Nikola Jokić is undoubtedly one of the best basketball players today, if not the best. In a span of 11 years in the NBA, Jokić has notched one NBA championship, one NBA Finals MVP, three NBA MVP awards, and eight NBA All-Star selections. While it took a while for the Joker to find his footing in the league, he hasn’t looked back ever since he became the MVP in the 2020-21 season.
In a recent interview, a sports journalist asked Jokić for his opinion on what it takes to win the MVP award, especially since he has already won it several times.
What Nikola Jokić Believes It Takes to Win the NBA MVP Award
The MVP award is an individual accolade and the ultimate honor for the season’s best player. The criteria for winning the award usually involve a player’s individual performance and how it translates into their team’s record.
While many MVP award winners in the past have bragged about why they’re the best, Jokić surprisingly isn’t the type to do so.
Jokić was recently interviewed by a sports journalist who asked what it takes to win the MVP award. While many would assume a player would say it all comes down to how they perform as individuals, Jokić gave the opposite answer, saying that having a good team is important for winning the award.
“I think you have to have a good group of guys who support you,” Jokić said. “You need to have good chemistry and guys who trust you. So to get the MVP, I think you need to have a great group of guys with you.”
Nikola Jokic on what it takes to win NBA MVP:
“I think you have to have a good group of guys who support you. You need to have good chemistry and guys who trust you. So to get the MVP, I think you need to have a great group of guys with you” pic.twitter.com/IFVZrJaPjc — NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) March 30, 2026
Despite Jokić’s humility, there is nothing humble about the numbers he’s been putting up this season. The Joker is averaging a triple-double with 27.9 points, 12.8 rebounds, 10.8 assists, and 1.4 steals. He’s on his way to ending the season with a second consecutive triple-double season.
While there’s no denying Jokić’s insane figures, he’s currently in third place in the MVP race, behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (second place) and Victor Wembanyama (first place).
If Jokić can somehow rally the Nuggets into the top three of the Western Conference standings within their remaining seven games, it’s still possible for the Serbian giant to overtake his fellow MVP candidates.
