Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic is this year’s recipient of the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award. Jokic became just the sixth international player to get this honor and the first center to do it since Shaquille O’Neal in 2000.

Jokic blew out the competition, receiving 91 first-place votes out of 101 possible and a total of 971 points. Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid finished second in the voting, totaling 586 points but just one first-place vote. Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors rounds up the top three with five first-place votes and 453 points. 

“It’s a big accomplishment,” said Jokic about the award. “But it’s something that, like I said to the guys, it’s not just me. I couldn’t do it by myself. It’s something that it is an individual award, but it’s the effort of everybody who is part of the Denver Nuggets organization.”

Nikola Jokic was drafted by the Denver Nuggets in 2014 with the 41st overall pick. After adjusting to the league in his rookie season, Jokic quickly emerged as the franchise cornerstone for the Nuggets. He has been an All-Star each year since 2019 while managing to make two All-NBA teams.

In 2020-21, Jokic had his best statistical outing while leading Denver to the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. During the regular season, the 26-year-old Serbian averaged 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 8.4 assists per game.

Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks) and Chris Paul (Phoenix Suns) were the remaining players to receive first-place votes by the media. The New York Knicks’ Derrick Rose also received one, thanks to the fan vote.

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, who was the favorite for the MVP award before injuries limited his appearances in the regular season, made it to just one ballot. This meant that James has received an MVP vote for 18 consecutive seasons, or every year since entering the NBA.

The post Nuggets Nikola Jokic Wins the NBA MVP Award appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Los Angeles Lakers will kick off their postseason facing this year’s NBA MVP. That is, at least, according to Lakers superstar LeBron James.

James had a chat with reporters on Sunday night in which he discussed the Lakers’ upcoming play-in game against the Golden State Warriors. He said that his team has to be on “its best” as they will be playing against the “MVP of our league in Steph Curry.”

“I mean, just look at what he’s done this year. I don’t know anything else if you’re looking for an MVP. If Steph is not on Golden State’s team, what are we looking at?”, said James. He also added that Curry had “the best season all year.”

The Lakers and Warriors will meet on Wednesday, with the winner of the contest locking the No. 7 seed for the playoffs. The loser will face either the San Antonio Spurs or Memphis Grizzlies to determine the No. 8 seed.

Steph Curry was the only bright spot on a Warriors team that battled injuries for the better part of the season. Curry had arguably his best statistical season as a pro, averaging a career-high 32 points and winning the NBA’s scoring title for the second time in his career. He also added 5.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists while shooting 42.1 percent from the three-point line.

Still, Curry most likely won’t get much consideration for his third MVP award due to the Warriors’ poor record. Golden State finished eighth in the Western Conference standings with a 39-33 record for the season.

The Most Valuable Player award for the 2020-21 NBA season will most likely go to either the Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic or the Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid. If this happens, either of them will become the first center to get the honors since Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal.

The post Steph Curry Should Win MVP this Season According to LeBron James appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic is this year’s recipient of the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award. Jokic became just the sixth international player to get this honor and the first center to do it since Shaquille O’Neal in 2000.

Jokic blew out the competition, receiving 91 first-place votes out of 101 possible and a total of 971 points. Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid finished second in the voting, totaling 586 points but just one first-place vote. Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors rounds up the top three with five first-place votes and 453 points. 

“It’s a big accomplishment,” said Jokic about the award. “But it’s something that, like I said to the guys, it’s not just me. I couldn’t do it by myself. It’s something that it is an individual award, but it’s the effort of everybody who is part of the Denver Nuggets organization.”

Nikola Jokic was drafted by the Denver Nuggets in 2014 with the 41st overall pick. After adjusting to the league in his rookie season, Jokic quickly emerged as the franchise cornerstone for the Nuggets. He has been an All-Star each year since 2019 while managing to make two All-NBA teams.

In 2020-21, Jokic had his best statistical outing while leading Denver to the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. During the regular season, the 26-year-old Serbian averaged 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 8.4 assists per game.

Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks) and Chris Paul (Phoenix Suns) were the remaining players to receive first-place votes by the media. The New York Knicks’ Derrick Rose also received one, thanks to the fan vote.

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, who was the favorite for the MVP award before injuries limited his appearances in the regular season, made it to just one ballot. This meant that James has received an MVP vote for 18 consecutive seasons, or every year since entering the NBA.

The post Nuggets Nikola Jokic Wins the NBA MVP Award appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Los Angeles Lakers will kick off their postseason facing this year’s NBA MVP. That is, at least, according to Lakers superstar LeBron James.

James had a chat with reporters on Sunday night in which he discussed the Lakers’ upcoming play-in game against the Golden State Warriors. He said that his team has to be on “its best” as they will be playing against the “MVP of our league in Steph Curry.”

“I mean, just look at what he’s done this year. I don’t know anything else if you’re looking for an MVP. If Steph is not on Golden State’s team, what are we looking at?”, said James. He also added that Curry had “the best season all year.”

The Lakers and Warriors will meet on Wednesday, with the winner of the contest locking the No. 7 seed for the playoffs. The loser will face either the San Antonio Spurs or Memphis Grizzlies to determine the No. 8 seed.

Steph Curry was the only bright spot on a Warriors team that battled injuries for the better part of the season. Curry had arguably his best statistical season as a pro, averaging a career-high 32 points and winning the NBA’s scoring title for the second time in his career. He also added 5.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists while shooting 42.1 percent from the three-point line.

Still, Curry most likely won’t get much consideration for his third MVP award due to the Warriors’ poor record. Golden State finished eighth in the Western Conference standings with a 39-33 record for the season.

The Most Valuable Player award for the 2020-21 NBA season will most likely go to either the Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic or the Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid. If this happens, either of them will become the first center to get the honors since Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal.

The post Steph Curry Should Win MVP this Season According to LeBron James appeared first on SportzBonanza.