The Denver Nuggets and Nikola Jokic just won their first-ever NBA championship. It has been a tiring but tough season for all, mainly the Nuggets. Not only this year, but the Colorado-based team has also dealt with various obstacles in the last few years. They managed to make the playoffs, but could never truly contend for the title along with the big dogs.
This year, it has all been changed. Jamal Murray has emerged as one of the best players in the league once again, which is quite a sight considering his heartbreaking ACL injury. He has formed a formidable duo with the big Serbian, who has had one hell of a season this year. Jokic bagged an NBA ring, along with the Finals MVP trophy as well. However, he still wasn’t able to achieve it all, because of Joel Embiid.
Did Nikola Jokic deserve to win the MVP over Joel Embiid?
Joel Embiid was extremely crucial for the Philadelphia 76ers this year. He averaged 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.2 assists, in 66 games coming in clutch on more than one occasion. Jokic, on the other hand, averaged 24.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 9.8 assists in 69 games this season. The numbers suggest that both of these players might have had a different role to play in their respective teams.
The NBA’s official voting results reveal that Embiid managed to rake in 915 points, whereas the Serbian managed to only receive 674 points. Although many believed at the time of the voting period that Jokic was about to win his third MVP in a row, it was a surprise that Embiid came out on top at the end. Jokic was leading the MVP race until almost the end when the Sixers center snatched the trophy from him.
Nuggets head coach Michael Malone just said Nikola Jokic didn’t win his third-straight NBA MVP award because “the voters didn’t want to vote for him.”
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) June 15, 2023
Recently, Nuggets head coach Michael Malone broke silence on the matter. He said that Jokic only didn’t win the award because “The voters didn’t want to vote for him.” Although this is the most logical explanation as to why Jokic didn’t win the award, it looks like Malone might have had another motive.
It’s true. They didn’t want him to get 3 in a row and Perkins started pushing the “race” narrative.
— jordan demi (@jordan_demi1) June 15, 2023
He’s so drunk right now, but that’s what makes this even better, no filter
— Kendall Hinton for MVP (@KingOLandBaby) June 15, 2023
Drunk or not he’s a 1,000% correct
— Matt Eikner (@matteik07) June 15, 2023
Some fans even responded to the coach’s comments and mentioned Kendrick Perkins’ comment about Jokic’s race helping him gain an advantage. Some even pointed out that Malone was intoxicated from the Nuggets’ championship period but that doesn’t prevent him from speaking the truth.