After winning three MVP awards in the last four years, it’s hard to imagine Nikola Jokić could get any better, considering he was already operating at an all-time great level. Yet this season, he somehow raised the bar again.
The 30-year-old recently became just the third player after Oscar Robertson (1961-62) and Russell Westbrook (2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2020-21) to average a triple-double over an entire season, with 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds and 10.2 assists in 2024-25 — all career highs across the board.
Jokić also became the first player in NBA history to finish in the top three in points (third), rebounds (third) and assists (second) per game over a single season. Whether or not Jokić secures a fourth MVP in a few weeks, it has truly been a historic season for the Denver Nuggets superstar.
On the latest episode of “The Athletic NBA Daily,” senior NBA writer Fred Katz joined Dave DuFour and Zena Keita to discuss his recent piece on Jokić, where he broke down how Jokić elevates his teammates and reflected on a conversation with Christian Braun that gave an insight into the mind of the reigning league MVP — who could be a finalist for the award once again.
DuFour, Keita and Katz also previewed their favorite upcoming playoff matchups. They discussed who might come out on top between the Nuggets and LA Clippers, whether the Los Angeles Lakers’ small-ball lineup can counter the Minnesota Timberwolves’ size, whether the Milwaukee Bucks can overcome the Indiana Pacers with Damian Lillard back and whether the New York Knicks’ talent can lift them past the Detroit Pistons.
Watch the full episode of “The Athletic NBA Daily” below or on the YouTube channel, or via the “The Athletic NBA Daily” podcast feed on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
(Photo: Dylan Buell / Getty Images)
