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The Denver Nuggets are once again one of the most entertaining teams to watch in the NBA. This year, they proved that last season's success was far from a fluke and that they're legit contenders.

And, while they've put together quite a competitive core featuring Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr, and Aaron Gordon; it's obvious that they'll only go as far as Nikola Jokic can take them.

Jokic has taken yet another step forward this season and continues to prove that he's one of the best players on earth, a point guard trapped in the body of a big man, and the clear-cut favorite to win the MVP award.

That's why it didn't take long before recently-signed Austin Rivers realized just how special it is to play next to a player like Jokic, claiming that he had never played on a team like this version of the Denver Nuggets:

"What makes this team special, your best player is a pass-first superstar...He has no ego. I've never seen anything like it... It's been special. I've never played for a team like this..." Austin Rivers on what makes playing with the Nuggets special," Rivers told the media, as quoted by Jena Garcia.

Jokic is perhaps the most humble and down-to-earth superstar you'll find in the NBA but once he suits up and hits the floor, he's a straight-up assassin. There's nothing he can't do in the offensive end.

The Nuggets' hopes of making it to the NBA Finals suffered a massive blow with Jamal Murray's season-ending injury. Then again, Jokic has done an outstanding job of leading this team through adversity.

Thus far, Nikola Jokic is averaging 26.2 points, 10.9 rebounds, 8.6 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 three-pointers per game on 56/41/85 shooting and he's on the verge of becoming the first center to be named MVP since Shaquille O'Neal in 2000.

This article first appeared on Fadeaway World and was syndicated with permission.

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