Nikola Jokic remains the NBA's top player according to ESPN's annual rankings, a fitting honor as his Denver Nuggets build momentum with a 116-93 win over the Golden State Warriors on March 30. The Nuggets are on a three-game winning run, part of a 4-1 stretch in their last five outings, with Jokic's generational play the constant engine. His third consecutive year atop the list reinforces a dominant era for the Serbian center, even as new stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama rise.
Jokic has held the top spot in these rankings for three years running. He's been the league's best player since his first MVP win in the 2020-21 season. He joined an exclusive club last year, matching Larry Bird and Bill Russell by finishing in the top two of MVP voting for six straight years. Winning the award three times in that span, his consistency is unmatched. Even after Gilgeous-Alexander claimed the last two MVP trophies, ESPN's panel of experts still sees Jokic as the pinnacle. The debate is lively, but the numbers and impact keep him there.
The Nuggets' 2025-26 playoff run ended too early, but Jokic's individual campaign was historic. He put up 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 10.7 assists per game. He shot 56.9% from the field and hit a career-best 38% from three-point range. Jokic became the first player ever to lead the league in both total rebounds and total assists in the same season. That stat line shows his unique status as a center who orchestrates the entire offense. He impacts the game in more ways than any other player, dominating the paint and the perimeter.
Denver's form is strong as the season progresses. Their last result was a commanding 116-93 victory against the Golden State Warriors on March 30. Before that, they edged the Phoenix Suns 125-123 on March 25 and crushed the Houston Rockets 129-93 on March 12. This 3-0 stretch followed a playoff loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder last May. The team's recent 4W-0D-1L record shows they're finding a rhythm.
ESPN's list places San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama at number two and Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at three. Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo round out the top five. Wembanyama's two-way prowess and Gilgeous-Alexander's scoring brilliance make them legitimate threats. But Jokic's combination of scoring efficiency, rebounding, and elite playmaking is still one of a kind. His ability to make every teammate better is a skill that doesn't fade. As long as he produces triple-doubles with such ease and wins games, the argument for anyone else remains difficult. The Nuggets will need him at his best, especially if another postseason clash with the Thunder materializes.
