NBA Award Watch: Nikola Jokic is moving mountains

4 of 6

March 10, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Nikola Jokic (15) looks on during the first half against the Boston Celtics at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /

Most Improved Player: Nikola Jokic

We thought we knew was going to win the NBA’s Most Improved Player award. Then again, things can change in a moment’s notice in professional sports. That’s why they are so entertaining.

From pretty much day one of the 2016-17 NBA season, Most Improved Player was Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo’s to lose. He emerged as an Eastern Conference All-Star starter in his fourth year in the league. The jump shot isn’t there yet, but Antetokounmpo is a star in the dairy land for sure.

Quietly moving mountains in the Mile High City of Denver is Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic. Denver has been in eighth place in the Western Conference for close to a month now. Jokic’s rise to borderline stardom for the Nuggets cannot be overlooked anymore.

He is averaging 16.1 points, 9.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game for Michael Malone’s Nuggets. Jokic has a slightly better PER over Antetokounmpo at 26.6 and 7.6 Win Shares on the season. Denver and Milwaukee are borderline playoff teams. Whichever team ends the year on a better note will likely swing the Most Improved vote.

Home/NBA