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In contrast, it’s today tough to im- agine why that was so unimagina- ble, given that he now has three of those trophies and he would have collected four if justice had prevailed in the 2022/23 season. The NBA and the U.S. media did everything they could to prevent that from happening last season, because that would have meant Nikola be- coming the first player in history to win four consecutive MVP awards. Jokić didn’t resent them for that; he didn’t get angry, but rather won a championship ring with the Nug- gets. Just to ensure everyone knows who’s the best. This season, he “cleaned out” his rivals – leaving Oklahoma’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his great friend Luka Dončić (Dallas) far be- hind. He continued to dominate and joined the exclusive club of players who’ve won three or more MVP tro- phies. He is surrounded by legends in their own right. The top spot is held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who was declared the league’s best player six times, followed by Michael Jordan and Bill Russell, who each have five titles. Wilt Chamberlain and LeBron James both won four MVPs, while the next rung with three titles, which is already occupied by the “joker”, al- so includes Larry Bird, Magic John- son and Moses Malone. “I wouldn't be what I am with- out my teammates. I would like to thank everyone, from the members of the Nuggets organisation, to the medical staff, coaches and players. This is all one big circle in which we are together. There are also plenty of other players who deserve to be an MVP. It was probably the little things and details that proved de-
Leri Bird, Mozes Meloun i Medžik Džonson Larry Bird, Moses Malone and Magic Johnson 3
Od sezone Since season 1955/56 nagradu za najkorisnijeg igrača (MVP) NBA godišnje dodeljuje najboljem igraču regularne sezone the MVP award has been presented annually by the NBA to the best player of the regular season
MVP titule MVP titles
cisive now,” said Jokić upon receiv- ing the award, once again showing his humility. His season average of 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds and nine as- sists, along with 68 double-doubles and 25 triple-doubles, is certainly neither negligible nor coincidental. But that’s what Nikola is like – he doesn’t like being the centre of at- tention, which is also why many peo- ple criticise him. Rather than being “stuck” on the TV, he spends his spare time with his daughter Ognjena and his wife Natalija. He has said on mul- tiple occasions that not everything is about trophies and that his fam- ily is his greatest prize. On the flip side, everyone ex- pects him to continue breaking re- cords. He is already among the great- est centres to have ever competed in the NBA and has surpassed the likes of Shaquille O’Neal, with one MVP trophy, and Tim Duncan, with two. He has drawn level with Moses Malone and his next target is Wilt Chamberlain. The dominant player of the mid-1960s, Chamberlain held a huge number of NBA records that everyone thought were unattainable, only for Jokić to turn up and start crushing them one by one. Many believe that Jokić won’t stop and that he will ultimately surpass even the great Kareem Ab- dul-Jabbar. The legendary centre was born 77 years ago as Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr., only to convert to Islam and change his name after winning his first MVP title with Milwau- kee in the 1970/71 season. He earned his first MVP award at
the age of 24 and won his sixth and last at the age of 33 in the jersey of the Los Angeles Lakers. Jokić first became the league’s most valuable player at the age of 26 and has am- ple time to make Abdul-Jabber also doff his cap and bow to him. The MVP award has been pre- sented annually by the NBA to the best player of the regular season since the 1955–56 season. As of 2022– 23, winners receive the Michael Jor- dan Trophy, in honour of the five- time MVP who is often considered the greatest player in NBA history. Winners previously received a tro- phy named after Maurice Podoloff, the NBA’s first commissioner (then president). Until the 1979–80 season, the MVP was selected through a vote of NBA players, only for the follow- ing year to see the top player decid- ed by sports journalists across the U.S. and Canada. Each committee member votes from the first to the fifth place. A first-place vote is worth 10 points, second is worth seven, third five, fourth three and fifth one point. As of 2010, one ballot also ar- rives from fans who vote online. The award goes to the player who amass- es the most points. A new collective agreement has been in effect since last season and stipulates that players must appear in at least 65 games to be eligible for inclusion in MVP voting. In order to receive the award, a player must have played at least 20 minutes per game with exceptions – if the play- er lacks one minute or was sidelined due to injury.
Vilt Čemberlen i Lebron Džejms Wilt Chamberlain and LeBron James
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MVP titule MVP titles
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