Here's where NBA blasphemy can start: the greatest centers of all time are Russell, Abdul-Jabbar, Chamberlain, Shaquille O'Neal, and Hakeem Olajuwon. Fans can put them in any order, but that's a pretty definitive list. However, with three MVPs, Jokic could already be ahead of both Shaq and Hakeem despite not being as physically dominant.

“This is my third or fourth year in a row, so I’m really — I don’t know. I cannot control it,” Jokić said. “Obviously, I think I’m playing the best basketball of my life. So if that’s enough, it’s enough. If not, the guy deserves it. He’s really amazing.” Nuggets coach Michael Malone was happy to step up and make the case for his guy.

I don't know, I cannot control it," Jokić told reporters following Denver's 140-127 win in Oklahoma City on Monday. "I will say that I think I'm playing the best basketball of my life, so if that's enough,