DENVER -
Nikola Jokic put up numbers by no means seen earlier than in NBA historical past. Not from Wilt. Not from Kareem. Not from "Air Jordan." Not from LeBron.
With a historic season, the Denver Nuggets large man earned his second straight Most Beneficial Participant award, an individual with information of the choice instructed The Related Press on Monday. The NBA was getting ready to make the announcement within the coming days, seemingly this week, in line with the one who spoke to the AP on situation of anonymity as a result of the voting outcomes haven't been introduced.
ESPN, citing sources, first reported that Jokic can be named MVP once more.
The 7-foot heart turned the primary participant in league historical past to eclipse 2,000 factors, 1,000 rebounds and 500 assists in a season. And that type of dominance by the participant nicknamed "Joker" helped persuade voters that he needs to be the thirteenth participant of the NBA's unique MVP back-to-back membership.
The opposite finalists -- who will end second and third in some order -- had been Philadelphia 76ers heart Joel Embiid, who led the league in scoring common, and two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo of the reigning champion Milwaukee Bucks.
The 27-year-old Jokic averaged 27.1 factors, 13.8 rebounds and seven.9 assists on a workforce that was lacking two max gamers in Jamal Murray (ACL) and Michael Porter Jr. (again). Required to hold the load evening out and in, the massive man from Sombor, Serbia, answered the decision and guided the Nuggets to a 48-win season. They earned the No. 6 seed within the West earlier than shedding in 5 video games to the Golden State Warriors within the opening spherical of the playoffs.
"It is simply exceptional what he is performed," Nuggets coach Michael Malone just lately mentioned of Jokic. "I do know that I am very biased, I admit it wholeheartedly -- the MVP is not even a contest. There's different nice gamers, I am not saying they don't seem to be nice gamers, however what Nikola Jokic has performed this 12 months, with this workforce, with every little thing that we have needed to undergo, is unimaginable."
The award is probably going the beginning of an enormous offseason for Jokic, who's eligible for a supermax extension that would assure him almost $254 million over 5 seasons beginning with 2023-24. He'll make $32.4 million subsequent season.
"There's nothing extra essential" than protecting Jokic, Nuggets president of basketball operations Tim Connelly just lately mentioned.
Jokic joins rarefied firm in profitable for a second straight season. The opposite gamers to win two in a row embrace Antetokounmpo, Stephen Curry, LeBron James (twice), Steve Nash, Tim Duncan, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Moses Malone and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (twice). Larry Fowl, Wilt Chamberlain and Invoice Russell every received the award in three straight seasons.
Subsequent 12 months, Jokic could have his probability at a threepeat as effectively.
The award comes as no shock to his teammates. That they had a front-row seat to his efficiency each evening.
Guard Bones Hyland posted on Twitter: "Man.. All 12 months I have been saying it, I simply awakened happier then ever like I received the award!! I am so pleased with my boy man!! Nice Participant however a even higher Chief & Nice Function mannequin! Thanks for displaying me the ropes this 12 months Jokey! Congrats Ma Brother."
Former Nuggets coach George Karl posted: "Unbelievable Jokic! He earned it. He was higher this 12 months than final and carried his workforce all season."
Recognized for his pinpoint passing as a lot as his tender contact, Jokic completed with a league-leading 19 triple-doubles. The forty first decide of the 2014 draft now has 76 in his profession, which trails solely Chamberlain (78) amongst facilities.
After being knocked out of the playoffs -- he averaged 31 factors, 13.2 rebounds -- Jokic was requested how he may have fun ought to he win MVP.
"In all probability with some music, beer, associates round, household," he mentioned. "Like the way you're presupposed to do in all probability.
"But when I do not get it, I am not going to die. I am simply going to maintain taking part in, maintain making an attempt to play the correct approach like I did my entire life."
There was a time when the Jokic was maligned for his recreation. Extra particularly, his protection and never having the ability to soar. His once-pudgy body -- Spurs coach Gregg Popovich good-naturedly ribbed him about it -- has extra energy to it.
Ever trouble him that his recreation would not appear to generate the extent of respect as different standout gamers?
"Cannot care much less, brother," Jokic mentioned.
He sees the court docket with the readability of some extent guard and has an arsenal of photographs that features easy child hooks across the rim and a tender 3-point contact.
Popovich had the apropos reply when requested if it was extra essential to remove Jokic's shot makes an attempt or passes: "I do not assume anyone has figured that out," he mentioned. "He is an important one."
Jokic cares immensely about profitable -- video games, not hardware. He isn't one to foyer on his personal behalf, simply letting his numbers do his speaking. Final season when he received, he averaged 26.4 factors, 10.8 boards and eight.3 assists. This season, he took his recreation to a different stage in making his fourth straight All-Star workforce.
"If that is sufficient, it is sufficient," he mentioned. "If not, you can't management that."
Joke about his MVP trophy from a season in the past: Just a few weeks in the past, he mentioned he wasn't precisely certain the place it was as his household strikes.
"It's right here in Denver," Jokic just lately cracked.
------
AP Basketball Author Tim Reynolds, AP Sports activities Author Arnie Stapleton and freelance author Michael Kelly contributed to this report
Post a Comment