Nikola ‘The Joker’ Jokic
In a recent post I wrote about the significance of individual honors and awards in the NBA. Every player in the NBA likes to be recognized for their play and for their talents. I don’t think that the players are playing only for awards or honors. Individual accomplishments are only important to the extent of the success of their team. Every athlete, at any level, wants to be recognized as the CHAMPION. Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Justin Verlander, Michael Jordan, Patrick Mahomes, Nikola Jokic, and many others that have been recognized as the best in their sport have said that in the final analysis “it all comes down to TEAM championships and winning”. There is one individual player award that is given out in each sport that is directly related to the team’s success, the Most Valuable Player Award. (Michael Jordan Award) The MVP award goes, generally, to that player that plays on a championship team and has such an impact on the team that without them the team would not be the champion. The first NBA MVP Award was presented to Bob Pettit back in the 1956-57 season was VOTED on by the players. In 1981 the sportswriters took over the voting and have voted ever since. I have been around basketball for over 70 years, as a player, coach, and now as a fan and can unequivocally state that any award that is given out based on subjective criteria or no criteria is an award that is often tainted. (See my earlier post about the NBA MVP voting discrepancies.) Many times, the award is based on the “eye test” or even more egregiously it is given to a “favorite”. After months of study and exploring several different mathematical theories, a friend and NBA savant has come up with a formula that uses three objective facets to identify the most valuable player. The data used is based on objective criteria. The formula considers every measurable statistic that is available in the NBA. Using this information the MVP and the All-NBA Teams are not “subjectively chosen” but are determined by a formula that measures each player’s: Production and Value, to arrive at an Overall Score.
Production measures a player’s total contribution on a per game basis. It incorporates EVERYTHING that can be measured. (2pts, 2pt%, 3pts, 3pt%, fts, ft%) points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, and turnovers. This figure tells you which players contribute the most.
Value measures the “value” of the player’s total contribution. It combines total contribution with TEAM success. This figure tells you the MVP!
Overall Score combines the production score and the value score. This score gives you the BEST players in the NBA in rank order. (There IS a difference between the best and the most valuable player.) The award even has “value” in the title of the award.
Based on this formula and the new NBA rules that now require each player to play a minimum 65 games to qualify for All-NBA, All-Star, MVP, etc. Here is my top 10 and who I think is the NBA MVP for the 2023-24 season. Based on this mathematical and comprehensive formula I have also listed my picks for All-NBA.
Most Valuable Player (With Score)
Jokic 34.704
Doncic 34.253
Alexander(S.G.) 32.485
Antetokounmpo 30.723
Tatum 30.413
Davis (A.) 25.711
Brunson 24.274
Booker 24.118
James 23.924
Edwards 23.739
All-NBA (With Score)
Doncic 86.389
Jokic 84.551
Antetokounmpo 80.598
Alexander 76.803
Tatum 69.897
All-NBA (2ndTeam)
Davis 69.141
James 65.387
Sabonis 63.959
Durant 62.748
Brunson 62.441
All-NBA (3rdTeam)
Booker 62.280
Leonard 59.946
Edwards 58.445
Curry 57.273
Maxey 56.982
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Jack has spent 70+ years playing, coaching, and watching basketball. Former D1 player at Middle Tennessee State, assistant coach at Oral Roberts University (3 All-Americans, 7 NBA Draftees, Top 10 rankings, 1974 Elite Eight), and author of three books on the sport he loves.
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Jack Sutter has spent 70 years playing, coaching, and watching players play the game he loves. His books are written for the casual basketball fan as well as the "hard core" fan.
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