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Sacramento Kings interim head coach Alvin Gentry admitted it is “hard to believe” Nikola Jokic will not be named NBA MVP again this season.
The comments came after the Serbian scored 38 points in a 106-100 win for the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, helping Michael Malone’s men to their fourth consecutive victory.
The reigning MVP posted 32 points against the Golden State Warriors and 46 against the New Orleans Pelicans in the Nuggets’ previous two outings. He is the first NBA player to average 35 or more points, 15 or more rebounds and 10 or more assists over a three-game run since Wilt Chamberlain did so between March 16-19, 1968.
After seeing Sacramento dominated by the 27-year-old, Gentry said he deserved a second consecutive MVP prize.
“That guy is just a different beast,” he said post-game.
“He doesn’t get shaken, he just does what he needs to do to win the game.
“He’s just playing at such a high level, 46 points, 32 points, 38 tonight, he’s just a different guy.
“Watching him play, it’s hard to believe he won’t be the MVP.
“He’s playing at such a high level and does so many things on the court, I think he’s one of those guys you could take and put on any team, and that team’s going to be pretty successful.”
Denver have now won 12 of their past 14 games, while Jokic fell just three assists short of registering a third consecutive triple-double.
His average of 25.9 points per game, meanwhile, is the ninth-strongest record among NBA players this season.
Jokic himself was pleased after recording another dominating performance in Sacramento but was keen to look ahead, with the Nuggets facing a rematch with the Warriors next on Thursday.
“Lately, we’re playing really good, we’re winning games,” said the 27-year-old.
“Hopefully, it’s going to continue.”
