How does Nikola Jokic's historical run shape the MVP discussion?

On the season, Jokic is averaging 29.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 10.3 assists per game — all of which are career highs for the big man. He's also shooting 45.6% from behind the arc on five attempts per game. 

These statistics are unlike anything the league has ever seen before. He's out-rebounding Giannis Antetokounmpo and out-shooting Stephen Curry.

These aren't just empty stats however, as Denver sits as the No. 3 seed in the West and is on a league-best seven-game winning streak. 

After last postseason's stunning Game 7 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Nuggets were projected to take a step back this year. They lost key starter Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and the only notable pickup they made in the offseason was Russell Westbrook coming off the worst season of his career. It took a little while to mesh, but after surviving a mediocre 11-10 record, the Nuggets have gone 24-9 and Jokic looks poised to be hoisting a fourth MVP trophy by season's end. The only thing in his way is a 6-foot-6 guard out of Canada who is leading the best team in the NBA. 

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has led the Thunder (43-9) to the best record in the NBA and has been the front-runner for the MVP award since the opening night tipoff. He has consistently been ranked in the top spot of the league's MVP ladder, arguably for good reason. 

He's averaging a league-high 32.6 points per game, and he has three 50-point games in as many weeks.

Gilgeous-Alexander is dominating, but it's hard to argue against what Jokic is doing. SGA is playing with a better roster and has an All-Star teammate, Jalen Williams. Gilgeous-Alexander is also shooting at a worse efficiency than Jokic and is behind the Nuggets star in advanced stats such as box plus-minus (14.5 to 12). 

It's a tight race between Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic, but as the NBA heads into the All-Star break, there is still plenty of time to change the narrative and see who is voted MVP at season's end.