Nikola Jokic named Kia MVP for third straight year

 

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic has been named the Kia MVP for the third straight year, becoming just the fourth player in NBA history to win the award three times in a row. Jokic had another historic season, becoming the first player to ever average at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists on at least 60% shooting over a single season. He also led the league in triple-doubles with 29 and perched his team atop the Western Conference for a season-best 105 days.

Jokic's consistent dominance on the court, combined with his team's success, made him a clear choice for the award. He received this writer’s official MVP vote for the third-straight year, beating out other worthy candidates such as Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

However, Embiid put up a strong push for the award late in the season, finishing second in the final edition of Kia Race to the MVP Ladder. Embiid won his second straight scoring title and earned recognition as the Eastern Conference Player of the Month for March and April. He racked up an NBA-best 33.3 points per game over the last 18 games, becoming just the second player in the league to post such ridiculous numbers over any 18-game span since Shaquille O’Neal in 1999-00.

It’s clear that both Jokic and Embiid put in a lot of work to earn their spots as top MVP candidates. Embiid changed his stance repeatedly regarding a desire to win an MVP, but ultimately, he cared about the award because it would validate all the work he put in. Jokic, on the other hand, approached his job with the same attitude as anyone else, saying, “It’s a job. It’s the same as yours. So, if you enjoy it, then I enjoy it, too.”

The fact that both players were so focused on their work is what makes them stand out as true MVPs. They both put in hours and hours of hard work, and their efforts paid off with successful seasons that will go down in NBA history.

In the end, Jokic emerged as the clear winner of the award, but the fact that Embiid put up such a strong push for the honor shows just how talented he is as well. Both players are likely to continue dominating the NBA for years to come, and fans can look forward to watching their incredible skills on display in future seasons.