Less than a dozen NBA legends have changed the game and captured our attention on the court throughout the last few decades: Michael Jordan, Steph Curry, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. The NBA MVP award is a tangible way to determine these icons of the game as it’s given to the players with outstanding performance and the most impact on their team win/loss records.
Needless to say, it’s a high honor to receive the Most Valuable Player award, and only a few select players have received it more than once. Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets just won his third MVP trophy and usually when a player wins this many MVPs often results in multiple NBA Championships. According to the experts at https://casinorix.com/ca/, the Nuggets has frequently been named as the ‘Favorite’ among Canadian online sportsbooks.
The MVP award was first introduced in the 1955-56 season. Its purpose was to honor the best-performing player of the season. The very first player to receive the award was Bob Pettit, a power forward for the St Louis Hawks. He also became the first player to receive the award more than once, claiming it during both the 1955-56 and 1958-59 seasons.
A few players, including Pettit and Jokic, have won the MVP in multiple seasons. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has received the most MVP awards, holding 6 of them. Other multiple time winners include Michael Jordan and Bill Russell with five each. Right behind MJ and Russell are LeBron James and Wilt Chamberlain with four MVPs each.
Nikola Jokic: A Breakdown
Nikola Jokic is having one of his best seasons yet. He won his third NBA MVP award for the 2023-24 season; having won the MVP in 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons. After the results were tallied for the award, he ended up with 926 total points. Out of the 99 votes for first-place, he received 79. He led the Nuggets to a 57-25 record for the season.
Jokic was drafted by the Denver Nuggets in 2014. He was a relatively unknown player coming into the league, but his undeniable skills and unique playing style made him an intriguing player.
One of the aspects that makes Jokic one of the league’s best big men is his ability to pass the ball and extraordinary touch around the rim. His basketball IQ and versatile playing style have helped him orchestrate plays that have brought the Nuggets to the top.
Implications of Winning Three MVP Awards
On the surface, the third MVP award win should elevate Nikola Jokic’s status as one of the league’s legendary players. It would not only affect his career but also cement his name in NBA history. His mark in the game is something fans will always remember. Jokic will likely have to win a minimum one more NBA championship to really solidify his legacy.
Of course, we cannot accurately predict how this win will affect his future performance. But, taking a look at other MVP winners’ stories, things only seem to go up from here. For example, after Stephen Curry won back-to-back MVP awards, he brought the team to the title. Other legacy players, like Michael Jordan and Tim Duncan, also propelled their teams’ success.
While the playoffs are barreling toward the NBA Finals, the awards for the season have already been named. Nikola Jokic won his third NBA MVP award in his career to date. This is major news for the all-star player and his team as they prepare for the final games. Could this win be the boost Jokic needs to bring the Denver Nuggets to victory? They are one of eight teams currently competing for the 2024 NBA Title