“Nikola Jokic Needs To Get to the NBA Finals!”: Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal Set the ‘Minimum’ Target for 2x MVP

The NBA season is about to wrap up in just three days. With three days of regular season action ahead of us, the MVP race is a tight one between Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid. Jokic has won back-to-back MVPs and is gunning to become just the 4th player in NBA History to three-peat MVPs.

On the other hand, Joel Embiid has been the runner-up for the MVP honors two years in a row. This year, he has made the strongest case so far, and is expected to take home the Michael Jordan trophy. He’s almost secured his 2nd scoring title in a row, and has led the Sixers to the 3rd seed in the East.

While the MVP race is sizzling in front of the playoffs, the guys on Inside the NBA discussed the playoff hopes for the teams tonight. Charles Barkley placed a guarantee on the Sacramento Kings. At the same time, he set a target for Jokic.

Charles Barkley believes Nikola Jokic should make it to the NBA Finals

While talking about the Suns-Nuggets game tonight, the guys discussed how good the Nuggets are. Even without their starters, they made it a four-point game against Kevin Durant and the Suns.

Charles Barkley had some serious thoughts about Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets,

“It doesn’t matter matchups. They probably have to get to the Finals. You can’t win back-to-back MVPs and be in the conversation for the third one and don’t get to the Finals. When you’re the MVP… He’s won two! He[Nikola Jokic] has to get to the Finals!”

Shaquille O’Neal was asked about his biggest concern about Denver. He said,

“That they don’t have enough experience to get it done. We know, from experience, that regular season and playoffs are something different. We’ve seen quite a few teams have beautiful regular seasons, but can’t quite get it done in the playoffs… I agree with Chuck, he[Nikola Jokic] has to go to the Finals, and so does Joel Embiid!”

Both Shaq and Chuck feel like the MVP candidates need to make it to the Finals. While their way there won’t be easy, but if you’re the MVP, you need to find a way to make it happen.

Can the Denver Nuggets make the NBA Finals?

As of 6th April, seven teams can end up as the first-round matchup for the Denver Nuggets. We can’t rule out any possibilities with the West being so volatile. Being the #1 seed, it shouldn’t matter to the Nuggets who their matchup is, and they should move to the 2nd round. However, there is nothing set in stone in the NBA. We may end up getting surprised, and maybe Nikola Jokic and co might get shocked in the first round itself.

If they move past the first round, they’ll face the winner of the 4th-5th seed matchup, which would most probably be the Suns. That would not be an easy matchup by any standards. We’ll have to wait and see how things go when the flood gates open on 15th April.

The Nuggets can make it to the NBA Finals, and they’ve shown us they have the tools. What remains to be seen is whether they can perform when the lights are the brightest.