Nikola Jokic is going to be named the 2022 NBA MVP, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Unlike last year when the Denver Nuggets center won the award, this year’s decision is shrouded in controversy.

The announcement comes with Jokic sitting at home and the NBA’s other MVP contenders still in the thick of the championship hunt. Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo, expected to finish second and third in the 2022 MVP race, are competing in the second round of the playoffs. Jokic’s Nuggets were quickly dismissed by the Golden State Warriors in a five-game, first-round series.

For the second straight season, Jokic and the Nuggets have failed to win a single second-round playoff game. Denver was swept by the Phoenix Suns in the 2021 postseason after winning its first-round series. Embiid’s Philadelphia 76ers reached Game 7 of last year’s second round. Antetokounmpo won the 2021 NBA Finals MVP award, leading the Milwaukee Bucks on a title run.

The 76ers and Bucks both finished three games ahead of the Nuggets in this season’s regular-season standings.

Despite Denver’s unimpressive win total, Jokic’s stats were too impressive for many to ignore, particularly given the injuries that the Nuggets suffered throughout the year.

Jokic became the only player in NBA history to have 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 500 assists in a single season. Averaging 27.1 points, 13.8 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game, Jokic ranked in the top 10 in each category.

Jokic’s advanced stats were especially strong. The two-time MVP led all players with a 32.94 PER and 15.2 win shares.

With Jokic on the court, the Nuggets outscored their opponents by 8.4 points per 100 possessions. When Jokic was on the bench, Denver was outscored by 8.0 points per 100 possessions.

Jokic’s supporting cast was among the worst of any recent NBA MVP. Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr., Denver's second and third-best players, were limited to nine total games during the regular season. Aaron Gordon was second on the team with 15.1 points per game.

With a healthy Murray and Porter Jr., Jokic led the Nuggets to the 2022 Western Conference Finals.

Jokic was the Nuggets’ only All-Star. Antetokounmpo had an All-Star teammate in Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday was a borderline All-Star. Even though Embiid was forced to carry the 76ers without Ben Simmons, Philadelphia acquired James Harden at the trade deadline. Tobias Harris and Tyrese Maxey had better seasons than any of Jokic’s teammates.

Backup point guard Bones Hyland became an important player for the Nuggets, averaging 10.1 points per game off the bench. Hyland defended Jokic’s MVP candidacy on Twitter Monday, claiming the MVP race wasn’t close.

Embiid won the scoring title, averaging 30.6 points per game. He ranked fifth with 11.7 rebounds per game. Embiid was the runner-up to Jokic in the 2021 MVP race.

Antetokounmpo was second in scoring (29.9 ppg) and sixth in rebounds (11.6). Antetokounmpo won the 2018 and 2019 MVP awards.

Should ESPN's findings turn out to be true, Jokic is the 13th player to win back-to-back NBA MVP awards.

Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets complains about a call against the Golden State Warriors in the second half during Game Two of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Chase Center on April 18, 2022 in San Francisco, California. Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
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