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NBA: Nikola Jokic, third European to be named best player in the league

2021-06-09T10:15:40.323Z


The Serbian of the Denver Nuggets, often compared to Larry Bird, succeeds the Greek Giannis Antetokounmpo as MVP.


Same golden hands, same ability to know everything, same deceptively clumsy carcass, the Serbian Nikola Jokic, named best player of the season (MVP), recalls in many ways the legendary Larry Bird, embodying the era of brilliant players by their versatility in the NBA.

Unsurprisingly, the pivot of the Denver Nuggets occupies the first place out of 91 ballots of the 101 voters, ahead of the Cameroonian of Philadelphia Joel Embiid, second, and Stephen Curry (Golden State), who was seeking a third trophy after 2015 and 2016.

He succeeds the Greek Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee), acclaimed for the past two seasons.

Which makes him the third European in history to receive the Maurice Podoloff trophy, fourteen years after the German Dirk Nowitzki, ex-star of Dallas, and the fifth international after the Nigerian Hakeem Olajuwon (1994) and the Canadian Steve Nash (2005, 2006).

Nikola Jokic (Serbia) is the 6th player born outside the 50 states to win #KiaMVP, joining Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece), Hakeem Olajuwon (Nigeria), Steve Nash (South Africa), Tim Duncan (Virgin Islands) and Dirk Nowitzki (West Germany).

pic.twitter.com/WmckmdjRcO

- NBA History (@NBAHistory) June 9, 2021

The "Joker", who was selected in 41st position by the Nuggets in 2014, is now the lowest drafted MVP in league history. "I think I have had the best season of my life and this trophy serves as the icing on the cake," he commented on the NBA on TNT show, congratulated by Shaquille O'Neal, who was until then the last pivot to have been MVP (2000).

He's right.

During the regular exercise (the vote should only take into account the performances established in this period, excluding the play-offs), he averaged 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds and 8.3 assists.

His shooting success rate was excellent (56.6% and 38.8% at 3 points).

As the numbers show, Jokic embodies the all-rounder par excellence, able to score, pass, create, rebound, defend well.

This profile has developed in recent years in the NBA in the wake of LeBron James, and the next generation is coming with other young stars like Luka Doncic.

An often mocked physique

But the Serbian is above all "the reincarnation of Larry Bird".

The comparison was posed by Gregg Popovich, the coach of San Antonio who did not hide his admiration after yet another demonstration of the pivot of Denver, franchise of which Jokic is the very first MVP.

The common points are not lacking, with the former idol of the Celtics, precursor of modern basketball.

So much in the game, until this incontrovertible way of shooting the ball above his head with diabolical precision, and in appearance, with this nose which invariably reddens in the effort under the pale complexion.

Read also "I started basketball with a football": from Congo to the NBA, Serge Ibaka retraces his career

The physique of this fellow (2.11 m, 128 kg), born in Sombor in northern Serbia, has long been the subject of mockery for his overweight.

It must be said that young Nikola could drink up to three liters of a famous soda per day.

“To be honest, I didn't even think about being in the NBA when I started playing basketball at home,” he said on Tuesday.

After two years with Serbian club KK Mega Bemax, FC Barcelona made his eyes soft in 2014, but hesitated to hire him after a horrible match on his part.

Without waiting, he signed up for the draft, to the delight of the Nuggets.

"He's one of the most discreet superstars there is"

Without making any noise, he made himself indispensable, by his composure in hot moments, his vision of the game unusual for a "big", and the quality of his passes, inherited from his practice of water polo as a child.

And Denver immediately adopted this young man with his own sense of humor - of his two older brothers, he says, "They look like serial killers, but they're actually very nice people when you meet them." ".

“The reason he's a great player is that he makes everyone a better place.

He is one of the most discreet superstars there is, I love him and I feel really lucky not only to train him but also to have the relationship that we have ”, paid tribute to his coach Michael Malone. .

It remains for Jokic to lead the Nuggets to the top, to complete the story. And continue to follow in the footsteps of Larry Bird, who was “MVP” for three years in a row (1984, 1985, 1986) and above all NBA champion in 1981, 1984 and 1986. For the time being, the Serbian has only driven Denver than in the Western Conference Finals last year. Currently in the semifinals of the play-offs, his team is led 1-0 by Phoenix.

Source: leparis

All sports articles on 2021-06-09

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