Nuggets center Nikola Jokic has been named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player for the second consecutive season, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Sources told Woj that a formal announcement will be made later this week.
Jokic turned in better numbers in 2021/22 than he did last season, averaging 27.1 points and 13.8 rebounds per game, both career bests. He also ranked eighth in the league at 7.9 assists per game. ESPN notes that he became the first player to ever reach 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 500 assists in the same season.
Jokic’s outstanding performance helped Denver remain competitive with Jamal Murray missing the entire season due to a torn ACL and Michael Porter Jr. playing just nine games before undergoing back surgery. Denver managed to post a 48-34 record and grabbed the sixth seed in the West.
The 27-year-old center is the 13th player in history to claim back-to-back MVP honors. Next season he will try to join Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell on an elite list of players to win the award three years in a row.
Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo and Sixers center Joel Embiid were the other finalists in this year’s MVP voting.
This reminds me so much of the Taylor/Serrano decision a few weeks ago. If you really wanted the Euro to win & you tried your hardest it’s possible to make a decent but ultimately weak case for them. But Serrano won the fight & Embiid (or Giannis) should be MVP this season.. I’m gonna guess this was 1 of the tightest races ever. LeBron, Trae, Luka & Derozan must have received a lot of votes too
I’m pretty sure LeBron didn’t receive any votes with that terrible record. No such thing as an MVP on a team that bad.
Jokic can win MVP on a very mediocre team then Bron should be able to get votes while on a bad team
Very mediocre? The dude was playing with bench warmers the entire season and took his team to a 6th seed and a 48-34 record.
He’s the best overall player.
Bench warmers is disrespectful they have great role players not superstars not bench warmers.
Jokic is this year’s MVP deservedly so but Giannis is still the best player on the planet.
This is concerning for me LBJ wasn’t given MVP mainly because those years he didn’t win the finals. NOW! we have Jokic (twice), Harden (once) winning MVP, and not even making it to the finals. Harden won on LBJ best performing year!
It’s a regular season award. Votes are done before the playoffs start.
Dude Serrano won one round….
Another terrible take from you.
Taylor started and finished the stronger fighter. Serrano a bigger puncher so the few she connected with had a big impact which obviously affects the optics for casuals.
Is there some kind of bias you’re suggesting?
It was a great fight from two unbelievable athletes from tiny islands with a long history of struggle. Either winning would have been great.
I honestly see Jokic and Embiid as pretty equal but Jokic was more reliable, more durable and had much less talent around him and finished with pretty much the same record while averaging much better numbers.
They’re both great. Swap them and I think the story would be the same, Denver out and Philly still in it.
From a purely aesthetic standpoint it’s much more fun watching Nikola play than to watch Joel shooting foul shots.
Highly doubtful Trae received many if any MVP votes.
Joel got snubbed. Everything he had to deal with the Simmons drama he should have won it.
Playing devil’s advocate here, Jokic didn’t have Murray and Porter Jr for pretty much the entire season and got 3 less wins. Stat wise, the only “significant” stats Embiid was better than Jokic was points, blocks, and 3pt %. I think by most advanced stats Jokic was better as well. I mean it was a touch decision all around and the top three all had legitimate and strong arguments to be MVP.
He has played with them for a full season You kept seeing a report about Simmons everyday before he got traded and they still won without a three time all star Jokic has better advanced states but Joel has a lot better stats. It was close but I would have have it Joel but I have problem with Jokic winning.
*Without
Which stats was Embiid better than aside from the three I listed above? Embiid averaged 3 more ppg, .6 blocks, and shot 4% better from three. Jokic averaged 2 more rebounds, 3 more assists, and shot 8% better from the field. Fouls, steals, and free throw % are basically washes (turnovers too if you consider Jokic’s bigger role as a playmaker/passer).
Sure Simmons is probably the better player of three if you are comparing him, Murray, and Porter Jr., but Embiid still had Tobias Harris (overpaid but still a solid player atleast), James Harden, and Tyrese Maxey…all of whom performed better than whoever you want to list as the next three best players from the Nuggets (Aaron Gordon, Will Barton, Monte Morris, Bones Hyland, etc).
Both had legit arguments to MVP either way. Really just splitting hairs at the end of the day. People will say Embiid got robbed but this was hardly a clear cut decision. Imo 2011-12 (Rose), 2016-17 (Westbrook), and 2017-18 (Harden) would be bigger “robberies” than this year.
