The 2023-2024 NBA season is nearing its end, with a heated debate raging in recent days about who should be the 2024 league MVP. Nikola Jokic of the Nuggets is the odds-on favorite to win the award, followed by Mavericks’ Luka Doncic and Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Jokic and fellow Nuggets star Jamal Murray just received injury updates vs. the Hawks, which might impact Mike Malone’s team’s quest for a repeat. Jokic was indirectly chastised by Paul Pierce, who recently stated that European players are’soft like pastries.’

With the MVP race heating up, comedy icons Kevin Hart and Cedric the Entertainer took aim at Jokic’s MVP campaign, making a few unexpected comments.

Jokic’s win is ‘bad for the NBA,’ says Hart

Hart, the sometimes contentious comedian, spoke openly about Jokic’s performance this season. He shared his thoughts with Cedric the Entertainer, saying that Jokic winning the trophy would be ‘terrible’ for the NBA. Both seemed to believe that Gilgeous-Alexander isn’t receiving the recognition he deserves for his outstanding season with the Thunder.

“It’s good that he’s a comic and not an analyst. “He’s doing his job well,” one admirer wrote in the X comments area.

“It’s funny how many people talk (negatively) about Jokic and not want him to get another MVP,” said another fan.

Jokic’s 2024 Nuggets Season So Far

So far this season, the Nuggets’ Serbian living hero has practically a triple-double, averaging over 26 points, over 12 rebounds, and nine assists. His success has been quieter this season than in prior years. The Nuggets have also not dominated the league as they did in 2022-2023, which contributes to negative opinions of the superstar ‘point center’ and triple-double machine.

Doncic is averaging over 34 points per game for the Mavericks this season, including a near triple double. A late-season Mavs winning streak could propel him closer to MVP consideration.

Alexander has averages of 30.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 6.3 assists this season. His Thunder were one game behind the Mavericks for second place in the Western Conference as of Wednesday evening.