4/24/2023 0 Comments Jokic stts"And Nikola's got about 56 moments where he's shown he's the MVP.Nikola Jokic has been a terrible defender this season. "Life's about little moments," Malone said late in the regular season. He averaged 33 points and 10.5 rebounds on 53 per cent shooting from the field, 43 per cent from 3-point range and 92 per cent from the free throw line - making him the first player in NBA history to average 30 points and 10 rebounds with the lofty benchmarks of 50 per cent from the field, 40 per cent from 3 and 90 per cent from the foul line in a playoff series. Behind Jokic, the Nuggets went 13-5 after Murray tore his ACL on April 12 and he led Denver past the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the playoffs.Īnd his numbers against the Blazers? Historic. That's nearly 300 more than anyone else he's one of only six players to eclipse 5,000 minutes in that span.ĭespite that ever-changing cast around him, Jokic guided Denver to the No. Including playoffs, Jokic has logged 5,766 minutes in the last two seasons. Others have also played in every game, but no one else has started them all. He's the only player to start all of his team's regular-season games in the last two seasons, being on the floor for tip-off all 145 times. "I think I did a good job of using that opportunity." Powered Nuggets after Murray injuryĪ year after leading the Nuggets to the Western Conference Finals in the Walt Disney World bubble in Florida, Jokic steered his team through a trying season marked a rash of injuries, most notably to fellow star Jamal Murray, who tore his left ACL in April.Īmid all those injuries - not to mention a jampacked season where virtually everyone got some rest along the way - Jokic was a rare everyday player, a big man who logged big minutes. "The Denver Nuggets drafted me, it was an opportunity for me to become an NBA player," Jokic said. He shot 56 per cent from the field and 39 per cent from 3-point range. He tied his career high with 10.8 rebounds per game and his average of 8.3 assists was just shy of Wilt Chamberlain's all-time season average (8.6) for a center. Jokic's scoring average jumped from 19.9 points per game last season to 26.4. Jokic had a league-high 60 double-doubles and added 16 triple-doubles - second-most in the NBA behind only triple-double king and former MVP Westbrook - this season. Even Kobe Bryant, back in 2019, said he had challenged Jokic to fulfill his potential and win an MVP award. Jokic's rise was meteoric, but not totally unexpected after the way he played in recent years. James got one fifth-place vote - extending his streak to 18 years with at least one vote in the MVP race. Joke's On You," it said.Īfter the top five, the rest of the voting was Dallas' Luka Doncic, Portland's Damian Lillard, New York's Julius Randle, Rose, Utah's Rudy Gobert, Washington's Russell Westbrook, Philadelphia's Ben Simmons and, tying for 13th, was the Los Angeles Clippers' Kawhi Leonard, Brooklyn's James Harden and the Lakers' LeBron James. The back of the shirt told a different story: "MVP. "First of many," Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. He wore a T-shirt Tuesday night with some of the knocks that Jokic has heard over the years, including "Can't Jump," "Flopper" and "Poor Defender." The news came in a team meeting Tuesday, with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver appearing on a video screen to deliver the word. to claim an MVP, joining Canada (Nash), Greece (Antetokounmpo), Nigeria (Hakeem Olajuwon) and Germany (Dirk Nowitzki). Greece now cedes the bragging rights to Serbia - the fifth nation outside of the U.S. Antetokounmpo won the MVP award each of the last two seasons. The previous record-holders for lowest draft picks who became MVPs were Steve Nash and Giannis Antetokounmpo, who were both chosen 15th overall. Philadelphia's Joel Embiid was second, Golden State's Stephen Curry was third, 20 MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo of Milwaukee was fourth and Phoenix's Chris Paul was fifth. That fan vote was the outlier: It went to 2011 NBA MVP Derrick Rose of the New York Knicks, the only vote Rose got. It's an individual award, but it's the effort of everybody." "I came here six years ago and I was growing, the organization was growing, the coaching staff was growing, the players next to me were growing. □ The 2020-21 MVP □#MileHighBasketball /cqTbchH6za- a big accomplishment, but it's something that like I said to the guys, it's not just me," Jokic said.
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