Nikola Jokic was crowned the 2020-2021 NBA Most Valuable Player on Tuesday, making him the first player from the Denver Nuggets to win the honor and also the lowest draft pick to receive the award.
Jokic was selected with the 41st overall draft pick by Denver six years ago. Overall, he received 91 of the top 100 votes submitted by 100 selected media members.
This season, Jokic had a league-high 60 double-doubles and added 16 triple-doubles — second-most in the NBA and behind triple-double king and former MVP Russell Westbrook. In addition, his scoring average jumped from 19.9 points per game last season to 26.4 this season.
Jokic also tied his career high with 10.8 rebounds per game, and had an average of 8.3 assists per game, nearing Wilt Chamberlain’s all-time season record — an average 8.6 for a center.
“It’s a big accomplishment, but it’s something that like I said to the guys, it’s not just me,” said Jokic. “I came here six years ago and I was growing, the organization was growing, the coaching staff was growing, the players next to me were growing. I couldn’t do it by myself. It’s an individual award, but it’s the effort of everybody.”