While it seems likely that the superstar big man will be upgraded to available, Zeke Nnaji and Thomas Bryant would see extended minutes if Jokic is forced to sit out. But I knew that he was having just another Nikola Jokic stellar performance.. Limited-time dunker. James not only has Sharpe's vote as the greatest athlete to ever play in the NBA, but also the vote ofBrooklyn NetsguardSpencer Dinwiddie. Any chance Philadelphia has in this series is rooted in MVP-level Joel Embiid being the best player on the floor in at least four games. The Warriors have been in these moments for a decade and had the poise to handle it. He played before Barcelona representatives and the signing of the contract was postponed.. That was the amuse-bouche for minutes later, when he coolly tossed a blind over-the-head pass from the low post to Aaron Gordon for another dunk. Lineups 40. Dirk Nowitzki (@swish41) October 23, 2015. Jokic has been durable throughout his NBA career, but he once missed a week of practice and a couple of games overseas due to inflammation in his right hand a quirky cost of signing too many autographs for fans. inSombor,Serbia Nuggets' Nikola Jokic: Pounds glass in rout. Jokic shot 121-for-235 (51.5%) from that distance during his MVP campaign. Point center. 5d; Zach . Looney played well against Sabonis, but Anthony Davis is at another level right now, can the Warriors contain him? Tracking data for deflections did not become available until 2016, but none of the five prior MVPs reached the feat during their respective award-winning campaigns. Jokic's eight offensive rebounds matched the total of the entire Suns roster. Horsepower. Embiid did not practice Saturday, Rivers calls him doubtful NBA playoffs first round results, schedule, times and where to watch, Three takeaways from Celtics Game 6 win to eliminate Hawks, Durant, Lillard, NBA Twitter react to Curry dropping 50 in Game 7, There will be a Game 7 Monk, Fox run Kings past Warriors for win, Knicks Julius Randle out for Game 1 vs. Miami Heat, Three things to watch: Miami Heat renew rivalry with New York Knicks, With the Milwaukee Bucks out of the picture, The pre-playoffs conventional wisdom on how this series might play out. The questions are if/when Embiid returns, and when he does how limited is he? Nikola Joki was born on February 19, 1995. After averaging 12.4 rebounds per game in Denver's first-round series victory over Minnesota, Jokic routinely outworked Deandre Ayton in Saturday's dominant victory. 3. Who had the best three point shooting percentage in a season? Nuggets eliminate Wolves 112-109 behind Murray, Jokic NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLCs Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network, *Translations are limited to select pages. As he showed Sunday, that can be enough. Give Trae Young and an impressive Hawks offense credit for some of that, but Boston was in and out of focus defensively in that series. Furthermore, neither of them are athletically gifted and received doubts from pre-draft scouts because of their physique. The Miami Heat needed all season to turn into the team they expected, so no way Butler wants to miss a minute of it now. "Inthe right situation, with the right coach in the collegiate level, he probably wouldn't have made it for four years. For Jordan toleave basketball and pick up a sporthehadn't played since high school, and find some level of success,could serveas a testament to his overall athletic abilities. But by the time that game against the Charlotte Hornets was over, Jokic had amassed an eye-popping stat line: 40 points, 27 rebounds and 10 assists. autisme niveau 6 nikola jokic 40 yard dash time. 13. It took Chamberlain 703 games, while Jokic accomplished the feat in 416. They continue to look nothing like a team that was only three games above .500 when they reached April and needed to win a play-in game just to get the final postseason berth in the East. Unlike the other MVP finalists, Jokic never voiced his desire to win the award. Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Basketball Reference Database. Burks led the SEC with 22 plays of 20-plus yards last season. The Kings have a young core with Fox, Sabonis, Keegan Murray, Huerter, Monk, etc. Beginning with Nikola Jokic, who refuses to take himself seriously, individual egos are excised from this locker room. Sharpe also pointed towards the evolution of technology as a reason why he would put LeBron at the top of his list. No shirt on. If nothing else this postseason, the Kings went from the team everyone thought they wanted to face to the team everyone is glad they didnt have to face. Du kan ndra dina val nr som helst genom att klicka p lnkarna "Integritetspanel" p vra webbplatser och appar. Jokic had trouble finding the bottom of the basket in the Game 5 win. Jokic, for the third straight season, is leading the league in multiple advanced statistical categories, in large part because of his ruthless efficiency. 