Jokic clinches NBA MVP for third time in four seasons; Gilgeous-Alexander and Doncic follow in top 3

Nikola Jokic has once again captured the NBA’s Most Valuable Player title, his third in four years, joining an elite group of only six other players who have achieved this milestone. The Denver Nuggets’ Serbian star was announced as the MVP on Wednesday night after a season where he averaged 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 9.0 assists. Despite other players scoring higher in these categories, Jokic was the only one to rank in the top 10 for points, rebounds, and assists per game this season.

Jokic secured 79 out of 99 possible first-place votes, with the remaining spread among other top contenders. He expressed profound gratitude towards his teammates during the announcement on TNT, emphasizing their role in his success: “Without them, I’m nothing. Without them, I cannot do nothing.”

This year’s MVP race also noted a significant international presence, with the top three finishers, including Jokic, Canada’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Slovenia’s Luka Doncic, all hailing from outside the U.S. This marks the third consecutive year that the top three MVP candidates were born abroad, a first in NBA history with the top four in the voting all being international players.

Jokic appeared on the broadcast wearing a T-shirt in memory of his late mentor, Dejan Milojević, underscoring the personal challenges and inspirations that have shaped his career. He attributed much of his foundational development to Milojević, reflecting on the guidance and trust he received from him.

All 99 MVP ballots featured Jokic, with the majority favoring him as their first choice. Gilgeous-Alexander and Doncic also showed strong showings in the votes, reflecting their significant impacts this season.

When discussing the essence of an MVP, Jokic described it as someone indispensable to their team, a description that fits his contribution to the Nuggets. His remarkable journey from a 41st overall draft pick to an NBA superstar at 29 underscores a career that many now consider Hall of Fame worthy.

This achievement places Jokic in the company of legends like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell, and Michael Jordan, each known for multiple MVP awards. His consistent performance has solidified his status among the game’s all-time greats, evidenced by his top-two finishes in MVP voting over the last four seasons.

Meanwhile, Gilgeous-Alexander and Doncic have their own compelling narratives this season, with Gilgeous-Alexander leading the Thunder to a top seed in the Western Conference and Doncic setting record-breaking season averages.

In the end, Jokic’s comprehensive influence on and off the court led him to dominate this year’s MVP race, affirmed by teammates and rivals alike for his leadership and consistent excellence in performance.