Nikola Jokic, the Denver Nuggets’ superstar centre, is in prime position to win his third NBA MVP award in four years.

ESPN issued its second straw poll of the season on Tuesday, polling 100 people, and Jokic has a commanding lead. He got 69 first-place votes and 25 second-place votes. His 889 total points significantly surpassed Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who finished with 709 points. “SGA” received 24 first-place votes. Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks, Mavericks’ Luka Doncic, and Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard rounded out the top 5. None of them garnered more than three first-place votes, indicating a two-man battle between Jokic and Gilgeous-Alexander.Of course, with the tragic news that 76ers star centre Joel Embiid had knee surgery, he is now out of contention for back-to-back MVP titles. Embiid will not play at least 65 games, the new need to receive the honour. He was ahead of Jokic in the first version of this straw poll.The Nuggets centre is having another outstanding season, averaging 26.3 points per game, 12.2 rebounds, and 9.0 assists. Denver has a 36-18 record and is competing with the Timberwolves, Thunder, and Clippers for the Western Conference’s top spot.Jokic aims to become the eighth player in NBA history to win the award at least three times. Many thought he should have won it last season and gone back-to-back, but Embiid’s late surge cost him the title.It didn’t matter in the end; the Nuggets won their first NBA championship, and Jokic was voted Western Conference and NBA Finals MVP. He would rather have the team trophy and the individual accolades any day of the week.