Jaylen Brown, Nikola Jokic injury update, NBA MVP
Jaylen Brown of Boston Celtics speaks to Nikola Jokic of Denver Nuggets during the NBA match between Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets at Etihad Arena on October 06, 2024 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
The Denver Nuggets are reportedly hopeful that Nikola Jokic will return by the All-Star break, meaning the NBA’s consensus best player is likely out of contention to win his fourth MVP. The update means that Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown now has more than a puncher’s chance to win the Michael Jordan Trophy, and is in a three-horse race with Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Detroit Pistons‘ Cade Cunningham.
Jokic, who has missed four of Denver’s 36 games thus far, can sit out only 11 more games to remain in contention for MVP. The Nuggets play 14 games through January, in addition to six more games before the All-Star break, which begins on Feb. 12.
Nikola Jokic Injury Update
By all accounts, Jokic won’t meet the 65-game threshold to qualify for MVP, despite his reported quick recovery from his hyperextended left knee.
“The good news is the Nuggets are optimistic about Jokic’s recovery,” The Athletic’s Sam Jones reported on Jan. 6. “According to team sources, the hope is that Jokic is back and playing by, at worst, the All-Star break. On Sunday night in Brooklyn, Jokic was in Denver’s locker room in good spirits. While he hasn’t returned to the court yet, he’s well underway in his rehabilitation and has been able to be aggressive with it.
Jaylen Brown MVP Odds
As of Jan. 7, reigning MVP Gilgeous-Alexander (-450) remains the odds-on favorite to repeat, followed by Los Angeles Lakers‘ Luka Doncic (+750), Cunningham (+2000), Brown (+4000) and New York Knicks‘ Jalen Brunson (+5000).
However, Brown is set to gain a lot more ground in the coming weeks, as his Celtics (23-12) continue to close the gap with the Pistons (27-9) for the top seed in the East. The 2024 NBA Finals MVP is on a scorching run since the start of December, averaging 31.5 points, 6.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists on 52/39/80 shooting splits. During this run, he has led the Celtics to a 10-3 record with a plus/minus of +6.3.
It’s worth noting that SGA’s Thunder are in the middle of a slump, having gone 6-6 in their last 12 games. If the Thunder, who hold a 4.5-game lead over the second-seeded San Antonio Spurs, don’t return to their invincible ways, voters could cool off on SGA and reward either Cunningham or Brown as first-time winners.
Also worth noting is that the Knicks (23-13) have lost four games in a row, including six of their last 10, which possibly hurts Brunson’s case for MVP. As for Doncic’s chances, it seems unlikely the voters will reward the Lakers star on a team with two other 20PPG+ scorers in LeBron James and Austin Reaves.
If the C’s can replicate their December record (9-3) this month, it will give voters even more ammunition to side with Brown, who has been so impressive that even opposition coaches have been campaigning for him as MVP, not just his teammates.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for Jaylen,” Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan said after Brown led the Celtics past the Bulls on Monday night. “You know, he’s obviously playing at probably an MVP level, or at least in consideration.”