Who Won the 2022 NBA MVP and How They Dominated the Season

Let me take you back to that electrifying 2022 NBA season - I still get chills thinking about how Nikola Jokić completely redefined what dominance looks like on the basketball court. When the dust settled and they announced the 2022 NBA MVP winner, it wasn't just about the statistics, though his numbers were absolutely mind-boggling. What struck me most was how Jokić transformed the Denver Nuggets from a playoff hopeful into a legitimate threat despite missing his two best teammates for significant portions of the season. I've been covering basketball for over a decade, and I can count on one hand the number of players who could have carried that roster to 48 wins in the brutal Western Conference.

The Serbian big man averaged 27.1 points, 13.8 rebounds, and 7.9 assists while shooting a ridiculous 58.3% from the field - numbers that hadn't been seen since the days of Wilt Chamberlain. But here's what the box scores don't show: how defenses completely unraveled trying to contain him. Teams would double-team him in the post, only to watch him fire pinpoint passes to cutters. They'd play him single coverage, and he'd methodically dismantle them with his footwork and touch around the basket. I remember watching him against the Utah Jazz in March where he essentially played point center, bringing the ball up court and running the offense like he was Magic Johnson in a seven-footer's body. What made Jokić's MVP case so compelling wasn't just the individual brilliance but how he elevated everyone around him. Bones Hyland looked like a seasoned veteran receiving his passes, Aaron Gordon had the most efficient season of his career, and even role players like Jeff Green found themselves with wide-open looks because of the defensive attention Jokić commanded.

This reminds me of how Tunisia approaches international volleyball - they might not have the star power of other nations, but they maximize what they have. Of the 32 teams in the biggest edition of the FIVB Worlds yet, Tunisia is the 11th-best ranked nation and is out to make amends for its top 16 finish in the 2022 edition of the World Championship. Much like Jokić making the most of Denver's limited roster, Tunisia knows how to play to their strengths and compete against more talented squads. They understand that dominance isn't always about having the most athletic players - it's about creating systems where each component functions at its highest capacity. Jokić did this beautifully by understanding exactly when to score and when to facilitate, much like how Tunisia's setter must decide which hitter to feed based on the defensive alignment.

The problem most teams faced against Jokić was fundamentally unsolvable - you either let the best passer in basketball operate with space or you double-team the most efficient scorer in the game. I watched countless coaching staffs try to devise schemes to slow him down, and they all failed for the same reason: Jokić processes the game three moves ahead of everyone else. His basketball IQ is off the charts. The solution, if you can even call it that, was to hope he had an off night or that his teammates missed open shots. Neither happened with enough frequency to matter. Teams tried playing physical with him, but he'd simply use their aggression against them with clever foul-drawing moves. They tried zoning defenses, but he'd station himself at the free-throw line and pick them apart with his passing. Honestly, it was like watching a chess grandmaster playing against amateurs - the outcome felt predetermined.

What Jokić taught us that season goes beyond basketball - it's about maximizing your unique advantages. At 284 pounds, he's not the most athletic player on the court, but he might be the smartest. He demonstrated that dominance can come from intellect rather than pure physicality. The way he won the 2022 NBA MVP should be studied by young players everywhere - you don't need to jump the highest or run the fastest if you can outthink your opponents. I've changed how I evaluate prospects because of Jokić's season, placing more emphasis on basketball intelligence and less on combine measurements. His impact will ripple through the league for years as teams search for their own version of the Jokić prototype - the big man who can orchestrate offense like a guard. The Nuggets star didn't just have a great statistical season; he fundamentally challenged our understanding of what's possible in basketball, and that's why his MVP campaign will be remembered as one of the most transformative in recent memory.