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Nikola Jokic became the lowest draft pick ever to win the NBA MVP award last season. The Serban big had a career-best year, averaging 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game.
Jokic played all 72 games for the Denver Nuggets during the 2020-21 campaign. His availability, prolific production and ability to lead his team to wins single-handedly helped him win the MVP award.
Several MVP candidates like LeBron James and Kevin Durant weren't healthy last season. That also played a part in Jokic claiming the prestigious award, though. With the competition expected to be stronger next season, it will take a monumental effort from Jokic to retain his league MVP title.
It will be a tough task, but it won't be something impossible. Several players in the past have managed to win back-to-back MVP awards. So one can expect Nikola Jokic to have a realistic chance of claiming the individual prize.
On that note, here's a look at the three things Nikola Jokic needs to do to boost his chances of winning back-to-back NBA MVP awards:
#3 Nikola Jokic needs to play as many games as possible
Nikola Jokic managing to stay fit for all of the Denver Nuggets' games in the 2020-21 NBA season, which was a remarkable achievement.
Every team struggled with injuries to their star players. The Nuggets were no exception, as they saw Jamal Murray getting sidelined because of an ACL injury.
Fortunately, their other star player, Nikola Jokic, managed to stay healthy all season. His availability played a huge role in the Nuggets finishing the regular season as the third seed in the Western Conference.
Jokic being able to play 100% of the games proved key in him winning the MVP award over the likes of Joel Embiid and Stephen Curry. Both stars missed several games, which inhibited their chances of winning the award.
If Nikola Jokic is to challenge for the highest individual award in the NBA once again, he will need to miss as few games as possible during the 2021-22 NBA season. Most of his rivals are likely to take a significant amount of rest next season, which should help him win the MVP award.
#2 Nikola Jokic needs to up his production from last season
To convince voters that he deserves the MVP award for a second year running, Nikola Jokic will have to better his production from last season.
The most recent back-to-back MVP award winner, Giannis Antetokounmpo, did that when he claimed his second consecutive MVP award in 2019-20. He averaged 27.7 points and 12.5 rebounds per game in his first MVP season, and 29.5 points and 13.6 rebounds per outing in his second.
Jokic saw a huge spike in his production last season. He averaged 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game. The season before that, he had managed only 19.9 points, 9.7 rebounds and seven assists per outing.
So there is reason to believe he can do even better and produce another career-high year this campaign. Nikola Jokic will also be without Jamal Murray alongside him for an extended period during the 2021-22 NBA campaign. That could see him post staggering numbers next season.
#1 Nikola Jokic needs to keep improving defensively
Nikola Jokic isn't one of the most feared defenders in the NBA. However, there is no doubt he made improvements at that end of the floor last season. Jokic has used his high IQ to a great effect in forcing turnovers, making steals, blocking passing lanes and doing the little things that may not show up on the box score.
Those helped him win the MVP award last campaign. He needs to continue his development in defense, though, to change the perception of him being an underrated player on the other side of the ball.
Nikola Jokic needs to impose himself as a formidable defender. One aspect that he needs to improve the most is rim protection. He has size, and needs to use that to his advantage against his counterparts. That could be a huge step towards Jokic being termed as somewhere close to a great defender. That should also help him establish himself as an all-around player.
Guess the Lakers players!