Wrong
I agree. Embiid is the most dominate player. I hope this gives him the fuel to make it to the finals. I remember when Olajuwon was snubbed how he showed the world who the real MVP was.
Joker is the Metric Valuable Player – not the Most Valuable Player. Embiid is the most dominant player in NBA and teams have to game plan for him specifically. Giannis is a beast and virtually unstoppable. Both of those players were more than their numbers, but great representatives of the game. Sportswriters LOVE metrics, but I don’t think metrics alone makes an MVP. I like Joker’s game and his #s are worthy of MVP talk, but the guy dirty-hit another player and that player was injured and was out for MONTHS. Is that really the NBA’s most Valuable player? What a great message to send fans – especially kids! All that matters is your #s, not your sportsmanship or your conduct.
Sure just leave out the fact that Morris elbowed him which led to Jokic retaliating.
You say teams have to game plan for Embiid, you never seen a Nuggets game? Teams also game plan for Jokic. He gets doubled team just like Embiid does, Embiid gets doubled team more but that’s only because once you double team Jokic, he an amazing passer. He’s not nowhere near as dominate as Embiid but he’s just as unstoppable near the rim. The dude has a soft touch. Like it or not, he’s a better player all around than Embiid.
Best all around player in the league.
2000, 1000, 500
First player to ever do that.
Morris didn’t elbow Jokic did you see the play? He isn’t a better all around player than Joel have you not seen Joel play?
No Morris don’t elbow Joker but he did blindside him after Adebayo landed 2 or 3 elbows to the ribs in the paint.
If you watch the playoffs Nuggets had nothing besides Jokic. Warriors defense plan was double team him. Nuggets must get some scorers for next year to advance in the playoffs. Put Jokic on any playoff team besides Nuggets and they go further in the playoffs.
Oh I’m sorry, when exactly did we decide MVP on merit and good noodle stars? Hop off your high horse. MVP shouldn’t be decided because you think kids need better role models. In fact I’d argue that if your kids role models are men playing a game on the television, you need to step up your parenting
We’re still waiting for you to present a credible argument that Jokic wasn’t the MVP, not your emotionally invested opinion which is irrelevant.
Jokic is by far the best overall player in the league.
Joel El Floppo Embozo can’t shoot. He depends on the free throws to get his points..
Giannis is very good, and should always be considered in the talks..
Embiid takes the ball to the hole. No one can guard him or stop him. Ask Bam. That’s why he is fouled, and that’s why he gets free throws. . . and yeah, the guy can shoot. He’s constantly hitting mid-range jumpers and fade-aways. For a big, the guy has a decent 3 ball as well.
Embiid takes the ball to the hole. No one can guard him or stop him. Ask Bam. That’s why he is fouled, and that’s why he gets free throws. . . and yeah, the guy can shoot. He’s constantly hitting mid-range jumpers and fade-aways. For a big, the guy has a decent 3 ball as well. Plus, Embiid’s defense is on another level. Award isn’t for Best Overall Player…. it’s more Most Valuable Player. Embiid would destroy Jokic is a 1 on 1.
The only thing Embiid does better than Jokic is defend.
Embiid is more dominant inside but joker is more efficient inside. More efficient overall.
Embiid is 8 feet tall and his field goal was 49% while Jokic was 58% from the field.
Embiid average 30 this year but went to the line 12 times a game compared to Jokic who average 27 while going to the line only 6 times a game. Do the math.
Jokic
27pts, 14rebs, 8ast, 58fg%
Embiid
30pts, 12rebs, 4ast, 49fg%
Not to mention Jokic will be on the floor much more than Embiid.
you don’t take the ball to the hole and challenge defenders, you don’t go to the foul line. Too bad they won’t square off in the finals. I would have loved to see Joker against Embiid
Joel does everything better besides defense Jokic is great but not better than Jo Joel shoots more threes so that is why his FG is so low joel isn’t 8 feet tall ? Jokic is taller than jo teams can’t guard Joel so they just foul him and you do realize Joel played more games than Jokic this season……. Jo isn’t injury prone. This is the healthy season he has had.
The funny thing is that Jokic is far more efficent from 2P, he shoots far more 0-3 and 3-10 FT. with better efficiency. Still Embiid got more calls shooting almost twice as Jokic FT.
Conclusion is Jokic was shooting more two points FG with better efficency, but getting less calls than Embiid.
