Nuggets' Jokic wins second straight league 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 on Monday. 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 back-to-back club.
The other finalists 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.
The 27-year-old Jokic averaged 27.1 points, 13.8 rebounds and 7.9 assists. Required to carry the load night in and out, the big man guided the Nuggets to a 48-win season.
The award is likely the start of a huge offseason for Jokic, who is eligible for a supermax extension that could guarantee him nearly $254 million over five seasons starting with 202324. He'll make $32.4 million next season.
Jokic joins rarefied company in winning for a second straight season. The other players to win two in a row include Antetokounmpo, Stephen Curry, LeBron James (twice), Steve Nash, Tim Duncan, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Moses Malone and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (twice). Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell each won the award in three
Nuggets center Nikola Jokic was chosen the NBA's MVP on Monday for the second straight season.
straight seasons.
Suns' Williams named coach of the year
Monty Williams won the NBA Coach of the Year award on Monday after leading the Phoenix Suns to a franchise-record 64 wins during the regular season.
The Suns were the NBA's best team by far during the regular season, finishing with eight more wins than any other team. The 50-year-old Williams has been the Suns' coach for three seasons and the team has improved in each of them.
Williams joins Cotton Fitzsimmons (1988-89) and Mike D'Antoni (2004-05) as coaches who have won the award with the Suns.
Williams was the runaway winner this time. He received 81 of 100 firstplace votes from a global panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters, finishing with 458 points.
Memphis' Taylor Jenkins was second with 17 firstplace votes and 270 points. Miami's Erik Spoelstra and Boston's Ime Udoka also received a first-place vote.
Ex-NBA player Payne killed in shooting
Adreian Payne, a former Michigan State basketball standout and NBA player, has died in a shooting. He was 31.
The Orange County, Fla., 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 arrested.