Nuggets star Jokic wins MVP for 3rd time in 4 seasons

Denver Nuggets star center Nikola Jokic was named NBA Most Valuable Player on Wednesday, marking the third time in four seasons that he won the award.

Jokic is the ninth player to win the award three or more times.

Jokic received 79 firstplace votes and totaled 926 points in balloting performed by a group of sportswriters and broadcasters. Oklahoma City guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (15 first-place votes, 640 points) was second and Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (4, 566) was third.

Jokic averaged 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds and 9.0 assists in 79 games this season. He had 25 triple-doubles, second in the league behind Domantas Sabonis (26) of the Sacramento Kings.

Last season, Jokic was the runner-up behind Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers. Jokic won the award in the 2020-21 and 202122 seasons.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar holds the record of six MVP awards. Michael Jordan and Bill Russell won it five times, while Wilt Chamberlain and LeBron James each won four.

Jokic is tied with Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Moses Malone as threetime winners.

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (one, 192) finished fourth in this season’s balloting and New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (142) was fifth.