Nuggets' Jokic captures his 2nd straight NBA MVP award
Nikola Jokic put up numbers never seen before in NBA history. Not from Wilt. Not from Kareem. Not from “Air Jordan.” Not from LeBron.
With a historic season, the Denver Nuggets big man earned his second straight Most Valuable Player award, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press. The NBA was preparing to make the announcement in the coming days, likely this week, according to the person who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the voting results have not been announced.
ESPN, citing sources, first reported that Jokic would be named MVP again.
The 7-foot center became the first player in league history to eclipse 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 500 assists in a season. And that sort of dominance by the player nicknamed “Joker” helped convince voters that he should be the 13th player of the NBA's exclusive MVP backto-back club.
The other finalists — who will finish second and third in some order — were Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, who led the league in scoring average, and two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo of the reigning champion Milwaukee Bucks.
SUNS' WILLIAMS NAMED COACH OF THE YEAR >> Monty Williams has won NBA Coach of the Year after leading the Phoenix Suns to a franchise-record 64 wins during the regular season, a person familiar with the decision told
The Associated Press.
Phoenix All-Star guards Chris Paul and Devin Booker both posted on social media that Williams had won the award, even though no official announcement has been made.
FORMER NBA, MICHIGAN STATE STAR ADREIAN PAYNE SHOT, KILLED >>
Adreian Payne, a former Michigan State basketball standout and NBA player, has died in a shooting. He was 31.
The Orange County Sheriff's Office said deputies responded to a shooting at 1:34 a.m. Monday when Payne was identified and taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Lawrence Dority, 29, was present at the scene, according to the Sheriff's Office. He was arrested on a first-degree murder warrant after homicide detectives
interviewed him.
NHL
SHARKS RE-SIGN BARABANOV, MEGNA TO 2-YEAR DEALS >> The San Jose Sharks have locked up two of their potential free agents early in the offseason, agreeing to two-year deals with forward Alexander Barabanov and defenseman Jaycob Megna.
Interim general manager Joe Will announced the deals as the Sharks placed a priority on retaining two players who were set to hit the open market in July.
Barabanov's deal is worth a reported $5 million over two years and Megna's is worth a reported $1.625 million.
The 27-year-old Barabanov spent most of the season on San Jose's top two lines, playing mostly
with center Tomas Hertl. He had 10 goals and 29 assists in 70 games in his second season in the NHL.
Barabanov played 22 games in 2020-21 for Toronto and San Jose after playing the previous seven seasons in the KHL in Russia.
PANTHERS 3, CAPITALS 2 >>
Sam Reinhart tied it late in regulation, Carter Verhaeghe scored his second of the game in overtime and Presidents' Trophy-winning Florida beat Washington in Game 4 on, tying the first-round series.
PENGUINS 7, RANGERS 2>>
Sidney Crosby had a goal and three assists to become the sixth player in NHL history to reach 200 career playoff points and Pittsburgh routed New York to take a 3-1 lead in the firstround series.