Denver Nuggets’ star Nikola Jokic has been named the NBA MVP for the second straight season.
In what came down to the wire, Jokic beat out Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid, as well as Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, to win the award for 2022. While Jokic and the Nuggets have been eliminated from playoff contention this year, Embiid and Antetokounmpo continue to play for the championship.
Towards the end of the regular season, Embiid admitted that he felt as if the league was against him. “I’ll feel like they hate me,” he said. “I feel like the standard for guys in Philly or for me is different than everyone else.” Embiid did go on to lead the league in scoring, averaging 30 points a game, but was still snubbed.
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic has been voted the NBA’s Most Valuable Player for a second consecutive season, sources tell ESPN. A formal announcement is expected this week.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 9, 2022
Fellow NBA superstar Kevin Durant also chimed in on this, stating, “If I had a vote, I would choose Joel,” Durant said in April. He added, “In Joel’s case, more people just like Giannis and Jokic,” and declared, “It’s not fair.”
In 74 games this season, Jokic averaged 27 points, nearly 8 assists and nearly 14 rebounds, all career highs. He becomes only the 13th player in NBA history to win back-to-back MVP titles.
“It’s just remarkable what he’s done,” Nuggets head coach Michael Malone said. “I know that I’m very biased, I admit it wholeheartedly — the MVP isn’t even a competition. There’s other great players, I’m not saying they’re not great players, but what Nikola Jokic has done this year, with this team, with everything that we’ve had to go through, is incredible. He was good last year and he’s even better this year.”
What do you think of Jokic winning the NBA MVP award for the second straight year? Let us know, by either leaving a reaction below or by sending us a tweet at @celebsecrets.
