Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic have been the NBA’s MVP winners over the last four seasons. They have won the league’s most prestigious regular-season award in back-to-back fashion.
Currently, their respective teams, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Denver Nuggets, are expected to punch tickets to the playoffs. Jokic’s Nuggets are on top of the West and heavily-favored to represent their conference in the 2023 NBA Finals.
The “Greek Freak,” though, had something to throw at the Serbian superstar on his journey to lift the Larry O’Brien Trophy:
“Joker, how are you going to make it through the finals when you look like you can barely make it through a Burger King drive-thru?
“Joker, how are you going to make it through the finals when you look like you can barely make it through a Burger King drive-thru?” 💀 https://t.co/Zklc0YGrs1
The dig was hilarious considering how great Nikola Jokic has been playing this season. The “Joker” is averaging 24.8 points, 11.7 rebounds and 10.0 assists in 54 games.
Jokic hasn’t missed a beat since the All-Star break. He just dropped 40 points, 17 rebounds, 10 assists and three steals against Kawhi Leonard and the LA Clippers. The back-to-back NBA MVP was directly involved in the Nuggets’ last 30 points, bridging the fourth quarter and overtime.
Denver head coach Mike Malone had this to say about Nikola Jokic’s ability to lead the team and his yet another incredible MVP campaign:
“If you’re looking for a super athlete to win MVP, he’s not your candidate. If you’re looking for a great player that impacts winning in every possible way, whose team is first place in the Western Conference, then he’s your man.
“Frankly, I don’t give a damn what people think. I know he’s the MVP and his teammates know that and all the fans here in Denver and back home in Serbia know that.”
The Denver Nuggets (43-19) are 5.5 games ahead of the Memphis Grizzlies (36-23) as the top seed in the Western Conference due to Jokic’s impressive display.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic could meet in the NBA Finals
![Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic could have a mouth-watering clash in the NBA Finals. [photo: Sporting News]](https://pointypress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/43ec4-16775690462685-1920.jpg)
![Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic could have a mouth-watering clash in the NBA Finals. [photo: Sporting News]](data:image/svg+xml,<svg%20xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%201920%201357%22></svg>)
The Denver Nuggets reign supreme in the Western Conference. If the seedings hold true until the end of the playoffs, they could be the best to come out of the West.
The Milwaukee Bucks (43-17) are now tied with the the Boston Celtics (44-18) for the best record in the Eastern Conference. Milwaukee is on an NBA-best 14-game winning streak and has won games despite Giannis Antetokounmpo being limited or unavailable during their current stretch.
Antetokounmpo has been dealing with wrist and knee issues over the last two months. He recently missed a game after banging his knee against the Miami Heat’s Victor Oladipo. Milwaukee has ruled him day-to-day, though.
If Giannis Antetokounmpo can get healthy just in time for the playoffs, they could do better than last season. Without Khris Middleton in the lineup, they dragged the Boston Celtics to a Game 7.
Middleton is healthy and so is Jrue Holiday. The Bucks have also reloaded with Jae Crowder. There’s a basis to Antetokounmpo’s loud confidence in the stretch run of the regular season.
An NBA Finals featuring Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic will be salivating.
