Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic continued to add to his legacy as one of the best players in the history of the NBA by winning the Most Valuable Player award for a third time.
Jokic earned the award for the third time in four years after a sensational campaign during which he averaged 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds and 9.0 assists while shooting 58.3% from the field and 35.9% from behind the three-point arc, as Denver finished the season fifth in offensive efficiency, eighth in defensive efficiency and fourth in net rating
In winning the 29 year old who is the second player along with Oscar Robertson to amass 2000 points, 900 rebounds and 600 assists in a season, garnered 79 first-place votes and a total of 926 points to finish ahead Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks, who were second and third, respectively, in the voting.
“It’s got to start with the teammates; without them, I cannot do nothing,” Jokic said Wednesday on TNT after being named MVP. “Coaches, players, organization, medical staff, strength coaches, development coaches. It is all one big circle. But I cannot be whatever I am without them.”
Jokic now becomes the first center in six decades to win the league MVP award three times in four seasons after the legendary Kareem Abdul-Jabbar who did so from 1973-74 to 1976-77.
The Serb is also the ninth three-time MVP in NBA history, joining Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, LeBron James, Moses Malone, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson.
