Nikola Jokic named NBA MVP; Joining exclusive company.
With his third NBA MVP win in just four years, Nikola Jokic has etched his name in the annals of NBA history. This remarkable feat, a rarity since LeBron James, propels him into an elite group of only nine players to have won the MVP award at least three times. This season, the unstoppable ‘Joker’ led the Nuggets to a 57-25 record, securing the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference and the third-best record in the NBA. His performance was equally awe-inspiring, averaging 26.4 PPG, 12.4 rebounds, and nine assists, all while his partner in crime, Jamal Murray, was sidelined for 23 games due to injury.
Earlier this season, Joel Embiid was a formidable contender to retain his league MVP title before a torn meniscus dashed his hopes. Once Jokic took the lead, it was a race that would not dissipate. For the past few years, Jokic has consistently topped the league in almost all major advanced metrics, a testament to his dominance and the fierce competition in the NBA.
The Nuggets, led by Jokic, are resolute in their quest to defend their title and repeat as champions for the first time since the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018. However, they grapple with a 0-2 series deficit against the spirited, Anthony Edwards-led Minnesota Timberwolves. This is undoubtedly the most arduous test of the Jokic era, as they’ve never been in such a precarious position without the advantage of home-court support.
While Jokic emerged as the victor, it's important to acknowledge the outstanding performances of his counterparts. Milwaukee Buck Giannis Antetokounmpo made history as the first player to average 30 ppg on 60% shooting from the field. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder led the youngest team in NBA history to earn a No. 1 seed. Luka “Magic” Doncic became the first player in NBA history to average 33.9 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 9.8 assists per game throughout the season. These players' achievements are a testament to their skill and dedication to the game.
Gilgeous-Alexander finished second in the voting, Doncic third, Antetokounmpo fourth and Knicks guard Jalen Brunson edged Celtics forward Jayson Tatum for the fifth-place finish. Jokic won by a landslide, finishing with 79 1st place votes, Shai with 15, Luka with 4, and Giannis with 1. This overwhelming support from the voting panel underscores the consensus about Jokic's exceptional performance this season. When asked about the MVP, here’s what Joker had to say, “There's a lot of players that deserve it… It's probably details and the small things [that determine it]."
In my opinion, Luka or Shai should have taken home the honor, although one could argue that Jokic was more than deserving. Shai and Luka both had compelling cases. Shai, one of only two players to have 30 points at least 50 times this season, averaged 30.1 ppg, 5.5 rebounds, and 6.2 assists on 53.5% shooting from the field, earning him the first All-Star appearance of his career. This feat puts Shai in great company, joining Michael Jordan(1989-90 and 1990-91), Tracy McGrady (2002-03), Kobe Bryant (2005-06), and James Harden (2018-19) as the only players in the past 35 years to put up 50 games with at least 30 points.
Luka, who was also one of two players in the Association to score 30 points at least 50 times this year, led the league in scoring while still getting his teammates involved, as he was second in the league in assists per game. Doncic led the league in 35-point games(32), 40-point games(13), 30-point triple-doubles(16), 35-point triple-doubles(11), and 40-point triple-doubles(2); he shot 48.7 percent from the field, a career-high 38.2 percent from 3-point range, and another career-high 78.6 percent from the free-throw line. His efforts did not stop there; on the defensive end, he showed significant improvement. Along with finishing tied for 10th place in the league with 2.6 deflections per game, Doncic also led the Mavericks with 99 steals(1.4 per game) and 38 blocks(0.5 per game), career highs.
Individually, Shai and Luka had compelling cases, but neither could overcome Nikola Jokic's generational talent. Doncic's team was a No. 5 seed in the West, and Gilgeous-Alexander dealt with a quad injury down the stretch that limited his impact in the season's final few weeks.
Jokic's case was Teflon Don. On opening night, he was the best player in the NBA, and to most, he remains the best player in the league today. Although unable to win four MVPs in a row, winning three in four years puts him in very exclusive company. Already regarded as an all-time legend, Jokic is in the middle of his prime. Being 29, one would think he will only climb the ranks and join more exclusive companies. Tied for the sixth most all-time, how many MVPs Jokic finishes with remains to be seen.
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