38. Monday, May 1st vs In April, Jokic recorded his 81st career game with at least 10 assists, passing Wilt Chamberlain for the most such games in NBA history among centers. Jokic, as he recalls, was asleep during the moment. Join our linker program. This was a massive step in the right direction after posting a -- for his standards -- modest line of 13 points, 14 rebounds and six assists in the series opener. Tracking data for deflections did not become available until 2016, but none of the five prior MVPs reached the feat during their respective award-winning campaigns. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Already a Nuggets pioneer. International Stats at Basketball-Reference.com, Scores from any date in BAA/NBA or ABA history, Frequently Asked Questions about the NBA, WNBA and Basketball, Basketball-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREE. News: 2 days agoJokic posted 24 points (9-21 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 5-5 FT), 19 rebounds and five assists across 33 minutes during Saturday's 125-107 victory over the Suns in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals. The answer to the question, "Who is the greatest athlete in NBA history?" But either way, once the legendary Russellthrew his hat into the ring, the discussion was on. What they have in their corner is Wardell Stephen Curry. Big man back. Anyone can read what you share. 26. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Flipboard (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window). To put that into context: Only 16 players made at least 100 mid-range shots this season, and only elite point guards Kyrie Irving (54.4%) and Chris Paul (51.6%) connected at a higher clip. NBA 75th anniversary team: Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic among five active How do the contenders stack up against each other? Touches. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. centers in history to reach such a milestone. A history of the Sports Reference Sponsorship System. Jokic had a dominant effort down low, limiting the impact of Rudy Gobert on offense while finishing just one rebound and one assist away from posting a triple-double. Dec. 22, 2022. Jokic is not fast. Stephen Curry had one of the greatest games of his career and that is saying something and the Warriors survive and advance, winning Game 7 on the road 120-100. Morant, at 6-foot-2, has 19. Pick-and-roll. His vertical is more of a horizontal. February 19, A healthy Embiid can beat the Celtics, but if he is less than 100% the 76ers have a nearly impossible task. One of the most effective plays the Nuggets run involves Jokic catching the ball around the free-throw line, leaving the entire court at his disposal. After averaging 12.4 rebounds per game in Denver's first-round series victory over Minnesota, Jokic routinely outworked Deandre Ayton in Saturday's dominant victory. Find out more. While continuing to play in Europe as an NBA Draft pick, Jokic nearly signed with another professional basketball club instead of joining the team that drafted him. Maybe its because he doesnt do many commercials and isnt active on social media. 34. A deal with Barcelona was in place, Jokics agent said. Splits He's the unstoppable force in the history of basketball, and it's not just dunks. He is just the total package.. Joker, Big Honey, Cookie Monster, Yoke, Big Tipper are nicknames for Nikola Joki. 8-seeded Heat kept rolling after barely reaching the postseason, beating the New York Knicks 108-101 on Sunday in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. Even though hes won individual honors, he does not seem to get the attention that other top stars get. nikola jokic 40 yard dash time. You just start to examine your own judgment and youre saying, Wait a minute, is this person so dominant that he should be installed in this position in a league that has great stars every year? Wilbon said. He was missing layups and had been called for a technical foul. Nikola Jokic becomes the first player in NBA history to achieve a 2000+/1000+/500+ season with a 14/20 31 points in the game vs Grizzlies as of now . 2020 ESPN Internet Ventures. Hes got abs. He began with watching highlights of Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan, then eventually drifted to the likes of Hakeem Olajuwon and Magic Johnson. 