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Nikola Jokic · In a generation of basketball fueled by hot takes, debates, and an undying search for the “next big thing,” Nikola Jokić’s game has springboarded to a stratosphere that simply couldn’t be overlooked nor disputed. Even with his peak powers perfectly aligning with one of the NBA’s most talent-heavy eras, the 2023-24 Most Valuable Player assembled a season that left few arguments regarding the Association’s alpha dog, as evidenced by earning 79 of the 99 first-place votes. Holding the answer key to any test, Jokić’s versatility over his ninth season introduced next-level exclusivity, as he became just the second-ever player to produce a 2,000-point, 900-rebound, 700-assist year. The self-proclaimed “freak of nature” also flew in rarefied air, as just the ninth-ever to earn three MVPs. Jokić’s one-of-a-kind vision oversaw the Denver Nuggets’ 57-win season with marks in points (26.4), rebounds (12.4), assists (9.0), efficiency (61.2 eFG%), stocks (steals + blocks, 176, No. 14), and on-off (+11.6) that rivaled the Mile High altitude. Authoring one of basketball’s greatest underdog résumés, Jokić continues verifying one thought: the second-rounder may have been drafted during a fast-food commercial, but with a defender in his way, breakfast belongs to him, alone. · State of Mint