'When Russ is doin' it - it's stat padding; when Joker do it, he's league MVP' - Nick Young questions Nikola Jokic's media praise

Plenty of players have had strong starts to the 2024-25 season. Jayson Tatum is averaging 30.2 points while guiding the Boston Celtics to a 10-3 record, Donovan Mitchell is putting up 23.6 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers are currently 13-0, and Anthony Davis is averaging 30.2 points and 10.8 rebounds as the LA Lakers are 6-0 at home. 

However, Nikola Jokic has emerged as the 2025 MVP favorite after he has averaged a triple-double. This consensus around "The Joker" as the favorite has irked Nick Young, who feels the league isn't giving other players the same treatment. This ultimately makes the six-time All-Star the MVP frontrunner all too easily.

Young sounds off on "Joker" 

In the latest episode of "Gil's Arena," as the panel marveled at Jokic's averaging 29.7 points, 13.7 rebounds, and 11.7 assists per game and how the game is just too easy for him, Swaggy P pushed back. He shed light on the hypocrisy of appreciating Jokic's efforts and downplaying Russell Westbrook's hard work when he did so for consecutive seasons.

Moreover, Young argued that when "Brodie" averaged a triple-double in three out of the four seasons starting in 2017-18, many dismissed his achievements as "stat-padding," a sentiment that seems absent in the Serbian center's case.

"You're at the point where we're just giving him the MVP… When Russ is doin' it (registering triple-doubles) he's just stat-padding but when Joker di it, he's the league MVP! I'm tired of that sh*t," Young said. "I'm not rolling with just giving Joker the f*ckin' MVP and making him feel like he's better than everybody. I've seen this sh*t before, but we treat other people like it's bullsh*t."