30. Another tool in Jokics bag of tricks: Because opponents respect his perimeter shooting (39% this season), Jokic has mastered the pump-fake that allows him to drive in the lane and knock down silky floaters. In April, Jokic recorded his 81st career game with at least 10 assists, passing Wilt Chamberlain for the most such games in NBA history among centers. Where does Jokic rank among Europe's all-time greats? Beyond that this is a roster that needs tweaks. Nuggets Journal: Denver's attitude vs. Suns is encouraging, but it's The next game was Tuesday night against the Memphis Grizzlies, the only team standing between the Nuggets and the best record in the Western Conference. All rights reserved. When he sits, it is the worst, a remarkable swing. He could put up video game numbers.". Jokic's eight offensive rebounds matched the total of the entire Suns roster. "I think [Russell] has a compelling argument but I think the better argument is between Wilt and LeBron Now, we don't have LeBron as a college athlete but we know he played football up until his junior year and he was All-State in football, had over 1,200 yards receiving and I think double digit touchdowns. At a time when the game began to drift away from big men, Jokic became the first center since Shaquille ONeal to win the MVP award. These are two unique techniques that likely stem from his upbringing around water polo, one of the top sports in Serbia. Spin: After averaging 12.4 rebounds per game in Denver's first-round series victory over Minnesota, Jokic routinely outworked Deandre Ayton in Saturday's dominant victory. When Nurkic became healthy and coach Mike Malone wanted to experiment having him and Jokic in the same lineup, Jokic thought the pairing wasnt effective and asked Malone to. His strong contributions while also allowing Jamal Murray to cook (34 points, nine assists) make the Nuggets as formidable as ever. When Jokic is on the court, the Nuggets offense is on par with the leagues best teams. But this month will mark only the third time in Jokics eight-year career that the N.B.A. 1 when they toppled Milwaukee in the first round. Nothing worked consistently. He did plenty of other things they needed, including staying in the game after getting hurt with 5:05 to play, remaining on the court for a while and then limping to the bench during a timeout before coming back out to shoot the free throws. All rights reserved. REB. Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. FIFA World Cup - Best Goals from Every Angle, Draw for the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023, Get more from National Basketball Association, Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more, FOX SPORTS, SPEED, SPEED.COM & 2023 Fox Media LLC and Fox Sports Interactive Media, LLC. No shirt on. It wasnt just from the play-in.. 12. Jokic was 17 when he became a pro, leaving home to join KK Mega Basket. The last time a center averaged at least four points in clutch time (min. around water polo, one of the top sports in Serbia. Right, Born: 41. 01444899 info@futureinternationalschools.com. Nikola Joki is on Instagram at nikolajokicofficial. He was out of shape, in his own world, and still relatively new to the game of basketball. It wasnt until YouTube came into Jokics life at age 14 that he discovered NBA talent. Nikola Joki averages 24.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 9.8 assists per game. A champion. Hes got abs. Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic won the Most Valuable Player Award the last two seasons and is still playing as well as ever. Harrison Barnes is a free agent and may be priced out of what the Kings want to spend. Several players have won twice in a row, including Milwaukees Giannis Antetokounmpo immediately before Jokic. 41 reasons Nikola Jokic is one of the most unique MVPs ever He had a step-back, one-legged jump shot finger rolls, dunks. In fact, it was so strong that Perkins ended upchanging his stance about a half hour later. Latest on Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on ESPN . Considering where he has elevated the Nuggets this year, it's safe to say his road has lead to victory. nikola jokic 40 yard dash time Jokic is one of three players in NBA history to average at least 25 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists for a season, joining Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook. Mascot mugger. 