Nikola Jokić Returns - And So Does the MVP Conversation
Nikola Jokić is set to return to the Denver Nuggets lineup, and with that, one of the NBA’s most important storylines gets a jolt of clarity - and urgency. After missing more than a month with a hyperextended left knee, Jokić is expected to suit up Friday night at home, with another appearance likely on Sunday. His return doesn’t just bolster the Nuggets’ rotation - it reignites the MVP race and puts a spotlight on the league’s new availability rule.
Let’s be clear: Jokić hasn’t faded from the MVP picture. He’s still very much in it, even after a 16-game absence.
Thanks to the NBA’s 65-game minimum for season awards, every game from here on out matters. And with Jokić projected to return just in time to stay on the right side of that threshold, the race is officially back on.
The Numbers Still Scream MVP
Even after the layoff, Jokić’s stat line looks like something out of a video game: 29.6 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 11.0 assists per game. That’s a triple-double average across the season - and not an empty one, either.
He’s top three in the league in scoring, rebounding, and assists. He leads the NBA in triple-doubles with 16 and is putting up career-best numbers in both assists per game and three-point shooting.
Need a reminder of just how absurd his season has been? He dropped a 61-10-10 game earlier this year against Minnesota.
He owns the only 55/15/15 game in NBA history. He scored the most points ever in an overtime period (18).
And on Christmas Day? He delivered one of the highest-scoring performances the league has ever seen on the holiday slate.
These aren’t just stats - they’re milestones.
Availability Is the New MVP Currency
Here’s where things get tricky. While Jokić’s production is still elite, the MVP race isn’t just about numbers anymore - it’s about availability.
Since his injury on Dec. 29, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has surged into the top spot on NBA.com’s MVP Ladder.
Luka Dončić is right behind him. Jokić now sits at No. 3, not because he’s slowed down, but because the rules have changed.
The NBA’s new 65-game requirement means every game missed chips away at a player’s award eligibility. And with a few back-to-backs still on Denver’s schedule, the margin for error is razor-thin.
Jokić has been ramping up in recent weeks, participating in on-court workouts and getting back into rhythm. The Nuggets are expected to manage his minutes carefully, but they’ll also need him on the court if they want to stay near the top of the Western Conference - and if he wants to stay in the MVP race.
Denver Held the Line - But Jokić Is the Engine
To their credit, the Nuggets didn’t fall apart without their two-time MVP. They went 10-6 during his absence - the longest injury-related stretch of his career - and stayed in the thick of the West standings.
Jamal Murray stepped up as the primary offensive option, and Peyton Watson carved out a bigger role. Denver’s depth was tested, and it held.
But make no mistake: Jokić changes everything. He’s the fulcrum of one of the league’s most efficient half-court offenses.
His vision, touch, and unselfishness open up the floor in ways few players can replicate. With him back, spacing improves, the ball moves faster, and everyone’s job gets a little easier.
He’s not just the Nuggets’ best player - he’s their system.
The Road Ahead: No Room for Error
Now comes the hard part. Jokić’s production hasn’t dipped.
His impact is still massive. But the clock is ticking.
Denver has to be smart with his minutes, but they also can’t afford to sit him too often. The MVP race is a game of inches this year, and under the new rules, availability is as valuable as efficiency.
If Jokić stays healthy and continues to put up the kind of numbers we’ve seen all season, he’s going to be right there when ballots are cast. But the window is narrow.
The margin is tight. And for one of the most dominant players of this era, the path to a third MVP might come down to a simple question: Can he stay on the floor?
The race is on - and with Jokić back, it just got a whole lot more interesting.