Jokic took 65% of his shots in the 0-3/3-10 range, While Embiid took 45% of his shots.
Embiid was getting calls all season long while Jokic don’t. It’s like LBJ in his 2nd stint in Cleveland, never took more than 7.7 FTA despite all the attacks and shoots taken from inside.
The only thing that Embiid does better is defense, not too much, and this year was a better 3pt FG%
Embiid did not play more games than Jokic. Jokic is also the much better passer than Embiid.
I’ve noticed a trend in your comments. You either are a little boy or a adult with some form of disability. Or have a stroke mid typing.
You said Joel field goal is so low because he shoots more threes. He attempted 3.7 threes a game this year while Jokic attempted 3.9. So Joker shot more threes and still had a 58 field goal while Embiid had a 49.
You also say Joker is taller than Embiid, the MVP is listed at 6’11, Embiid is listed at 7’0.
I don’t understand your arguments, the information is a Google search away. Why risk looking like such a idiot online.
Joel doesn’t flop stop fouling him….. and Joel can’t shoot? LOL
Joel and Jokic both get fouled nearly every time they take it inside. Joel is just better at getting the ref’s attention with his exaggerated reactions.
lame
Nope
Definitely more deserving than Embiid.
Don’t worry Philly fans. Joel will get it next year.
This was much deserved by Jokic. He’ll have more help next year and the numbers won’t be nearly so eye-popping.
If Joel can play 75 games next year while maintaining his numbers and a winning record it’s his to lose.
What a great time to be a hoops fan. Elite talent on so many teams.
Embiid was a better player when he was playing and even played more games this season. Can’t even use the games missed excuse this season. This was expected, but nevertheless a joke.
Jokic averaged 27-14-8 and you are crying? Lmao
Good for Mr. Joke, he can have the MVP when it’s just about rebounds and assists.
So the MVP is only decided by points then? Because that’s the only significant stat Embiid was significantly better than. Advanced metrics even suggest Jokic was marginally better than Embiid (DWS and DBPM).
“Embiid was the better player” but doesn’t present any evidence as to why that was the case. That’s the real joke.
And then they claim the “eye test” and that he had better numbers than Jokic, when the non-metric numbers are pretty much split between the two and don’t significantly lean one way or the other. Sure Embiid scored 3 more points per game and shot 4% better from three on about the same volume, but Jokic shot 8% better from the field and averaged 3 more assists (which, at a minimum, means Jokic is responsible for an additional 6 points per game more than Embiid is).
The eye test would be fine in cases where someone saw every game both guys played in. Absent that, it is fairly useless and, hence, why we must heavily weigh the stats and advanced metrics. And I bet you the ones saying Embiid was measurably better saw way more Sixers games.
He wasn’t better than Jokic in any aspect other defense and that’s debatable this year as Jokic really stepped up this year on that end. Embiid still played 8 less games than Jokic.
No, simply wrong. Embiid is a better scorer and a FAR better defender. It’s not even close. You win by scoring points and preventing opposing points. Why shouldn’t those be far and away the biggest indicators of value?
Better scorer based on what? More imposing scorer than Jokic maybe but hardly a clear cut, definitive better scorer. Embiid got to the line at a higher rate than Jokic, free throw % are basically a wash between the two, Embiid shot 4% better from three on basically the same volume, while Jokic shot 8% better from the field on 2 more shots per game.
If you look at assists as creating points, Jokic was responsible for a minimum of 41 points a game (27 ppg plus 7 assists, if we assume all those assists are two pointers then Jokic was responsible for 14 points from assists) where Embiid was responsible for 38 points a game (30 ppg plus 4 assists, same math as above).
But if we’re going to make an argument that defense is more important, than Giannis has the same argument as Embiid and deserves more love. After all, he was the only one of the three to appear on DPoY ballots despite Embiid and Jokic’s any statistical or eye-test argument you make for either side. At the very least, it should mean an extremely close three way vote as opposed to a heavy leaning towards one player or the other.
I think you’re a little biased there pal.
They all are. I’m not saying that the award couldn’t have gone to Embiid as he was the 2nd most deserving candidate, but when you put together the whole package—the numbers, how little help Jokic had, how much of the team’s offense is run through him and how good he is at generating offense—he is a fine choice.
I guess it’s either Philly bias or the old school crowd which cares more about a player’s ability to physically dominate, which has nothing to do with the Most Valuable Player award. Either way, it’s silly to think Embiid was so clearly better than Jokic. It’s flat-out false and not really debatable.