9. Then I came here with probably the worst-conditioned body in the NBA.". player efficiency rating (PER), win shares, offensive win shares, box plus-minus, offensive box plus-minus and value over replacement player (VORP). The superstar big man played just 28 minutes in the Game 1 blowout victory, but he will likely receive an increased workload if Minnesota can force a closer matchup. nikola jokic 40 yard dash time. Denvers system is run through Jokic, who touched the ball 7,269 times this season, over a thousand more than the next player (Russell Westbrook, 6,192). rs, Draft: Professional. De'Aaron Fox was 5-of-19. during his MVP season. Body transformation. They said he timed 4.3 in the 40-yard dash. Late start to rookie season. RJ Barrett scored 26 points and Jalen Brunson had 25 for the fifth-seeded Knicks, who are in the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2013. European star. James' junior season high school football stats were indeed solid. Its not common for a future NBA superstar to drink three liters of Coke every day before practice. Jokic is one of the most taciturn MVPs since Tim Duncan. financial planning companies in bangalore Search. Hand size: 9 7/8" Arm length: 33 1/2" Wingspan: 79 1/8" Combine drills, performance 28. It took Chamberlain 703 games, while Jokic accomplished the feat in 416. Were just playing great basketball, Butler said in a postgame interview on the court with ABC, while still showing a limp after a fourth-quarter ankle sprain. De'Anthony Melton and Jalen McDaniels could see a bump in minutes because Doc Rivers seems them his best defensive options. They couldve used his shooting on a day they went 7 for 34 behind the arc, missing a chance to break open the game early and then hindering any chances of coming back. NBA players and a few celebrities were blown away and went to Twitter to react. For a man who makes a living running up and down a hardwood floor, Dirk Nowitzki is not exactly fast. | 24/06/2022 | evangelical theological faculty | rwandan genocide footage machete. He made silly turnovers, was late on several defensive rotations and tallied just two assists in the first half. News: 2 days ago Jokic finished with 28 points (8-29 FG, 3-8 3Pt, 9-10 FT), 17 rebounds, 12 assists, two blocks and two steals over 42 minutes during Tuesday's 112-109 victory over the . For a player not known for his defense, Jokics active hands allowed him to rank top five in total deflections (. ) He is one of the best shows to watch not just in the N.B.A., but in all of professional sports. In the eyes of many, Jokic is the best passing big man the league has ever seen. 6-keys: media/spln/nba/reg/free/playerprofiles, NBA playoff predictions: Second-round expert picks, Trae Young, Hawks not dead yet | Latest on NFL Draft, How to watch: Nuggets vs. Timberwolves Game 5, Ranking every NBA first-round playoff series, Warriors-Kings is perfect | Beware of the Pirates, Edwards helps Wolves hold off Nuggets, stay alive, NBA Playoffs pick, best bets: Buckets in Kings-Warriors, How to watch: Nuggets vs. Timberwolves, Game 4, Nuggets vs. Timberwolves Game 3: How to watch, Kevon Looney is becoming a Warriors legend. In Bayless' estimation, it's disrespectful to crown James as the greatest athlete in NBA history after the world just witnessed all of Jordan's greatness on display while watchingThe Last Dance, ESPN's 10-part docuseries chronicling the Chicago Bulls' rise to prominence in the 1990s. Jokic closed Sunday's 114-108 overtime loss to the Timberwolves in Game 4 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals with 43 points (15-26 FG, 5-8 3Pt, 8-12 FT), 11 rebounds, six assists and two steals across 39 minutes. You could just see on the clips in 'The Last Dance' and go, 'that's just too good, that's like inhuman quickness.' This is why a 6'5" guard likeJames Hardenis being compared to him for the way he scores, and a 7-foot player like [Nikola] Jokicis being compared to him for triple-doubles. The two-time MVP posted just 13 points in 28 minutes before fouling out of Sunday's Game 1 win over Minnesota, but he said he doesn't know when he suffered the injury. For Bayless, Jordan's speed and leaping ability outshines even that of LeBron James. 