Welcome to a new level of the pantheon for NBA greats.
Nikola Jokic was named the MVP for the third time in his career after putting up an all-time efficient season and leading the Nuggets to a 57-25 record and second in the Western Conference.
He finished with 926 total points after racking up 79 of the 99 possible first-place votes. He beat out the Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (640 points) and the Mavericks’ Luka Doncic (586 points). Giannis Antetokounpo, Jalen Brunson, Jayson Tatum, Anthony Edwards, Domantas Sabonis and Kevin Durant also received votes.
The Serbian superstar averaged a ridiculous 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds and 9.0 assists, all marks ranking in the top 10 in the NBA. He also led the league in player efficiency rating (31.0), win shares (17.0), box plus/minus (13.2) and value over replacement player (10.6).
Winning MVP a third time placed the 29-year-old in some esteemed company, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell, Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, LeBron James, Moses Malone, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson as the only players to have won three or more times.
This is his third win in four seasons. Only six other players in league history accomplished that feat.
His win also continues the six-year streak of MVPs born outside the United States. Cameroon’s Joel Embiid and Greece’s Giannis Antetokounmpo are the other winners over that span.
The Nuggets are currently taking on the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of the NBA Playoffs as they look to defend their title but are down 2-0. They beat the L.A. Lakers in five games in the first round.
More to come.
