Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić has reportedly been voted the NBA’s MVP for his second consecutive season, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, and some think Joel Embiid was robbed.
The award is set to be formally announced this week. Jokić, 27, was voted most valuable player last year but his stats were even higher this time around. He averaged new career highs of 27.1 points, 13.8 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game.
Should Woj’s scoop prove correct, Jokić will become the 15th player in the history of the league to win MVP more than once. This year he became the first player to nab 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 500 assists in a single season. Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was a finalist for this year’s MVP award, also won two seasons in a row in 2018-19 and 2019-20.
While Jokić’s stats are undeniably impressive, some have suggested that Philadelphia 76ers Joel Embiid should’ve received the honor. Embiid was the other finalist for MVP, and averaged 30.6 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. He was the top scorer for the 2021-22 season, and finished behind Jokić for MVP last season as well.
Denver lost in the first round to the Warriors, while Embiid is gearing up for his next game against the Miami Heat on Tuesday.
Check out the reactions to the reports of Embiid losing MVP to Jokić below.
