Anybody with eyes can clearly see Nikola Jokic is the best basketball player on the planet, but please don’t get mad that Joker has zero chance to be named MVP of the NBA in 2026.

Let the voters huff and puff, arguing about whether Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Victor Wembanyama or Luka Doncic deserves to take home the MVP trophy.

The only shot the Nuggets have of winning the league championship is if they don’t have to rely on Jokic to play like the MVP on a nightly basis in the postseason.

While we all know Joker is the main reason Denver promises to be a tough out in the playoffs, the Nuggets will only go as far as guard Jamal Murray can step up and take them.

In his ninth full NBA season, Murray finally fulfilled his All-Star potential at age 29. He has matured into much more than the Bubble Murray of those pandemic playoffs of yore. And the growth of his game makes Murray more than the trusty sidekick to Jokic needed when Denver claimed the franchise’s first championship in 2023.

His averages of 25.6 points and 7.5 assists per game, as well as 44.8 percent accuracy from 3-point range, are not only career highs for the Canadian native, but legendary production.

The only other players in league history to average more than 25 points, seven assists while shooting better than 44 percent beyond the arc are LeBron James, Damian Lillard, Larry Bird and Jokic.

That’s an exclusive club, eh?

When voters break down their All-NBA teams into the first, second and third units, it will be a crime against basketball and logic if Murray isn’t honored among the top 15 players in the league this season.

“I really hope all-NBA is something that’s obvious and not an argument,” Denver coach David Adelman said after Murray scored 53 against Dallas on March 25.

So give the Blue Arrow a standing ovation he richly deserves.

But please take note of something even more crucial to the Nuggets.

The best version of this Denver team is what we witnessed Wednesday in the 130-117 road victory at Utah.

While Jokic again cranked up his triple-double machine, with 17 rebounds and 12 assists, he was only required to score 15 points. That’s because Murray was sizzling, scoring 37, including a jaw-dropping 10 treys.

OK, in the name of fairness, let me mention two caveats.

The Nuggets aren’t going to survive two rounds of the postseason, much less make it to the NBA Finals, if they’re counting on scoring anywhere near 130 points per night. It’s essential for Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson to be healthy for the playoffs if Adelman is going to have any hope of cleaning up the hot mess Denver has been on defense far too often.

And not even Steph Curry in his prime would hit 10 shots from 3-point range on the regular, so I’m not expecting Murray to unleash his blue arrows at anywhere near that level of shock and awe in the playoffs.

But during January, when Jokic was down recovering from a knee injury, Murray showed leadership I wasn’t certain was in him.

And that’s what should give you hope. There still could be a path forward for the Nuggets in the wild, wild Western Conference, even if they open the playoffs as no better than the fourth seed.

In games when Murray and Jokic have both been healthy this season, the Nuggets’ record is 14-6 when Murray is the leading scorer.

Denver has gone 23-13 with Jokic as the leading scorer. That’s good. But not good enough to be a serious threat to Oklahoma City or San Antonio in the playoffs.

When Jokic doesn’t have to do it all for the Nuggets, they’re a more dangerous team.

SGA, Wemby and Luka all figure to finish ahead of Joker in the MVP voting because if the Thunder, Spurs and Lakers all finish ahead of the Nuggets in the standings, the voters will rationalize their fatigue for casting a first-place ballot for Jokic by citing Oklahoma City, San Antonio and Los Angeles as more accomplished teams than Denver.

With three MVP trophies already in Jokic’s possession, it’s a safe bet he doesn’t really give a hoot if he ever wins another.

But earning another championship ring?

That’s what Joker needs to cement his legacy as a top 10 player of all time.

He won’t climb that mountain unless Murray can do some heavy lifting to lighten Jokic’s load.

“Best tandem in the league,” Adelman loves to say.

Even a basketball superhero can grow weary during the grind of the NBA playoffs.

How far these Nuggets go depends on how many nights Jokic can kick back and be Robin while Murray plays Batman.