.jpeg "nikola jokic")
Nikola Jokic captures 2nd straight NBA MVP award DENVER, COLORADO – Nikola Jokic put up record-breaking numbers in the NBA. Wilt isn't among them. Certainly not from Kareem. "Air Jordan" isn't one of them. Not LeBron James.
The Denver Nuggets big man got his second straight Most Valuable Player award after a spectacular season, according to a source familiar with the decision. According to a person who spoke to the Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because the voting results had not been released, the NBA was planning to make the announcement in the coming days, most likely this week.
ESPN first reported that Jokic would be chosen MVP again, citing sources.
The 7-foot center became the first player in NBA history to record more than 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 500 assists in a single season. And it was because of his supremacy that the player is known as "Joker" was voted into the NBA's exclusive MVP back-to-back club for the 13th time.
The other finalists were Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, who led the league in scoring average, and two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo of the reigning champion Milwaukee Bucks, who will finish second and third in some order.
On a squad that was missing two top players in Jamal Murray (ACL) and Michael Porter Jr., Jokic averaged 27.1 points, 13.8 rebounds, and 7.9 assists (back). The big man from Sombor, Serbia, stepped up night after night to handle the load and led the Nuggets to a 48-win season. They were the No. 6 seed in the West before losing in the first round of the playoffs to the Golden State Warriors in five games.
"What he's done is really extraordinary," Nuggets coach Michael Malone recently said of Jokic. "I'm fully aware that I'm biased, and I freely acknowledge it — the MVP isn't even a competition. There are other fantastic players, and I'm not saying they aren't, but Nikola Jokic has done an incredible job this year, with this team, and with everything we've had to go through."
Jokic is set to have a busy offseason ahead of him, as he is eligible for a supermax agreement that could pay him approximately $254 million over five seasons beginning in 2023-24. Next season, he'll earn $32.4 million.
Nuggets president of basketball operations Tim Connelly recently stated, "There's nothing more important than maintaining Jokic."
Jokic joins a select group of players who have won consecutive seasons. Antetokounmpo, Stephen Curry, LeBron James (twice), Steve Nash, Tim Duncan, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Moses Malone, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar are among the other players to win two consecutive championships (twice). In three consecutive seasons, Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain, and Bill Russell each earned the award.
Jokic will have another opportunity at a three-peat next season.
His teammates are not surprised by the award. Every night, they got a front-row ticket to his act.
On Twitter, guard Bones Hyland wrote: "I've been saying it all year: I simply woke up happier than ever, as if I'd won the prize!! My boy-man makes me so proud!! Great athlete, but the even better leader and role model! Jokey, thanks for teaching me the ropes this year! Ma Brother, congrats."
George Karl, a former Nuggets coach, tweeted: "Jokic is incredible! He was deserving. He was better than last year and carried his club throughout the season."
Jokic, who is known for his precision passing as well as his gentle touch, led the league with 19 triple-doubles. The 41st overall choice in the 2014 draft now has 76 career starts, second only to Chamberlain (78) among centers.
Jokic's was asked how he would celebrate if he won MVP after being knocked out of the playoffs despite averaging 31 points and 13.2 rebounds.
He answered, "Probably with some music, alcohol, friends, and family." "Probably how you're supposed to do it."
Jokic, who is known for his precision passing as well as his gentle touch, led the league with 19 triple-doubles. The 41st overall choice in the 2014 draft now has 76 career starts, second only to Chamberlain (78) among centers.
Jokic was asked how he would celebrate if he won MVP after being knocked out of the playoffs despite averaging 31 points and 13.2 rebounds.
He answered, "Probably with some music, alcohol, friends, and family." "Probably how you're supposed to do it."
He has the vision of a point guard on the floor and a shot arsenal that includes silky baby hooks near the rim and a delicate 3-point touch.
When asked whether it was more necessary to take away Jokic's shooting attempts or passes, Popovich replied, "I don't think anyone has figured that out." "He's a fantastic guy."
Jokic is obsessed with winning games, not hardware. He doesn't lobby on his own behalf, preferring to let his numbers speak for themselves. He averaged 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 8.3 assists last season when he won. This season, he elevated his game by being named to his fourth straight All-Star team.