Nikola Jokic

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic reportedly has been voted the 2021-22 NBA MVP, beating out Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Jokic and the Nuggets went through the regular season without two of their top players. Still, Jokic powered the Nuggets to a 48-34 regular season record and the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference before falling to the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the playoffs. He set NBA single-season records for box plus/minus and player efficiency rating.

Denver's center will become just the 13th player in NBA history to win consecutive MVP awards.

In addition to posting some of the best numbers of his career this season, Jokic now also stands alone with his counting stats in three major categories. Jokic will become just the 13th player in the history of the NBA to win back-to-back MVP awards. His 7.9 assists per game were also good for eighth in the NBA.

Denver Nuggets star big man Nikola Jokic has been selected as the NBA MVP for the second consecutive season.

His efficiency was vital to the team’s success. Jokic’s 58.3 field goal percentage was the highest of his career. Jokic finished the year with extremely impressive per game averages of 27.1 points, 13.8 rebounds, and 7.9 assists.

Jokic's back-to-back MVP awards match the feat accomplished by fellow finalist Giannis Antetokounmpo during the 2018-19 and '19-20 seasons. The third finalist, ...

With Murray and Porter injured, Denver never had a realistic chance at a championship this season, but Jokic managed to carry them into the playoffs in ways no other player likely could have. Jokic's Nuggets were a No. 6 seed in the West despite winning only three fewer games and were ousted in the first round by the Golden State Warriors. Star teammate Jamal Murray did not play a single game this season, and No. 3 option Michael Porter Jr. played only nine games. He finished with career highs in points (27.1), rebounds (13.8), blocks (0.9) and steals (1.5) per game. He also made a career-high 58.3 percent of his field goals, and while he did not match his career high in free throw or 3-point percentage, he did set highs in total free throws (379) and 3-pointers (97) made. The third finalist, Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, has never won the award.

He did it again. Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic was named NBA MVP for the 2021-2022 season on Monday, making him the 13th back-to-back MVP in league history ...

The Nuggets were defeated by the Golden State Warriors 4-1 in the first-round of the Western Conference playoffs, despite having the best player in the world on their side. Jokic was spectacular this season and made history in Colorado. He’s now the first multiple-time MVP in Denver among the four major professional sports. He did so in the seasons that ended in 2019 and 2020. Jokic beat out Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo and Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid to capture the award. “The Joker” averaged 27.1 points per game, 13.8 rebounds, 7.9 assists, 1.5 steals and .9 blocks. Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic was named NBA MVP for the 2021-2022 season on Monday, making him the 13th back-to-back MVP in league history.

Nikola Jokic finished ahead of Joel Embiid in MVP voting for a second straight season, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Monday morning. By Noah Levick.

In addition to Jokic and Embiid, two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo was the other finalist. And it’s also foreign guys. “He’s an amazing player,” Embiid said of Jokic in March. “He’s a monster.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Denver Nuggets superstar big man Nikola Jokic has won his second consecutive MVP award. Adrian Wojnarowski.

It’s a weird time to drop the MVP news on a Monday morning, but nonetheless is awesome to now know that Jokic has for sure won MVP. Jokic joins some elite company as he is just the 13th player in NBA history to win MVP in back-to-back seasons. Jokic beats out Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid for the award and was more than deserving following his historic season. It wasn’t just that though as Jokic also averaged a career high 27.1 points and 13.8 rebounds per game.

With a historic season, the Denver Nuggets big man has earned his second straight Most Valuable Player award, according to NBA sources.

There was a time when the Jokic was maligned for his game. He was also mocked for his weight but has become a leaner, stronger player in recent seasons. The 27-year-old Jokic averaged 27.1 points, 13.8 rebounds and 7.9 assists on a team that was missing two other stars, Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr, for almost the entirety of the season due to injury. The 7ft center became the first player in league history to record more than 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 500 assists in a season. “It’s just remarkable what he’s done,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone recently said of Jokic. “I know that I’m very biased, I admit it wholeheartedly the MVP isn’t even a competition. The 41st pick of the 2014 draft now has 76 in his career, which trails only Chamberlain (78) among centers. A few weeks ago, he admitted he wasn’t sure exactly where his MVP trophy from last season was after he had moved house. I’m just going to keep playing, keep trying to play the right way like I did my whole life.” Next year, Jokic will have his chance at a threepeat as well. Thanks for showing me the ropes this year Jokey! Congrats Ma Brother.” But if I don’t get it, I’m not going to die. Guard Bones Hyland posted on Twitter: “Man.. All year I’ve been saying it, I just woke up happier then ever like I won the award!!

