Nikola Jokic wins third NBA Most Valuable Player award

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic secured his third NBA Most Valuable Player award in four seasons on Wednesday. The Serbian athlete, who previously won the accolade in 2021 and 2022, came in second in the 2023 voting but found solace in leading the Nuggets to their first NBA championship.

Throughout this season, Jokic maintained an average of 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 9.0 assists in the regular season. He triumphed over Oklahoma City Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Dallas Mavericks' Luka Doncic in the final voting for the prestigious award.

In yet another remarkable season marked by his exceptional performance, Jokic achieved a milestone by becoming only the second player, following Oscar Robertson, to reach 2,000 points, 900 rebounds, and 600 assists in a single season. His 25 triple-doubles and 68 double-doubles ranked second in the league.

With his third MVP title, Jokic now joins the ranks of elite players in NBA history. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar holds the record with six MVPs, followed by Bill Russell and Michael Jordan with five each, and Wilt Chamberlain and LeBron James with four apiece.

Jokic now stands alongside Moses Malone, Larry Bird, and Magic Johnson as three-time MVP winners, having received 79 first-place votes compared to 15 for Gilgeous-Alexander and four for Doncic.

Reflecting on his latest MVP win during the announcement broadcast on TNT, Jokic humbly credited his teammates, coaches, organization, and support staff for his success, emphasizing that his achievements were a result of the collective effort of everyone involved.

The Denver Nuggets, led by Jokic, had an impressive season, matching their franchise record for victories. Despite tying with Oklahoma City for the best record in the Western Conference, they ended up with the second seed behind the young Thunder team. The MVP award, as always, sparked debates among fans and analysts.

Gilgeous-Alexander, a talented Canadian player, had an outstanding season for Oklahoma City, averaging 30.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 2.0 steals per game. He recorded an impressive 51 games with 30 or more points, the highest in the league.

Doncic, hailing from Slovenia, led the league in scoring with 33.9 points per game and ranked second in assists with 9.8 per game. He also averaged 9.2 rebounds per game and joined the elite company of players who achieved a 30-point triple-double after the All-Star break, following in the footsteps of Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook.

However, Nuggets coach Mike Malone had no doubts about Jokic's worthiness for his third MVP award. Malone expressed his admiration for Jokic's impact on the team, emphasizing that his motivation lies in collective success rather than individual accolades. Jokic's dedication to winning and his team-oriented mindset make him a truly deserving MVP.

Malone praised Jokic as a prime example of a player who elevates the performance of his teammates. He commended Jokic's consistent greatness and his ability to excel every single night, regardless of the circumstances or the players around him. Malone emphasized that Jokic carries the team on his shoulders and enhances the abilities of each and every one of his teammates.

After winning the 2022 MVP award, Jokic returned to his hometown of Sombor, Serbia, following the Nuggets' playoff elimination. It remains uncertain whether Jokic can secure both the MVP award and the championship title this season.

The Nuggets encountered a challenging situation as they lost the first two games of their Western Conference semi-final series against the Minnesota Timberwolves. They now face the daunting task of attempting to make a comeback on the Timberwolves' home court, starting on Friday.

Jokic's victory as MVP signifies the sixth consecutive season in which the award has been won by a player born outside the United States. The most recent US-born player to win the award was James Harden in 2018.