Unique third MVP award for Jokic, but his championship team Nuggets falter in playoffs

NOS Sports•today, 10:22

The name Nikola Jokic (29) is now among the greatest basketball players of all time: the Serbian has been voted the most valuable player of the American basketball league NBA for the third time in his career.

Quite unique, but the reign of ‘The Joker’, as his nickname is, is no longer certain. In the playoffs, his championship team Denver Nuggets are faltering.

The annual election for ‘most valuable player’ (MVP) is prestigious and Jokic has won the award three times in the past four seasons. With his third MVP award, Jokic joins eight other players who have been named MVP three or more times. Think of the greats, such as Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and LeBron James.

The MVP award is about the games played in the regular season. Jokic, chosen over Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder) and Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks), averaged 26.4 points per game, gave 12.4 assists and grabbed 9 rebounds.

One player scored better in all three categories, but Jokic was the only one to finish in the top ten on all three lists. Of the 99 members of the press who were allowed to vote, 79 put Jokic first.

But in the current play-offs, Jokic is having great difficulty against the Minnesota Timberwolves with the reigning title holder Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets are down 2-0 in the best-of-seven series against the strong defensive team of rising star Anthony Edwards. The 106-80 loss in game 2 was painful, Jokic only managed 16 points.

Joker has no reason to be very happy about his election. The gentle giant from Sombor is certainly not concerned about an MVP award more or less. The 2.11 meter tall center has nothing to do with the glitz and glamor of the NBA. For example, after the championship won in 2023, he did not count on having to participate in the tribute parade through downtown Denver.

“When is the parade?”, Jokic wondered at the time after a question from a journalist. “I have to go home,” he sighed. To his race horses, which he trains. A greater passion than basketball.

Jokic’s thank you video after earning his third MVP award was every bit as disarming as you’d expect from “The Joker.” “Thank you, bye bye,” he concluded quickly and lightly.

On Friday, Jokic will get another chance in game 3 to show why he was voted the most valuable player this year. But the hungry Timberwolves are ready to devour the MVP.