Polls are hardly conclusive when it comes to determining a definitive pecking order of NBA players. Still, the results of a recent ESPN survey have given interesting insight into who the best in the league is.
According to 20 various NBA coaches, scouts and executives that the sports media giant spoke to, Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic is the league's top-ranked player who will most likely win the Most Valuable Player trophy for a fourth time in his storied career this season.
Out of the 20 respondents, 19 voted for the versatile big man from Sombor, Serbia, as the NBA's best player. The only other vote was cast for the Los Angeles Lakers ' point guard, Luka Doncic . Jokic's emergence as the league's premier superstar is not at all surprising, considering his dominance over the last five seasons.
During that stretch, the Joker has won the Michael Jordan trophy three times and finished as the runner-up twice, including last season, when Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander took home the NBA's most prestigious individual honor.
An Eastern Conference executive believes that as long as the Serbian player remains active, he will maintain a stellar reputation within the league.
"As long as he's walking and breathing, it should be him," the unnamed team official proclaimed .
Even though Jokic didn't win MVP last season, he still completed another spectacular season, averaging 29.6 points on 57.6 percent shooting, including a blistering 41.1 percent from beyond the arc, 12.7 rebounds and 10.2 assists per game. In addition, he became the first center in NBA history to average a triple-double for an entire season.
As for why Doncic received a vote, an executive from an East team opined that given his much-improved conditioning and physique, it's not out of the realm of possibility that the Slovenian could make a run at the award.
"He's in shape and will be motivated," the anonymous executive relayed.
Seven voters also picked Jokic to win his fourth MVP trophy during the 2025-26 season, a testament to his ever-improving game. However, unlike the results for the best player in the league query, this one was a lot closer, as Gilgeous-Alexander came away with five votes while Doncic had four. Many, though, expect Jokic to post even better numbers this upcoming season, given how the Nuggets have significantly bolstered the roster.
After falling in the West semis in seven games to the eventual champions, the Thunder, the Nuggets identified their weaknesses and addressed each one by adding veteran players Jonas Valanciunas , Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr. In addition, they also acquired steady forward Cam Johnson in exchange for Michael Porter Jr.
With all these weapons at Jokic's disposal, opposing teams will be hard-pressed to figure out how to stop the skilled big man. Not only can he dominate in the paint with his rock-solid physique and soft touch, but his elite vision allows him to spot easy scoring opportunities for his teammates. And with such a deep and talented roster, the Nuggets are poised for another successful season.
"Jokic is the best player," a Western Conference scout surmised. "And they'll be better."
As mentioned, unofficial polls aren't definitive nor are they supposed to be. However, what they do provide is a general sense of where players stand in relation to the rest of the league. For Jokic, being recognized by scouts and executives as the best player is a testament to his dominance over the past five years. This was most evident in 2023, when he led Denver to an NBA championship, solidifying his legacy as arguably the best player in franchise history.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 23, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
