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LOS ANGELES (AFP) – Denver Nuggets heart Nikola Jokic was named NBA Most Invaluable Participant for the second straight season on Wednesday.
The 27-year-old Serbian star averaged 27.1 factors per sport with 13.8 rebounds and seven.9 assists this season because the Nuggets completed sixth within the Western Convention.
He beat out Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks within the remaining voting, receiving 875 factors ˗with 65 first-place votes — from a world panel of 100 sports activities journalists.
Jokic is the fifteenth participant to win a number of MVP awards. The Nuggets have been eradicated within the first spherical of the playoffs by the Golden State Warriors.
He turned the thirteenth participant to win the award in consecutive seasons, becoming a member of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Antetokounmpo, Larry Chicken, Wilt Chamberlain, Stephen Curry, Tim Duncan, LeBron James, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Moses Malone, Steve Nash and Invoice Russell.
Embiid completed in second place with 706 factors (26 first-place votes).
Milwaukee Bucks ahead Antetokounmpo, who received back-to-back MVP awards in 2019 and 2020, completed in third place with 595 factors (9 first-place votes), adopted by Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker in fourth place with 216 factors and Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic in fifth place with 146 factors.
It marked the primary time that the highest three and 4 total of the highest 5 finishers, have been worldwide gamers. Embiid is from Cameroon, Antetokounmpo from Greece and Doncic from Slovenia.
Within the televised announcement of the award, broadcaster TNT confirmed footage of Nuggets coach Michael Malone and a few of Jokic’s teammates delivering the trophy to him at his horse farm in Serbia.
“Now, I don’t take into consideration (the awards), however in all probability after I’m outdated, fats and grumpy, I’m gonna bear in mind, and I’m gonna inform my youngsters,” he informed TNT by way of video chat.
Jokic joined Antetokounmpo because the second European to win the award greater than as soon as.
He stated it was a extremely emotional second when he was shocked at residence with the award.
“No one ever got here right here,” he stated. “I believe it’s wonderful.”
His season statistics, which additionally included 1.47 steals per sport and 0.85 blocked pictures per sport, have been profession highs in each class besides assists.
He ranked sixth within the NBA in factors, second in rebounds, eighth in assists, twelfth in steals and thirty third in blocks per sport.
He led the league in complete rebounds (1,019) and complete defensive rebounds (813). His career-high 58.3 subject aim proportion was eighth-highest within the NBA.
He turned the primary participant in NBA historical past to report a minimum of 2,000 factors, 1,000 rebounds and 500 assists in a season and the primary participant to common a minimum of 25.0 factors, 13.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists in a season.
He led the league with 19 triple-doubles.
“I don’t know what else you may say about Nikola at this level,” Malone stated in an announcement. “He’s constantly improved his sport, he’s constantly confirmed folks incorrect after they doubt him and he’s constantly the very best participant on the ground evening in and evening out.”
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