CJ McCollum picks Nikola Jokic as his 2023 NBA MVP / News - Basketnews.com

CJ McCollum says Nikola Jokic is his choice for MVP: "The way Joker controls the game, it's unlike anything you've ever seen."

Credit: AP, Getty Images via AFP - Scanpix Credit AP, Getty Images via AFP - Scanpix

The debate surrounding the 2023 NBA MVP award intensifies, with some analysts like Kendrick Perkins making loud statements over the prize discussion.

Nikola Jokic

Team:Denver NuggetsPosition:C, PFAge:28Height:208 cmWeight:111 kgBirth place:SerbiaProfileNewsStatistics

Nearly a month remains in the regular season, and Nikola Jokic still appears on course to become just the fourth player in NBA history to capture three consecutive MVP awards. If he pulls it off, the Serbian center will join the elite company of Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, and Larry Bird.

Jokic is leading the virtual NBA's MVP ladder, and New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum seems to be agreeing with that.

McCollum selected Jokic as his MVP while talking to ESPN's Zach Lowe on a recent episode of his show.

"I would give it [MVP award] to Joker. I think there are cases you can make for Giannis, how dominant he is, how good the team is, basically, number one in the East. I played against Philly and Embiid. He is a monster, he is unbelievable, but the way Jokic controls the game, it's just– it's unlike anything you've ever seen.

He's taking six shots through most of the game and still dominating. That shows value to me. Like, I watch the Suns play and KD's like nine for 12 with all tough pull-ups. Jokic's controlling the game while being efficient. That matters to me. There's no wrong answer, but the fact that you could say– you watching a game and you are midway through the third quarter or almost the end of the third quarter, and he's taking five or six shots, and he's five for five and he's got 12 rebounds and 13 assists. And this is still a quarter to play. It shows how dynamic they are.

Maybe it's not as aesthetically pleasing as people would like, I mean he's not dunking the ball, he's not yelling, he just hits threes and runs down the court. He's got a sense of humor, he's super skilled, super talented, and he makes them go.

What does that team look like without him? Look at the injuries that they had. We've played them in times, when Murray has played, when Murray has not played, we played them in times, when Porter Jr. has played, when he has not played, and the machine just keeps going. He is the one constant thing that's kind of provides them with what they need."

The 2023 MVP campaign very much remains a three-man race between Jokic, Joel Embiid, and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Nevertheless, only one of the trio averages a triple-double. Jokic posts 24.3 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 10.0 assists over 58 games this season. His Denver Nuggets are first in the West with a 46-21 record.

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