29. Mamba mentality. Its not common for a future NBA superstar to drink three liters of Coke every day before practice. First, let's talk about Shannon's third candidate for the crown. section: | slug: | sport: basketball | route: player_profile_home | His strong contributions while also allowing Jamal Murray to cook (34 points, nine assists) make the Nuggets as formidable as ever. He finds ways to touch the ball. "I mean, when I first started playing basketball back home in Serbia, I literally couldn't do a pushup. How Is Nikola Jokic This Good Again? - The New York Times Jokic shot 57.6 percent on 26 shot attempts, and the MVP candidate's 43 points matched his best performance of the season. Spin: After averaging 12.4 rebounds per game in Denver's first-round series victory over Minnesota, Jokic routinely outworked Deandre Ayton in Saturday's dominant victory. There's no debating that Jordan is one of the NBA's most graceful athletes, and during his prime, he seeminglyreachedheights that his opponents could not. 5. Games. Bogdan Bogdanovic and Boban Marjanovic could not be more proud of Nikola Jokic and his rise to NBA superstardom. None of that matters when you can deliver touchdowns. Nothing emphasizes Jokics value to his team more than his gargantuan number of touches on offense. Home; Tickets; Schedule. Nikola Jokic Stats and news - NBA stats and news on Denver Nuggets Center Nikola Jokic. The Knicks were without All-Star forward Julius Randle because of a sprained left ankle and they surely missed him when the transition points dried up and it became a half-court game. Jokic closed with 27 points (10-19 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 6-9 FT), nine rebounds and nine assists across 37 minutes during Wednesday's 122-113 victory over the Timberwolves in Game 2 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals. The Warriors move on to face the Lakers and the best Kings season in 16 years ends. Jokic (wrist) is available for Game 3 against the Timberwolves on Friday. Yes, faster. Jokic is questionable for Wednesday's game versus the Timberwolves due to a right wrist sprain. He was the best center for most of the 80's, won a title as the best player, and has 3 MVPs. The most unique and unprecedented fact about Nikola Jokic, at least in terms of his status as a Kia MVP, is where he landed in the Draft. home/away, monthly, etc More Nikola Joki Basketball Reference pages, 2022-23 Nuggets All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Embiid has a sprained lateral collateral ligament (LCL) and, as of this writing, is officially listed as doubtful for Game 1. Elite company. As the youngest player on the Serbian National Team at the 2016 Summer Olympics, Jokic led the team in rebounds and helped secure a silver medal for his country. What is a universal truth, however, is that there are several incredibly athletic options. As slow as Dirk Nowitzki is his average speed on the court last season was 3.7 miles per hour, the slowest of any Mavs player (although the offense doesnt call for him to be the guy on the move a lot) having seen Manning have to scramble a few times this year, Ill take Dirk. Hed start behind, but do a slow mans Usain Bolt where his long legs and strides would run down Manning in the last 20 yards. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Jokic received significant playing time at the start of his career following an injury to Jusuf Nurkic (There it is again: Brady-Bledsoe?). After that, its Tobias Harris on the wing. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Monday, May 1, 4:39AM. Who knew he had a little Robin Lopez in him. Andrew Wiggins is going to get the LeBron assignment and generally has done well defending him, but the Warriors need Wiggins to have a series like he did in the Finals last year. Use of this website (including any and all parts and components) constitutes your acceptance of these. Thats what he did six weeks ago, Embiid dropped 52 and the 76ers hung on to beat the Celtics. DENVER Nikola Jokic didn't look like himself in some ways. Maybe its because he plays in a smaller market like Denver. Another lock to make the list 25 years from now is Nikola Jokic. Judging by the footwork and pass, those Olajuwon and Magic highlights stuck with him. If he is single-covered, Jokic simply backs down the defender or shoots over him. NIKOLA JOKIC IS YOUR 2021 NBA MVP! In fact, he was so dominant thatformer NBA star Jalen Rose believes Chamberlainis in a category of his ownwhen it comes to NBA History. Rare superstar personality. Nikola Joki Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more | Basketball-Reference.com Nikola Joki Pronunciation: \ni-KOLA yo-kitch\ Nikola Joki Twitter : JokicNikola15 Instagram: nikolajokicofficial (Joker, Big Honey, Cookie Monster, Yoke, Big Tipper) Position: Center Shoots: Right More bio, uniform, draft, salary info 2022-2023 Game Log He doesnt move quickly. 31. We believe that we can do something special.. He will be dragged into pick-and-rolls. An unfortunate event happened in his last game before signing the contract, which proved to be a blessing in disguise. