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#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.
