Wednesday, Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player for the second consecutive season.
The 27-year-old Serbian superstar averaged 27.1 points and 13.8 rebounds. Also, 7.9 assists for the sixth-place Nuggets in the Western Conference.
He defeated Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks in the final voting. He received 875 points, including 65 first-place votes, from a global panel of 100 sportswriters.
Jokic is the fifteenth player to receive multiple MVP honors. In the first round, the Golden State Warriors eliminated the Denver Nuggets from the playoffs.
Embiid placed second overall with 706 points (26 first-place votes).
Antetokounmpo ended in third place with 595 points (nine first-place votes). Come after by Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker in fourth place with 216 scores and Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic in the fifth set with 146 scores.
For the first time, the highest three and four of the top five culmination were international players. Doncic is from Slovenia, Antetokounmpo is from Greece, and Embiid is from Cameroon.
TNT presented footage of Nuggets coach Michael Malone and some of Jokic’s teammates handing the award to him at his farm in Serbia during the televised announcement of the prize.
He told TNT over video chat, “Right now, I don’t think about (the accolades). But when I’m old, fat, and grouchy, I’ll probably remember and tell my kids.”
Jokic is the second European after Giannis Antetokounmpo to win many times
When he presented the medal at his home, he stated it was very emotional.
“No one has ever been here,” he stated. “I believe it’s incredible.”
His season numbers included 1.47 steals per game and 0.85 blocked shots, which were career highs in all categories besides assists.
He was sixth in the NBA in points per game, second in rebounds, eighth in assists, 12th in steals, and 33rd in blocks.
He led the league in total offensive and defensive rebounds (1,019). (813). His career-best field goal percentage of 58.3 ranked eighth in the NBA.
He was the first member in NBA history to record at least 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 500 assists in a single season and the first player to average at least 25.0 points, 14.0 rebounds, and 6.0 assists a game.
He led the league in triple-doubles with 19.
Malone stated, “I don’t know what else you can say about Nikola.” He has continuously developed his game, repeatedly proven his doubters wrong, and consistently been the most outstanding player.
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