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Despite coming up against the size of both Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert, Jokic has been able to assert his dominance in the series. Recap the All-NBA season from Nikola Jokic with a mix of facts, stats and highlights. Those plays also illustrate his mid-range touch, which is among the best in the NBA. One of the reasons the Celtics are such a problem is the wealth of shot creators they put on the floor: Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, Derrick White and Malcolm Brogdon all can create for themselves and others. Let's. Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray lament "missed opportunity" to sweep Wolves He reinjured his ankle in Game 5 against Cleveland after missing the final five games of the regular season and hadnt done much since the Knicks returned to practice. The Knicks won the last three of those but have work to do if theyre going to take this one. Jokic vs. Durant, Murray vs. Booker: Here's everything you need to know about Suns-Nuggets, Jokic and Murray combine for 63 to send Nuggets to Round 2, Nikola Jokic's 43-point performance not enough for Nuggets, Nuggets turn defense into offense with steal and score, Nuggets rip off a massive 12-0 run to force OT, Nikola Jokic finds Jamal Murray downcourt with a beautiful pass, Jokic on G3 win: 'Didn't want to give Wolves life', Lowe: How the Nuggets and Nikola Jokic have supercharged their average defense -- and just in time. A total of 40 players went ahead of him, making. Instagram: . all are 27 or younger. Nikola Jokic becomes the first player in NBA history to - Reddit The carbonated beverage was Jokics addiction, which he quit while on his flight to Denver. STEPH IS IN A LEAGUE OF HIS OWN pic.twitter.com/xUR53sB6yy, Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 30, 2023, Steph was elite, Kings coach Mike Brown said. The 76ers have clear places to attack and if Embiid is not behind them as a rim protector, this could get ugly. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: nba | pageType: profiles | The only other players to do so were Wilt Chamberlain (1966 to 1968 with the 76ers) and Bill Russell (1961 to 1963 with Boston). Its the playoffs, number one. Nikola Joki is on Twitter at JokicNikola15. Sodas in Serbia. Draymond Green is going to have to be special (and will get time on LeBron and AD). 42-40. The last time a center averaged at least four points in clutch time (min. Morant is a high-flying speedster who seems to have an internal joystick set to turbo at all times. Though the Grizzlies lost, Morants output was certainly that of a superstar 35 points and 10 assists and he, like Jokic, could be in the conversation for the M.V.P. Live Mas. Getting Randle back would be a good start. The Nuggets will need better shooting from Jokic, as they face an extremely tough test against the Suns in the Western Conference Semifinals. Any list without Moses in the top 20 all time shouldn't be taken seriously. Roughly two weeks before the 2014 NBA Draft, Jokics name was temporarily removed from the pool of candidates, a decision his agent tweeted about at the time. Alex English, a Hall of Famer who won a scoring title for the Nuggets in 1983, said Jokic makes it seem like he doesnt have to work so hard., His footwork is just unbelievable, English said. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Brunson was 0 for 7 from outside and committed five turnovers. Ls vr integritetspolicy och cookiepolicy fr att f mer information om hur vi anvnder dina personuppgifter. Jokic posted 24 points (9-21 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 5-5 FT), 19 rebounds and five assists across 33 minutes during Saturday's 125-107 victory over the Suns in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals. All Rights Reserved. The pre-playoffs conventional wisdom on how this series might play out became the reality of Game 7: Curry and the Warriors are going to get theirs, could the Kings score with them when it matters? Jokic logged his 50th career triple-double this season, joining four-time MVP Wilt Chamberlain as the only centers in history to reach such a milestone. 32. In one of the closest races ever, Denver's Nikola Jokic edged out Philadelphia's Joel Embiid and Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo to win the 2021-22 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player award. West Semifinals - Game 2, DEN LEADS SERIES 1-0. Nikola Jokic Stats, News, Bio | ESPN Jokic is the first MVP winner to spend the year he was drafted playing in another basketball league. Today, Jokic stands tall as one of the superstars of the league and the reigning MVP too.