Nikola Jokic has won his third MVP of the regular season, after those he won in 2021 and 2022. The Denver Nuggets player equals the three awards of Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Moses Malone to be among the best in history of the NBA.
The Serbian asserted his status as favorite and achieved 926 points in the final vote. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder), who finished second, obtained 640 votes, while former Madrid player Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks), third, achieved 566 points. In addition to the three of them, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jalen Brunson, Jayson Tatum, Anthony Edwards, Domantas Sabonis and Kevin Durant also received votes for MVP.
Jokic's numbers leave little doubt about his third MVP in the last four years. The Joker has averaged 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds and 9 assists this season. Likewise, he has recorded 68 double-doubles and 25 triple-doubles. His team's record has also helped, as the Nuggets have finished the regular season in second place, with 57 wins and 25 losses.
The third award places him among the best in history, since above him are only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, with six MVPs, Michael Jordan and Bill Russell, with five, and Wilt Chamberlain and LeBron James, with four. The next on this list full of legends is Nikola Jokic, who still has several years left at the highest level.
“When I won the MVP the first time I thought it was cool. When I won the second one, the list got shorter (players with more MVPs than him). Now, with the third, the list is even shorter. I'm just happy to be part of this group. "The Joker joked after matching Bird, Magic and Moses Malone.
“We have to start with my teammates, without them I can't do anything. Coaches, players, organization, medical staff, strength coaches, development coaches... It's all one big circle. But I can't be what I am without them,” commented Jokic, in gratitude to all the people who have accompanied him this season.
The Nuggets player also responded elegantly to Shaquille O'Neal, who said that Shai deserved to win the MVP: “There are many players who deserve the MVP. It’s probably the details and the little things that decide it.”
Despite Jokic's historic third MVP, the party is postponed in Denver, since ahead are the Conference semifinals, where the Colorado team is trailing on the scoreboard against the Wolves (0-2). The Minnesota team has won both matches at the Ball Arena, which forces Michael Malone's team to win two away games to regain the home court factor.
The Knicks are closer to the Conference Final after defeating the Indiana Pacers 130-121 at Madison Square Garden. Jalen Brunson, fifth in the MVP voting, scored 24 of his 29 points after halftime, after not playing in the second quarter due to injury.
In addition to the former Dallas player, the New York team featured OG Anunoby, with 28 points, DiVincenzo, also with 28, and Josh Hart, who had 19 points and 15 rebounds in 48 minutes of play. For his part, Haliburton shone in Indiana, but his 34 points were not enough to defeat the Knicks on the way to their first Conference Finals in 24 years.
