Nikola Jokić’s MVP case is close to checking all the necessary boxes, including team success.

Though the Denver Nuggets are far from juggernauts, they are just a few losses behind the Western Conference’s No. 2 seed. And while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is arguably level with him, he hasn’t quite caught up to the three-time MVP’s individual production.

Despite SGA’s recent uptick, Jokić is still averaging more points per game on better true shooting. He comfortably has the edge in assists. SGA has the heavier workload when accounting for defense, but Jokić’s true usage—which incorporates playmaking—outstrips that of Oklahoma City’s megastar, per BBall Index.

Jokić’s defensive slide opens the door even further for SGA. And the latter has (ever so slightly) tallied more total minutes. For me, the difference comes down to the quality of the surrounding talent they’re buoying.

Take any catch-all metric you please. SGA’s teammates are going to grade out waaaay better than Jokić’s supporting cast. Never mind the actual on-off swings. The Nuggets outscore opponents by 12.6 points per 100 possessions with Jokić in tow—a mark much closer to OKC’s net rating with SGA (plus-16.3) than it has any business being.