The force of habit: Nikola Jokic, the pivot of the Denver Nuggets, was named MVP, that is to say best player of the NBA regular season. He is ahead of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder) and Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks). This is the third time that the Serbian basketball player has won this honorary title (after 2021 and 2022) which rewards regularity in the season and consistency in performances.
Still far from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the record holder (6), also behind Michael Jordan (5), LeBron James (4) and Bill Russell (4), but in good company with other three-star players (Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson and Moses Malone).
During the six months of the regular phase, he averaged 26.4 points per game, as well as 12.4 rebounds and 9 assists. His team let slip first place in the Western Conference with two days remaining, and Oklahoma City took advantage of it. A criterion which could have worked in favor of “SGA”, the Canadian Thunder, whose statistics were also remarkable (30.1 points; 5.5 rebounds; 6.2 assists).
A vote that did not only make people happy. “Congratulations to you but I’m not happy with this choice,” reacted Shaquille O’Neal, the former player now a consultant for the American channel TNT, while he interviewed Jokic. You’re the best player in the NBA, but I want you to hear it from my own mouth: I think Shai Gilgeous-Alexander should have been the MVP this season. And that’s no disrespect to you. »
In difficulty against Rudy Gobert’s Wolves
Nikola Jokic is currently leading the Nuggets in their conference semi-final series against the Minnesota Timberwolves (0-2), and his NBA season could end sooner than expected. Ironically, the only season where he became champion in June was also the one where he was not awarded the best player trophy during the regular phase.
Even if he does not make the semi-finals, his season will not be completely complete: he will take part with Serbia in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games this summer.
Nikola Jokic paid tribute to his teammates. “Without them, I can’t do anything,” he said during the MVP announcement broadcast on TNT. “The coaches, the players, the organization, the medical staff, the full-time coaches, the development coaches – it’s a big circle without which I couldn’t be where I am.”
The MVP title is the last of the end-of-season awards awarded by the NBA this year. Earlier this week, Frenchmen Rudy Gobert (Minnesota Timberwolves) and Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs) were named best defender and “rookie of the year” respectively.