If you don’t pay attention to Nikola Jokic this season, you are making a big mistake.

The reigning MVP continues his charge somewhat under the radar for the award in 2023-22, posting absurd line after absurd line for the Nuggets.

Against the Clippers on Sunday, Jokic had 26 points, 22 rebounds, eight assists, two steals and two blocks, leading the Nuggets to a 103-100 victory.

The performance marked his second straight 20-point, 20-rebound game after he scored 29 points and 21 rebounds against the Hornets the night before. Back-to-back efforts also marked the first 20-20 consecutive games in nearly two years, and Andre Drummond was the last player to do so in January 2020.

Overall, it was Jokic’s sixth 20-20 game of his career, leading him by Marcus Camby for the franchise record.

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Naturally, Denver’s 16-16 overall record clouds his MVP case, but at what point do we recognize the number of injuries Jokic is trying to bring to his team? While nearly every squad in the league faces the impacts of health and safety protocols, the Nuggets have Jamal Murray (knee), Michael Porter Jr. (back), PJ Dozier (knee) and Aaron Gordon (tendon). hamstring) currently on the shelf. .

Despite the losses of key personnel, Jokic is still on track to post the highest PER in history.

Overall, Jokic averages 25.9 points, 13.8 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game, with all three ranking in the top 15 in the league.

With his minutes dropping slightly this season, the numbers are still on par with 2020-21, with his 36-minute averages increasing in touchdowns, rebounds, steals and blocks, while his actual shooting percentage of 64.7 percent is exactly the same. same.

It can be hard to imagine Jokic leading the exhausted Nuggets to an NBA championship this season, but the individual brilliance of his campaign should not be overlooked.

Right now, he walks alongside Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Stephen Curry in the MVP discussion.