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic said he didn't know where his MVP trophy is. He'll get another, as the 2021-22 NBA MVP.

The incumbent must top his prior performance in addition to topping other candidates. Despite Jamal Murray missing the entire season and Michael Porter Jr. unhelpful/sidelined all year, Jokic lifted Denver to a 48-34 record. The second round of the playoffs is in full swing (with fellow finalists Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo still competing).

Nikola Jokic has won his second consecutive MVP award after a season in which he finished with numbers never before seen in NBA history.

“If not, you cannot control that.” If you are out of position or mistake on a cut, he’ll make you pay for that,” Thibodeau said earlier. He’s not one to lobby on his own behalf, just letting his numbers do his talking. “But if I don’t get it, I’m not going to die. This season, he took his game to another level in making his fourth straight All-Star team. “If anyone is jogging, he’s going to make you pay for that. The 27-year-old Jokic averaged 27.1 points, 13.8 rebounds and 7.9 assists on a team that was missing two max players in Jamal Murray (ACL) and Michael Porter Jr. (back). Required to carry the load night in and out, the big man from Sombor, Serbia, answered the call and guided the Nuggets to a 48-win season. His once-pudgy frame — Spurs coach Gregg Popovich good-naturedly ribbed him about it — has more strength to it. He was good last year and he’s even better this year.” The Nuggets’ 7-foot center was the first player in league history to eclipse 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 500 assists in a season. Jokic joins rarefied company in winning for a second straight season. The 41st pick of the 2014 draft now has 76 in his career, which trails only Chamberlain (78) among centers.

The 2021-22 season hadn't even formally started when Nikola Jokic set the tone for how he planned to handle the unwanted MVP inquiries lobbed in his ...

Though a reasonable explanation, it was indicative of Jokic’s general attitude toward the trophy. He was happy, he told numerous reporters, as long as the award went to a big man. Jokic dragged the Nuggets to a 48-win regular season — three wins shy of both the Bucks and the Sixers — while missing his sidekick, Jamal Murray, for the entire season and Denver’s best perimeter threat, Michael Porter Jr., for all but nine games. The efficiency was even more astounding given that Jokic saw more double-teams and kitchen-sink defenses than ever before. I’m just trying to win the game.” The award cements Jokic’s name among the pantheon of NBA legends.

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic has been voted the NBA's Most Valuable Player for the 2021-22 season, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Milwaukee Bucks All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo was the last player to win the award in back-to-back years, doing so during the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons. Playing in 74 total games this season, Jokic averaged 27.1 points, 13.8 rebounds, 7.9 assists, 1.5 steals and shot 58.3% from the floor. Jokic is also the first player to finish inside the Top-10 in points per game, rebounds per game, assists per game and field goal percentage in the last 50 seasons. One of the best all-around seasons in NBA history, Jokic recorded the first 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 500 assists season and became the first player in NBA history to average at least 25.0 points, 13.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists in a season, per StatMuse. While the Nuggets fell in the first-round of the playoffs to the Golden State Warriors in five games, Nikola Jokic did everything he could to keep his team within striking distance of virtually every game and ultimately, the team’s lack of overall firepower ended up being their downfall. Compared to when he won the award for the first-time last season, Jokic’s overall numbers have increased and he single-handedly carried the Nuggets to the playoffs in the absence of both Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr.

The analytics bear out a second-consecutive MVP for a player that doesn't feel like he belongs in that class.

