Nikola Jokic wins 2023-2024 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Award

Denver Nuggets superstar center Nikola Jokic has won the 2023-2024 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player, the league announced Wednesday night.

Jokic, 29, won the award over co-finalists Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks. He had 79 1st place votes (equivalent to 10 points), 18 2nd place points (equivalent to 7 points), and 2 3rd place points (equivalent to 5 points) to finish with a total of 926 points. Gilgeous-Alexander secured 2nd place with a total of 640 points while Doncic finished third with 566 points. 

Jokic wins the award for the third time, having previously earned the honor in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons. He averaged 26.4 PPG, 12.4 RPG, and 9.0 APG on 58.3% FG, 35.9% 3P, and 81.7% FT. 

Jokic is the ninth player to win three or more MVP awards, joining the exclusive list of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, and LeBron James among others.

This adds to Jokic’s already legendary legacy to his career, which also includes an NBA championship and a Finals MVP from last season.

Jokic led Denver to a West-best tying 57-25 record this season, finishing second seed in the Western Conference just behind the Thunder. The Nuggets aim to repeat as champions this year, and they are in a tight series against the Minnesota Timberwolves to reclaim that feat. They have already ousted the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round in just five games.

Jokic and the Nuggets hope to continue this partnership for years to come as he is in the peak of his prime now with a capable team surrounding him to contend and win as many championships as they can.