Nikola Jokic to become 13th player to win back-to-back MVP awards
Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic has won the NBA MVP award for the second successive season, according to reports.
Serbian Nikola Jokic has won the NBA MVP award for the second successive season, according to reports.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Monday reported Jokic will be officially announced as MVP later this week.
It follows a 2021-22 season in which the Denver Nuggets center led the league in points/assists/rebounds per game with 48.7.
That average marked an improvement on his 2020-21 numbers, which saw him rack up 45.5 PAR per game.
His reward for that increased production is to become the 13th player in NBA history to win the MVP award in back-to-back years.
Giannis Antetokounmpo achieved the feat in 2019-20, with Stephen Curry and LeBron James the two other active NBA players to go back-to-back.
Bill Russell was the first to win successive MVPs, heading a list that also features Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Moses Malone, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan.
Tim Duncan won in 2001-02 and 2002-03 and Brooklyn Nets coach Steve Nash was named MVP for the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons.
Jokic’s regular-season form did not translate to success in the postseason for the Nuggets, who lost 4-1 to Curry and the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the playoffs.