Nuggets' Jokic is NBA MVP
MANILA, Philippines — Nikola Jokic has been named the 2020-21 Kia NBA MVP.
First reported by The Athletic and later confirmed to ESPN, Jokic was announced MVP on Tuesday (Wednesday, Manila time), the first big man to win the award since Shaquille O'neal in 2000.
Jokic bested finalists Joel Embiid and Stephen Curry for the award. Of the 100 possible votes for MVP, Jokic garnered 91 first-place votes — a landslide victory.
The Serbian becomes the lowest-drafted player to ever become MVP after he was picked 41st overall in the 2014 NBA Draft.
Jokic paced the Nuggets to the third seed in the West and towed the team past the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the playoffs.
This despite losing his co-star Jamal Murray to injury in the latter part of the season.
Jokic averaged 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds and 8.3 assists in the regular season.
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