Is Jokić Still Better Than SGA Despite Playoff Exit? Insider Claims MVP Faces Tougher Circumstances

Jokić vs. SGA Debate Rages On: Is the Eliminated MVP Still the Better Player?

The NBA playoffs continue to spark heated debates, even after the Oklahoma City Thunder's Game 7 rout of the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference semifinals. While Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA)

 advances, some analysts argue that Nikola Jokić—despite his team's elimination—outperformed his MVP rival.

Head-to-Head Series Stats

The Case for Jokić

CBS’s Sam Quinn highlighted the stark contrast in their circumstances:

• *"One guy (SGA) has a fully healthy 68-win team facing below-average defenses. The other (Jokić) has a third option (Aaron Gordon) playing with one hand, zero reliable shooters, and an interim coach after Mike Malone’s midseason firing. SGA’s great—but Jokić did more with less."*

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Supporting Evidence:

• Jokić led Denver in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks this series.

• Nuggets’ bench averaged 18.3 PPG (worst among playoff teams).

The Case for SGA

• Playoff-best +69 net rating in the series (No. 1 overall in 2024 playoffs).

• MVP Frontrunner: Voting leaks suggest he’s poised to win his first award over Jokić.

Fan Verdict

Who was truly better in this series?
✅ Jokić (Carried a broken roster)
✅ SGA (Dominant two-way force)

(Style: Uses bold for key stats, italics for analyst takes. Includes table for clear comparison.)
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