With a little under two weeks left to go in the 2025-2026 NBA regular season, Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic is seemingly falling out of favor in the league’s competitive MVP race.
This week, ESPN conducted its final straw poll. Picking up votes from 100 media members with a say in the race, ESPN’s latest results don’t favor Jokic.
While Jokic spent most of the season second to Oklahoma City Thunder guard, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, he’s on pace to land third in the race. The San Antonio Spurs center, Victor Wembanyama, is getting a late bump into the No. 2 spot.
What Do The Numbers Say For Nikola Jokic?
According to the straw poll, Jokic received 99 votes, worth 500 points.
Just three of those votes were first place. 20 of them were for second, while 52 came in at third. He even received the second-most fourth-place votes with 23, trailing Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic.
It’s clear that the knee injury earlier this year hurt Jokic in the long run. One of his best qualities is the fact that he plays at such a high level while rarely missing time. But most superstars dealt with an injury or two this season, and Jokic wasn’t invincible this time around.
After playing in the first 32 games of the Nuggets’ season, Jokic missed 16 games in a row. That alone put his chances of winning MVP in danger, as it threatened his 65-game minimum.
Since returning to the court on January 30, Jokic hasn’t missed a game for the Nuggets. He’s been MVP-caliber, but admitted that the injury forced him to deal with some inconsistency this season.
Jokic Can Have Another Goal In Mind
Beyond MVP, Jokic will have a shot at an All-NBA nod.
Also, the Nuggets will inevitably have a playoff run, giving Jokic a shot to help them make a run and potentially compete for an NBA Finals MVP. It’s going to take a lot of work to get it, but the Nuggets have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA at the right time.
Currently, the Nuggets are on a seven-game winning streak. They have a 49-28 record, winning eight of their last 10 games.
Denver is sitting fourth in the Western Conference, trailing the Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
While the Nuggets might not be viewed as the favorites to win the West, anything can happen in the coming months.