(Remember, 'We have to see what he can do in the playoffs!' … like Joel Embiid was not a perennial second-round out? Good times.) Why he'll win: Voters will remember what they did last year, letting absolutely idiotic narratives about both Jokic and Embiid impact the votes. You can nitpick with the metrics individually but when they all point in this direction so conclusively, it says something. He's No.1 in Offensive and Defensive Box Plus-Minus (heavily weighed by his rebound production), EPM, Win Shares, and has the highest PER of all time. Jokic will always dominate the advanced metrics because they are almost all tied to efficiency, and there isn't a more efficient player in terms of production per possession/minute/game/season/year/decade/eon. The Nuggets are outscoring opponents by 11.3 points per 100 possessions with him on the court. He's averaging career highs in points and rebounds, his second-highest assists mark, and still shooting 60% eFG (57% from the field, 32% from 3).
The reigning Finals MVP and two-time MVP might actually be better this season.
