Jokic’s historic efficiency puts him atop early MVP race as Denver surge continues

Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets)
Early 2025–26 NBA season, five years after the 2019–20 campaign

Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets) has transformed from a good 2019–20 All-Star into the dominant force of the league, stacking three MVP awards, two runner-up finishes and now leading the early Kia MVP race while driving Denver to a 9-2 start with relentless triple-double production.
Jokic is averaging a triple-double while shooting an extraordinary rate on two-pointers, converting 101 of 129 attempts and hitting 67 percent overall. Recent bursts include a 55-point outing and a 33-15-16 line, prompting coach David Adelman (Denver Nuggets) to call him the most efficient player he has ever seen.