Nikola Jokic, center for the Denver Nuggets, has achieved a remarkable feat by winning the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award for the third time.
This achievement places him among the league’s elite, as only eight other players have won the award three or more times.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar holds the record with six MVP wins, followed by Michael Jordan and Bill Russell with five each. Wilt Chamberlain and LeBron James have each won the award four times, while Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and Moses Malone have also won it three times.
Jokic’s consistency and skill have solidified his place among the greatest players in NBA history.
More than an MVP. pic.twitter.com/LtVjlNkK9b
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) May 8, 2024
“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.”
Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander placed second in the MVP voting, followed by Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Doncic in third.
Jokic has been a dominant force this season, averaging 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, and nine assists per game, with 25 triple-doubles to his name. He became only the second player in NBA history to record over 2,000 points, 900 rebounds, and 700 assists in a single regular season. Despite his outstanding performance, the Denver Nuggets are currently trailing 2-0 against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference semi-finals.
In the Eastern Conference semi-finals, Jalen Brunson’s resilience shone through as he overcame a right foot injury to lead the New York Knicks to a comeback victory against the Indiana Pacers. Brunson scored 24 points after returning to the game in the third quarter, helping the Knicks secure a 130-121 win and a 2-0 series lead.