The 2026 NBA MVP race will conclude after Sunday’s slate. April 12 marks the final day of the regular season, and Nikola Jokic will soon find out if he’s going to be a finalist in the race once again.
With the straw polls, player surveys, and the countless debates across NBA media, Jokic will more than likely end up as a finalist once again. As far as winning the award goes, he just might come up short against Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
The former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas recently spoke out about Jokic’s standing and the narrative that often surrounds him.
GettyDENVER, CO – MARCH 29: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets shoots and scores a three-point basket against Kristaps Porzingis #7 of the Golden State Warriors during the second quarter at Ball Arena on March 29, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
While Jokic tends to have plenty of supporters in and outside of Denver, he also has a lot of critics, who tend to downplay what he brings to the table year after year.
With Jokic breaking through many barriers at the center position, his mind-blowing statistics have surfaced so frequently that spectators have overlooked them. But Arenas encourages fans, players, and media not to have a lack of appreciation of Jokic while he’s playing.
Gilbert Arenas Makes His Feelings Clear On Nikola Jokic
GettyPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – JANUARY 31: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets looks on during the first half against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on January 31, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
“Now I see why generations complain,” Arenas said.
“Year after year—or decade after decade—you’ve got generations complaining, you’ve got players complaining and say, ‘You wasn’t there.’ We see what Jokic is and what he’s doing. 10 years from now, all they are going to see is the stats. They’re not going to see he should’ve won five MVPs—six MVPs. You’re not gonna know how great someone really was one the legacy has moved. All you have is arguments, and the arguments are just looking at the stat sheet.”
Jokic entered the NBA MVP conversation for the first time in 2018-2019. He received the fourth-most votes for the award at the time. That’s when he first entered the All-Star conversation.
While Jokic barely cracked the top 10 for MVP in 2019-2020, the veteran center won his first MVP trophy in 2020-2021. He went back-to-back in 2021-2022.
Joel Embiid beat out Jokic to prevent a three-peat in 2022-2023, but Jokic got the award back in 2023-2024. Last year, Jokic didn’t repeat. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won MVP for the first time. Now, he has a strong chance of repeating.
The debates surrounding Jokic’s status as one of the best players of his generation will live on, but Arenas advises hoops fans to adjust the way they view it.