Nikola Jokić Joins Elite Company with Fifth Straight Top-Two Finish in Kia NBA MVP Voting
In a testament to his consistent excellence, Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokić has become just the third player in NBA history to finish in the top two of the Kia NBA MVP voting for five consecutive seasons. According to an article on the official NBA website, Jokić achieved this feat by finishing second in this year’s voting behind only Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (NBA.com).
Jokić, who won the award in 2021, 2023, and 2024, and was second in 2022 and again this year, joins Bill Russell and Larry Bird as the only players to achieve this level of sustained dominance. The NBA.com article reports that Russell and Bird, both Boston Celtics greats, each finished first or second in the voting in six consecutive seasons. Russell won in 1958, 1961, 1962, and 1963, while finishing second in 1959 and 1960. Bird was second in 1981, 1982, and 1983 before winning in 1984, 1985, and 1986.
Per the NBA.com article, Jokić’s impressive season was marked by his sixth instance of averaging a triple-double, with 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists per game. Only one player has achieved this feat and won the MVP award in the same season. Oscar Robertson averaged a triple-double in 1961-62 but did not win MVP that year, while Russell Westbrook achieved the feat four times but won the award only once during that span.
The company Jokić keeps is impressive, with only a handful of players having achieved similar levels of success. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1971-74) and Tim Duncan (2001-04) are the other players with four straight top-two finishes. Michael Jordan and LeBron James each had two different streaks of three consecutive top-two finishes in the voting, but never managed to sustain it for five seasons.
As noted by the NBA.com article, Jokić’s consistency is a hallmark of his career, and his ability to dominate the league for an extended period is a testament to his hard work and dedication. With his fifth straight top-two finish, Jokić has cemented his status as one of the best players in the league today.
In conclusion, Nikola Jokić’s achievement is a remarkable one, and his place among the all-time greats is well-deserved. As the NBA.com article highlights, Jokić’s impressive season and consistent excellence have earned him a spot among the elite players in the league, and his fifth straight top-two finish in the Kia NBA MVP voting is a testament to his enduring greatness.
