Serbian center Nikola Jokic was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) on Monday after leading the Denver Nuggets to their first-ever championship by defeating the Miami Heat.
Jokic, who had already won two season MVP awards (2021 and 2022), now extends his list of accomplishments with the Finals MVP award, named after the legendary Bill Russell.
The 28-year-old Serbian completed his spectacular series on Monday by recording 28 points and 16 rebounds in the Nuggets’ 94-89 win, which clinched the Finals at 4-1 overall.
In the five-game series, the “Joker” averaged an astounding 30.2 points, 14.0 rebounds, and 7.2 assists.
“Nikola Jokic is a great person as a father, son, and brother. On the basketball court, he has proven time and time again that he is the best player in the NBA,” said his coach Michael Malone during the trophy ceremony at Denver’s Ball Arena.
The center, selected by the Nuggets with the distant 41st overall pick in the 2014 Draft, succeeds Golden State Warriors leader Stephen Curry as the winner of this prestigious award.
Here are the last ten NBA Finals MVP award winners and the players with the most awards in history.
Last ten Finals MVP winners:
2023: Nikola Jokic (SRB, Denver Nuggets)
2022: Stephen Curry (USA, Golden State Warriors)
2021: Giannis Antetokounmpo (GRE, Milwaukee Bucks)
2020: LeBron James (USA, Los Angeles Lakers)
2019: Kawhi Leonard (USA/TToronto Raptors)
2018: Kevin Durant (USA, Golden State Warriors)
2017: Kevin Durant (USA, Golden State Warriors)
2016: LeBron James (USA, Cleveland Cavaliers)
2015: Andre Iguodala (USA, Golden State Warriors)
2014: Kawhi Leonard (USA, San Antonio Spurs)
Players with the most MVP awards in history:
6. Michael Jordan (USA) (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998).
4. LeBron James (USA) (2012, 2013, 2016, 2020)
3. Magic Johnson (USA) (1980, 1982, 1987)
Shaquille O’Neal (USA) (2000, 2001, 2002)
Tim Duncan (USA) (1999, 2003, 2005)
2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1971, 1985)
Willis Reed (1970, 1973)
Larry Bird (1984, 1986)
Hakeem Olajuwon (1994, 1995)
Kobe Bryant (USA) (2009, 2010)
Kevin Durant (2017, 2018)
Kawhi Leonard (2014, 2019)