Nikola Jokic, the star center of the Denver Nuggets, took home the NBA MVP award for the 2020-2021 season. I have to say, his performance was nothing short of spectacular. Over the course of the regular season, he averaged 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game. If you take a moment to break these numbers down, you’ll realize just how incredible they are. He’s essentially filling up the stat sheet in every conceivable way. This level of production is really hard to come by, especially from the center position.
What makes Jokic truly special is his ability to function as a playmaker, a role traditionally managed by guards. The NBA had never seen a center lead his team in assists, but Jokic managed to defy the conventional roles. His basketball IQ and court vision are simply next level. If you’ve been following the NBA, you would know that his approval rating isn’t just based on personal statistics but also on his undeniable impact on the Denver Nuggets’ overall performance.
Now, let’s talk about the team aspect. The Denver Nuggets finished the season with a 47-25 record, securing the third seed in the highly competitive Western Conference. This is no small feat, especially considering that a third of the teams in the Western Conference finished above .500. Jokic’s MVP win isn’t just a reflection of his stats; it’s a nod to how he makes his teammates better. The advanced metrics, which take into account a player’s overall contribution to their team’s success, showed that Jokic had the highest Player Efficiency Rating (PER) in the league, clocking in at 31.3.
If you think about historical MVP winners, they often come from teams performing at the top of their game. In fact, it mirrors an interesting historical point where the MVP award almost always goes to a player whose team finishes as a top-four seed. Larry Bird in the 80s, Michael Jordan in the 90s, and LeBron James in the 2010s. Jokic has now added his name to that illustrious list, showing that excellence is often a team-oriented achievement as well.
What’s really interesting is the caliber of competition for the MVP award this year. You had Stephen Curry, who averaged a league-best 32 points per game, Giannis Antetokounmpo, who again had a monstrous season, and Joel Embiid, who posted career-best numbers. Despite this fierce competition, Jokic’s consistent all-around performance stood out. The value he offered transcended mere scoring; he was essential in facilitating the offense, grabbing crucial rebounds, and even stepping up defensively.
Let’s not forget about the playoffs. While the MVP award is strictly a regular-season accolade, Jokic carried his magnificent form into the postseason. Even with key injuries to teammates like Jamal Murray, Jokic kept the Nuggets competitive. In the first-round series against the Portland Trail Blazers, he even had a 38-point game that proved pivotal in their victory. Moments like these underscore why he earned those MVP votes.
When discussing awards, I have to mention the voting process itself. The MVP is decided by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. These experts consider numerous factors, including individual statistics, team performance, and overall impact on the game. Jokic ended up with a whopping 971 points in the voting process, including 91 first-place votes out of a possible 100. This overwhelming support underscores how fans, analysts, and players universally recognized his brilliance.
In terms of marketability and media coverage, Jokic’s MVP run brought an exciting narrative. For the entire NBA history, we’ve often seen American players take home the MVP award. Dominant international players like Dirk Nowitzki and Giannis Antetokounmpo have achieved it, but it’s still a rare feat. Jokic’s win marked him as the first Serbian player to ever win the MVP, breaking yet another barrier in the increasingly globalized world of basketball.
Speaking of global reach, it’s essential to note how infrastructure, training facilities, and the evolution of basketball have harmonized to produce such talent. Nikola Jokic grew up in Serbia, where the love for basketball runs deep. His journey to the NBA has often been discussed in sports documentaries, highlighting how international scouting networks and youth academies play a crucial role in nurturing future stars. Jokic’s rise through European leagues before making it to the NBA is a testament to the untouched potential that lies outside of traditional American basketball pipelines.
If you’re into analytics, advanced metrics like Win Shares and Box Plus-Minus also paint a vivid picture of Jokic’s importance. His Win Shares per 48 minutes (WS/48) was an astounding .301, indicating he was directly responsible for numerous victories. The Box Plus-Minus score, which measures a player’s overall contribution, also had him leading at 11.70. These indicators show that he wasn’t just participating but actively leading the team to success.
Given all these factors, it isn’t surprising that Jokic won the MVP for the 2021 NBA season. The traditional stats, advanced metrics, and overall impact show why this choice was made. So, whether you’re just a casual fan or a serious aficionado, Jokic’s season was one for the ages. What more could we ask for in an MVP?
If you want to know more about the award and Jokic’s incredible season, check out the nba mvp 2021.