The framing of Jokić’s case for NBA MVP has legitimacy, but the stats-heavy narrative lacked soul. The MVP Trophy has always been a regular-season award, but it carries meaning to the NBA community. Jokić led the league in VORP by a chasm that would lead you to believe that Antetokounmpo, who finished second, was his subordinate. Jokić defenders proclaim that he balled out with an inferior supporting cast, but in the first half of the season, Embiid kept the Sixers afloat with Tyrese Maxey and Seth Curry. Jokić won MVP over Embiid for the second consecutive year even while his peer spent most of his season battling while his star teammate was shelved. VORP was one of the more popular advanced statistics espoused in the 2022 MVP debate.

The Denver Nuggets center became the fourth active NBA player to win back-to-back MVP awards, joining LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Jokic’s season was marked by perseverance and incredible statistical production; he led the injury-ravaged Denver Nuggets in points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals. With Brooklyn’s elimination, Durant will have plenty of time for Twitter feuds. The Nuggets were eliminated in five games in the first round of the playoffs by the Golden State Warriors. Embiid’s 76ers and Antetokounmpo’s Bucks have advanced to the second round.

The Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic just clinched his second MVP award. Learn how his NBA cards have benefitted from his impressive season.

In any case, those who want to diversify their collection would do well with those rare Nikola Jokic cards in the market. That’s why it only makes sense to invest more in Nikola Jokic cards that came out during his rookie year, those with short print runs, and on-card autos that can’t be easily found anywhere. This year, Jokic has improved his game big time, especially with the Nuggets missing Murray and Porter. Throughout 74 games, the Joker has shown why he’s the number one option in Denver, thanks to his impressive performance on both ends of the court. And for a big man, what he does on the court deserves more love from fans, and ultimately from the hobby itself. And as Jokic wins his second MVP award, it only stands to reason that his NBA cards will rise up in the process. Although Jokic’s win last season was justified, the race this year came pretty close with Joel Embiid coming in second. His video game-like numbers during that year resulted in Jokic’s first MVP award. The Serbian center would also make 10.8 rebounds, 8.3 assists, and 1.3 steals in 34.6 minutes per game during the 2020-21 season. But when everything is said and done, it’s Nikola Jokic who stood tall over Joel Embiid and all the other contenders for the said award. That value settled at $2,431 right before April before shooting straight up to $4,000. But ever since what the Joker achieved last season, it can’t be considered a surprise anymore. This season’s race for the MVP has been one of the most contested in recent history.

There was an uproar from some on social media over Nikola Jokic winning the MVP award, but it's not hard to see why.

One thing seems certain and that is this MVP race between Jokic and Embiid (with Antetokounmpo in third) is going to go down as one of the closer and more memorable in recent years. Maybe it will stand the test of time in that regard. That distinction caught the attention of many, as it singled Jokic out as having a historic season and also showed his widespread impact on the Nuggets. It wasn't just the numbers, either. He's also the reigning Finals MVP and is the only one of the three with a ring. Okay, it was ESPN and I voted for Joel Embiid of the Sixers. And he was the first player ever to record at least 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 500 assists.

The honor also put Jokic on an even smaller list. By winning back-to-back MVPs, the center became the first player in the history of Colorado sports to win ...

To be considered the best of the best, championships matter. The past two years in particular, he’s been trying to win in the playoffs with an injury-riddled roster. To be considered an all-time great, coming through in the clutch is part of the equation. Jokic’s failings in the postseason aren’t squarely on him. And this year, they exited in the first round after just five games. Why? Because his teams haven’t fared very well in the playoffs. Patrick Roy never won a Hart Trophy. But during his eight seasons in an Avalanche sweater, he did hoist two Stanley Cups. In 2001, he carried the Avs to their second title, earning the Conn Smythe by posting a .934 save percentage, allowing just 1.70 goals per game and recording four shutouts in the playoffs. In fact, it doesn’t even get him onto the proverbial Mount Rushmore. Elway only won a single MVP, winning it in 1987. Jokic became the first player to ever score 2,000 points, grab 1,000 rebounds and dish out 500 assists in a single season. He certainly deserved the award. The honor also put Jokic on an even smaller list.

Ryan reacts to Nikola Jokić reportedly winning his second straight MVP, what it means for him and the Nuggets, and how Jokić can still improve going ...