Nuggets center Nikola Jokic was named the Most Valuable Player of the Western Conference Finals after Denver completed its four-game sweep of the Lakers on Monday, the NBA announced (via Twitter).
A panel of nine media members voted on the award and Jokic was the unanimous choice, receiving all nine votes (Twitter link).
The decision came as no surprise, given that Jokic continued his historic postseason run in four consecutive victories over the Lakers, registering triple-doubles in three of those four games and averaging 27.8 PPG, 14.5 RPG, and 11.8 APG on .506/.471/.778 shooting.
Over the course of 15 playoff games, including 12 Nuggets wins, Jokic has put up 29.9 PPG, 13.3 RPG, and 10.3 APG with a shooting line of .538/.474/.784.
Jokic is the second player to win the Magic Johnson Trophy as the Western Finals MVP, joining Warriors guard Stephen Curry, who earned the honor in 2022. The NBA introduced the award – along with the Larry Bird Trophy for the Eastern Finals MVP – during the 2022 playoffs.
Asked after Denver’s victory about winning the Western Finals MVP award after finishing as the runner-up to Joel Embiid in the regular season MVP voting, Jokic defended the Sixers center, whose team was eliminated in the second round. As Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN tweets, Jokic said Embiid had an incredible year and deserved MVP honors, adding that people who say Embiid didn’t deserve to win it are being “mean.”
Nice run and four game sweep by the nuggets. Lakers started looking tired and overwhelmed. Denver poised and ready to take the next step.
Most everyone saw this coming. Well.., except for me of course LOL
I saw this coming from the first few weeks of the season. Nuggets been the best team in the NBA all year long. Consistent and rarely had a long losing streak. Knew the Lakers was going to run out of steam since Ham plays his starters almost 40 minutes or more a game.
Great call ARC. I missed it by a country mile.
Malone plays his starters longer than Han didn’t affect them too much
If it wasn’t already abundantly clear: Jokic >>> Embiid.
Give it up already. Like this is the 1st this has happened. The NBA started in 2006 right? Smh
Am I supposed to understand your comment? Because I don’t.
It’s insane that people think otherwise
Embiid mvp
I love the lakers but jokic is so good and I’m rooting for them now to win the title.
They had a good run and after the trade deadline they really pulled it together. What do you think happens this off season?
Depends on what Lakers GM (LeBron) decides.
Jokic mvp
Hope Kendrick Perkins is okay with it because his opinion matters.
Did Karl Malone deserve his MVP or Nash. I forget none of you know anything about that. You all and c daddy think the NBA started in 2006
Jimmy Butler is the true MVP. Not this fat bully