The moment that Denver Nuggets fans and fans around the league have finally arrived. Per a report according to Shams Charania, star big-man, Nikola Jokic, will be named the 2020-21 NBA MVP. Not only is this a huge moment for Jokic himself, but this is also a moment of salvation around Nuggets Nation as the Joker is the first MVP in their franchise’s history. Not only that, but he is also the lowest draft pick in NBA history to win the award as he was the 41st pick in the second round of his draft class. Jokic also made his native country of Serbia proud as he is the first Serbian ever to win the league MVP. However, there is a multitude of other reasons that Jokic is the most unique MVP in league history.
Nikola Jokic: The Most Unique MVP in NBA History
Nikola Jokic: The Beginning
In the beginning, not many thought that Jokic would amount to anything in this league. He was simply looked at as another overseas project that was stashed who would contribute very little to a team in a rebuilding phase. After all, this is the guy who was drafted while a Taco Bell commercial was playing on TV. However, that perception would change very quickly.
Towards the end of his rookie season, the team began to give the younger players a chance, Jokic included. He made the most of his time as he finished his rookie campaign with numbers of 10.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game in 55 games started. This would net him a spot on the All-Rookie Team. It would also give head coach, Michael Malone, and the rest of the Nuggets’ franchise faith in the future.
Jokic’s Rise to Stardom
Pretty soon, the team was faced with a choice. They basically had to choose between Nikola Jokic and Jusuf Nurkic. The Nuggets had experimented with the two in the lineup on occasion, going for a twin towers-style rotation, but it hardly yielded positive results. Eventually, the team traded Nurkic to the Portland Trail Blazers signaling the team was officially Jokic’s. Jokic would continue his rise to stardom with his unorthodox, yet satisfying style of play for a big man night after night.
You never knew what he was going to do next. He could be on the Sports Center top 10 highlight reel with a behind-the-back, no-look pass we had never seen from a big before. Or, he could shock the NBA world and lead a young Nuggets team to an upset over someone like the superteam Warriors or the Eastern Conference contending Boston Celtics.
Before we knew it, Jokic was a leader of a title-contending Nuggets squad with the likes of Jamal Murray, Paul Millsap, and Michael Porter tagging along for the ride. The true reason for the Denver Nuggets going from the basement dwellings of the league to a title contender is due to one man though: A Serbian who used to not be able to do a single pushup and is now the MVP of the league, Nikola Jokic.
Jokic’s Incredible MVP Story
A man who used to drink a liter of Coca-Cola a day won the MVP. The same guy who could not even do a push-up as alluded to already won the MVP. A man who I have dubbed Steve Nash trapped in a center’s body (as a compliment) is now the league MVP. Jokic does not have the build of a superhuman like a LeBron or a Giannis.
He does not strike fear into you when you see his size like a Shaq or an Embiid. However, he has the passing ability which makes even the 12th man off the bench a threat on the court. Not to mention, someone who has been deemed “too out of shape,” just became the first MVP to play in every game since Kobe Bryant. Jokic can also hurt you with his scoring as he has perfected his own unorthodox shot, the Sombor Shuffle, which seems to be similar to Dirk Nowitzki‘s famous fadeaway. It may not look pretty, but it works.
It has helped him secure this year’s MVP. He has posted totals of 26.4 points per game on an effective field goal percent of 60.2 percent. Not to mention, he also secured 10.8 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game. This coupled with a player efficiency rating of 31.3, a league-best. Like it or not, Nikola Jokic is your 2020-21 MVP and is also the most unique MVP ever for the reasons discussed in this article.
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