Nikola Jokic’s third MVP may be surprising—even upsetting—for some. However, everyone must remember that the Serbian will always be in the MVP conversation as long as he’s playing a full regular season with the Denver Nuggets.
It’s understandable that some believe Shai Gilgeous-Alexander should get the MVP award for leading a young Oklahoma City Thunder squad to the top spot of the fiercely competitive Western Conference, but Jokic is the epitome of consistency. Voters took his value to the team in consideration when it came to giving him the award.
Now that he has three MVP awards to his name, it’s not strange to consider the Joker as one of the best players to ever set foot on the NBA hardwood.
His three awards even put him in an exclusive company of players who have made their mark in the league. Nuggets fans will definitely use this fact to argue Jokic’s first-ballot inclusion to the Hall of Fame when he retires from the league.
Nikola Jokic joins an exclusive company of top players with his third MVP award with the Denver Nuggets
According to the BBC, Jokic joins an exclusive club of NBA stars who won three MVPs or more. Since the award is such a difficult one to win, it’s understandable that many of the names on the list are some of the most influential players in NBA history.
The list is pretty short, with only Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and Moses Malone being the only three-time MVP awardees. Players who have won more than three MVPs include LeBron James, Kareem Adbul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, and Bill Russell.
Jokic shared that it’s an honor for him to be included in such a club:
“It’s a special moment I’m probably going to remember my whole life,” Jokic, 29, said. “It’s – I like to say- a legacy for after [your] career.”
Jokic enjoyed a terrific regular season with the Denver Nuggets, with averages of 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, and nine assists this season. It’s also important to note that he completed 25 triple-doubles this season.
While the Nuggets are in a bit of playoff trouble with Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves, they can count on Jokic to force the issue and make the series interesting for the neutral fan.
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