The 41st pick in the 2014 draft, Nikola Jokic became the lowest draft pick in NBA history to win the Most Valuable Player award.
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Nikola Jokic was selected with the 41st draft pick when he entered the NBA seven years ago. Now, by overwhelming consensus, he’s No 1.
A season we’ll never forget.
? The 2020-21 MVP ?#MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/cqTbchH6za
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) June 8, 2021
The Nuggets’ big man was revealed on Tuesday as the NBA’s Most Valuable Player for 2020-21, making him by far the lowest draft pick ever to win the award. “The Joker” now has his name etched alongside the greatest players in league history, which surely seemed unlikely when he was that unheard prospect from Serbia in 2014.
Dirk Nowitzki ??
Giannis Antetokounmpo ??And now… Nikola Jokić ?? pic.twitter.com/XorZzyHgKr
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) June 9, 2021
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry finished second and third, respectively, behind Jokic. Followed by Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, the winner the past two seasons, and Phoenix guard Chris Paul rounded off the top five.
“The difference between this year was I started this season really well,” Jokic said. “I played kind of the whole season really well stat wise. I think this was the best season of my life and the cherry on the top is the trophy that I got. This is the best season of my life.”
Jokic became the first center since Shaquille O’Neal in 2000 to win the league’s top individual honor. He also becomes the first MVP winner since Kobe Bryant in 2008 to play in every game of a season.
? He’s bringing big men back ?#MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/Kj1GS6CLdy
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) June 9, 2021
No player touched the basketball more this season than Nikola Jokic. His 7,269 touches were 1,077 more than any other player in the league.
Jokic finished the regular season with career-best averages of 26.4 points and 8.3 assists and tying a career best by averaging 10.8 rebounds. He shot 56.6% from the field, 38.8% from three-point range and 86.8% from the foul line. Jokic is leading the Denver Nuggets in the second round of the playoffs despite injuries to three of Denver’s guards -Jamal Murray, Will Barton and PJ Dozier.
He becomes the first player drafted in the second round to win the league’s top individual honor. Also joins Hakeem Olajuwon, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki and Antetokounmpo as international winners of the award.
The rise of an MVP.#MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/NV5mLyM3cu
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) June 9, 2021
Winning MVP also means that Jokic will be eligible to sign a supermax contract extension with the Nuggets following the 2021-22 season, a five-year deal that would be well in excess of $250 million.
