Joe Vardon of The Athletic surveyed a number of NBA players during All-Star Weekend and asked them who they thought was the best player in the league.
The top answer was Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić, who received five total votes.
No surprises there. The three-time MVP is averaging 28.7 points, 12.3 rebounds and 10.7 assists per game while shooting 59 percent from the field. He is on pace to average a triple-double for the second straight season.
“Overall, I would have to say Jokić,” Miami Heat guard Norman Powell told Vardon. “I mean, the overall game, what he’s capable of doing, what he means to this team, the numbers he’s capable of putting up and how easily he’s able to do that.”
“He’s been dominant for so long and what he does every night is pretty impressive,” added Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson.
Reigning MVP Shai-Gilgeous Alexander received three votes, while Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell got two (one from himself and one from teammate Jaylon Tyson) and six players received one vote each. LeBron James and Stephen Curry received no votes.
