokic generates offense at such an elite level and is still surrounded by the main championship core. Furthermore, the Nuggets rookies Jalen Pickett, Julian Strawther, and Hunter Tyson project to make an impact in the rotation. Internal improvement from Christian Braun is a strong possibility. Ultimately, we haven’t seen any of the Nuggets top competitors beat them while Denver is at full strength. The Lakers and Suns certainly both got better. However, the Nuggets’ incredible offense with Jokic, elite supporting cast, and astonishing ball movement with excellent team chemistry still gives Denver a massive advantage. Additionally, Jokic is one of the most consistent, impactful, productive, and durable stars. This all perfectly sets Jokic up for another MVP and Finals run.
The Last Word
After an absurd championship run and years of dominating during the regular season, Jokic has earned his top spot. Denver’s Finals run made that roster and Jokic feel untouchable. Ultimately, the combination of his elite playoff run with years of incredible impact and production make Jokic my choice for the league’s best player.
