The race for the NBA’s top individual awards is heating up as the end of the regular season approaches. Denver Nuggets franchise player Nikola Jokić is often at the top of the discussion for the Most Valuable Player award. However, the three-time MVP isn’t the first- or second-most-discussed candidate this season, which is something his head coach, David Adelman, recently addressed.
Why Nuggets Coach David Adelman Believes Nikola Jokić Deserves the MVP Award
While addressing the media, Adelman praised Jokić and urged MVP voters not to take him for granted. Adelman said, “He is the best player in the World. I mean, the efficiency this year, what he’s done. I understand there has to be multiple stories and different people have to win awards. I think that’s really cool, but I just don’t want people to skip past our guy because he’s won it three times. I think that’s disappointing.”
David Adelman on Nikola Jokić and the MVP conversation:
“He is the best player in the world.”
…
“I just don’t want people to skip past our guy because he’s won it three times.” pic.twitter.com/tXGdJmxCr0
— DNVR Nuggets (@DNVR_Nuggets) April 4, 2026
Jokić has played some of the best basketball of his career this season, averaging 27.7 points, 12.95 rebounds, and 10.8 assists per game while shooting 57.2% from the field and 38.7% from three. He leads the NBA with a 125.6 offensive rating and 32 triple-doubles.
Adelman hopes that Jokić’s continued brilliance isn’t held against him in this year’s MVP voting, as has been rumored in previous seasons. The idea that Jokić has been a victim of voter fatigue regarding the MVP award surfaced notably during the 2022–23 season, when he finished second behind Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid.
Embiid led the league in scoring and received public support from several notable NBA media members to win the award. However, Jokić averaged more rebounds and assists per game than Embiid, had higher field goal percentages, and even led some advanced metrics like win shares.
Adelman praised Oklahoma City Thunder star and reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama during his comments, as this year’s MVP is likely to be either of them.
Perhaps the primary reason Jokić is considered behind the two stars this season is that Gilgeous-Alexander and Wembanyama are battling for the top seed in the Western Conference playoffs, while Jokić and the Nuggets are trying to maintain a top-four seed.
While Adelman claims Jokić is the best player in the league, Gilgeous-Alexander and Wembanyama both rank in the league’s top 10 in offensive and defensive rating, while Jokić doesn’t. It appears there are valid reasons why Jokić isn’t quite at the top of the MVP race this season, but Adelman still gave voters something to think about.
