Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic. Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Nuggets great Alex English: Nikola Jokic deserves to be in MVP race

Originally posted on FortyEightMinutes | By Sam Amico | Last updated 4/1/21

Alex English knows all about success with the Denver Nuggets. In fact, some will tell you English may be the greatest Nuggets player ever.

Others might lean toward David Thompson. Some may go with an in-his-prime Carmelo Anthony, or all-around center Dan Issel. But English said there is another to consider, someone who may be well on his way to passing them all.

That man is current center/point forward Nikola Jokic.

“Oh, man, he’s there,” English said, via Sean Keeler of The Denver Post. “I mean, I don’t claim the No.1 spot. I will let people determine and decide for themselves. But … (Jokic has) contributed a lot. And if they win a championship, that would be a lot more than what I could give this team.”

English was a sweet-shooting 6-foot-8 forward, whose best seasons came with the Nuggets in the 1980s. He made eight All-Star teams, winning the NBA’s scoring title in 1983. In 11 years with the Nuggets, English averaged 25.9 points and 5.6 boards.

Jokic, 26, is averaging 26.8 points and 11.1 rebounds. He helped push the Nuggets to an appearance in the Western Conference Finals last season when they lost to the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers. In the process, they overcame back-to-back 3-1 series deficits vs. the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers, respectively.

But forget just fighting for the title of Greatest Nugget Ever. English is convinced Jokic should be up for NBA MVP.

“I think he has got a serious case,” English said. “If they seriously look at him, the record’s been good, there’ve been times where he’s had to carry the team like LeBron (James) would’ve done. Yeah, he’s got a legitimate shot.

“You take him out of the equation, the Nuggets are a good team. You keep in there, and they’ve got a chance to win the NBA championship.”

The Nuggets (29-18) currently sit in fifth in the West.

This article first appeared on FortyEightMinutes and was syndicated with permission.

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