Nikola Jokic wins his third MVP

Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets was named the 2023-24 NBA Most Valuable Player, the league announced on Wednesday. He joins Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, Bill Russell, Magic Johnson, LeBron James, Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird and Moses Malone to become the ninth player in NBA history to have won at least three regular-season MVP awards.

Jokic beat Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks in the MVP race. Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers, who won it last year, was disqualified for the running after failing to make 65 appearances during the regular season.

“It’s got to start with the teammates; without them, I cannot do nothing,” Jokic told TNT. “Coaches, players, organization, medical staff, strength coaches, development coaches. It is all one big circle. But I cannot be whatever I am without them.”

Jokic averaged 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds and nine assists per game this season, leading the Nuggets to finish the regular season with a 57-25 record that put them in second place in the Western Conference.