I’m fine not stumping for Embiid if the Nugs fans stop stumping for Jokic.
Bro, this is not your lane. Stay in MLBtraderumors where you belong and cry about how bad the Phillies are.
Jokic had the better season overall. Not even a debate.
“stay in your lane”? who do YOU think you are man? get out of here with that condescending attitude.
Usually when one quotes something someone else says, they quote exactly what they say.
You cry enough in mlbtraderumors. Leave that crying over there.
You say Embiid deserved it over Jokic but didn’t give any reason as to why he was more deserving.
Because he had more points? Ha
Embiid averaged 30, and Jokic averaged 27
Here’s the thing, Embiid got to the line 12 times a game while Jokic only got to the line 6 times a game.
Embiid shot 49% from the field while Jokic shot 58%
Jokic outrebounded Embiid and dropped 8 assist a night as well.
How many great players in nba history and this man did something greats like magic, LeBron, wilt, bird, MJ, never did.
2000 points, 1000 rebounds, 500 assist. That right there says it all.
MVP
Both excellent players….Jokic was MOST Valuable as his supporting cast was less talented than that of Embiid…..Jokic was more valuable to the success of his team than Embiid….Embiid is probably the better all-around player of the two.
Jokic is good and his numbers show that, but the guy injured another player when he wasn’t looking on a very dirty play. Morris missed 3 months due to the injury. imo that’s not someone the NBA should be saying is our most valuable player. MVP is more than stats.
Oh please
It was him standing up for himself after being hit just as hard. I’d bet my house on Jokic having no intention of long term harm.
I like the role model of someone standing up for themselves.
Stick to curling if you want zero heat.
Next, you’re going to tell us the Hall of Fame will need to do a thorough character assessment before admitting anyone. Give me a break. If you have an issue with that, take it up with the league not doling out a bigger suspension.
I bet there are a number of players you enjoy watching that are quite unpleasant in their personal lives. Gonna have to vet them, too, before dishing out any personal awards. Don’t want to have any nasty people winning!
Come here so I can punch you the face since I know won’t retaliate then.
This is the second time I see that you’ve made that comment and I’m going to correct you every time I see it.
You mention how Jokic injured Morris and he missed three months but fail to mention each time how Morris was the one who elbowed him and then turned around thinking Jokic wasn’t going to do anything. Morris had it coming. The Morris twins have been menaces in nba since game 1.
And really? “Mvp is more than stats”
MVP is all stats.
Stop being so irrational and emotional.
No brainer. There are other players who could be more dominant at times, but they simply weren’t as impactful game in and game out. His skill set is just more meaningful to the bottom line, and that’s definitively measured by advanced metrics, although his biggest fans are those who rely on optics. It’s a case of there being no conflict between the two.
Joel should of won it
Jokic deserve it, so congratulations are the order of the day!
Jokic does deserve MVP. There’s no way I could come up with Embiid.
Jokic had the biggest impact of any team’s success in the regular season. Embiid had plenty of help with Harris and Maxey throughout the season then Seth early and Harden later
My second choice would’ve been Giannis. Giannis has been the best player in the league for 3 seasons now on both sides of the ball. The only reason I’d pick Jokic over Giannis is quality of teammates. Giannis has Middleton and Holiday compared to Aaron Gordon and that’s about it. Without Murray and Porter the Nuggets entire roster would be at best fringe starters to decent reserves.
My 3rd choice would’ve been Booker. He didn’t quite put up the same numbers as the others but he was the best player on the team that has the best record by a considerable margin and that has to count for something.
Then there’s Embiid. Im not taking anything away from him. He had the best season of his career, played his ass off and kept his team afloat in a tight eastern conference. In most seasons he would be MVP but not this year.
Damn…I guess I shouldnt be surprised b/c of the numbers he put up, which were unbelievable; and I have less of a problem with this than I did the previous 3 years before last year, but I really think this should have been Embiid. I also think Embiid would have had it last year had it not been for his injury at the end of the regular season, and this year he was able to mostly avoid those issues
Denver ended up being better than I thought they would be this year, so you probably have to attribute that to Jokic. I just feel like it should have been Embiid
Jokic, Embiid, Giannis really could of been any of them. I agree this race had to be tight……. Jokic (860), Embiid (719), Giannis (593). Should of been tighter …….
link to google.com