“Chris Paul, not Nikola Jokic, is the MVP favorite”: Jamal Murray roasts Kendrick Perkins’ controversial take about the Suns and Nuggets stars

Kendrick Perkins seems to love being the contrarian in the room. The former Celtic anointed Chris Paul as his MVP over Nikola Jokic this year.

The Phoenix Suns have come roaring back into the playoff picture after a 10-year hiatus. They’re currently in sole possession of the NBA’s top seed, having beaten the 46-18 Utah Jazz in their season series.

This is a stark contrast to how they finished 10th in the Conference with a sub .500 record last year. The arrival of Chris Paul has bolstered 4 other NBA teams in the past, but this is arguably an MVP-level impact.

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However, one has to appreciate just what Nikola Jokic has done with his Denver Nuggets this year. The Serbian big man has played every single game for his team, leading them to a 43-21 record.

They’re currently 3rd in the West, having embarked on a 9-1 run since losing Jamal Murray for the foreseeable future. Jokic’s averages of 26 points, 11 rebounds and 8.5 assists per game are like no other center in league history, especially when you factor in his shooting splits from everywhere on the field.

Kendrick Perkins puts Chris Paul in the MVP conversation with Nikola Jokic

Perkins opted to draw some parallels between the 2004-05 NBA season and this Covid-shortened season. He backed Chris Paul using the ‘same argument’ that won Steve Nash his award:

“Joel Embiid is still in the running, Giannis, you still got Steph Curry, you still got a guy like Julius Randle. But guess what, CP3 should be the clear-cut favorite. Same organization, same position, same record.”

“The last time the Phoenix Suns had the best record in the NBA, a player from their team won the MVP award. Why’re we not keeping the same energy when it comes down to CP3?”

“And stop moving the goalposts when it comes down to the MVP award every year. Again, the Phoenix Suns have the best record in the NBA. Steve Nash won it a decade and a half ago, why shouldn’t CP3 win it?”

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The average reader would be acutely aware with the glaring errors in Perk’s logic. Because if 2004-05 Steve Nash had had to go up against 2020-21 Nikola Jokic in his MVP campaign, he’d still have lost. That’s jut how good Jokic has been this year.

Jamal Murray gets on Big Perk’s back for his MVP comments

Murray, who’s been out of action for the past 3 weeks, was definitely not going to take this slander lying down. He responded with a play on Perk’s characteristic cut-phrase: “OMG Lol, you carry on.”

Perkins attempted to play it cool in the replies, but it was evident that the L had been well taken.