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On Tuesday, Nikola Jokic was officially presented with the trophy he won after being named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player for the third time, and he confirmed he could not care less about that particular piece of hardware while admitting he’s going to give it to his beloved horses to use as a toy.
There are plenty of people who would tell you Nikola Jokic should’ve become the first player in NBA history to win MVP honors four consecutive times thanks to Joel Embiid’s slightly controversial win in 2023.
Regardless, the Serbian big man lived up to his superstar status this season and came out on top yet again after averaging 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 9 assists over the course of the regular season to become just the ninth player in NBA history to win at least three MVP awards.
Jokic has shown why he’s the best player in the NBA during Denver’s second-round showdown with the Timberwolves, as he played an instrumental role in helping the Nuggets dig themselves out of a 2-0 hole before taking a 3-2 lead in the series on the back of the 40 points, seven rebounds, and 12 assists he posted on Tuesday night.
Prior to the contest, Adam Silver presented Jokic with his third MVP trophy during a ceremony where he reacted to receiving the newest addition in his growing collection of accolades with less enthusiasm than I showed after snagging a $10 gift certificate after coming in third place in a game of bar trivia last week.
Anyone who’s kept tabs on The Joker over the course of his career knows he probably would’ve pursued a career as a horse jockey if he didn’t measure in at 6’11” and tip the scales at around 285 pounds, and after the game, he revealed the animals waiting for him in the stables back home are probably more excited about the MVP award than he is when you consider he plans to give it to them to play with.
Jokic on receiving MVP:
“You know I’m grateful to get another MVP, but for me it’s just basketball, I don’t know why other players cry when they get this trophy, what I do is I end up giving it to my horses to play with, that brings joy in my heart.”
(Via @nuggets) pic.twitter.com/uREIzQAAl5
— NBACentel (@TheNBACentel) May 15, 2024
Find someone who cares about you as much as Nikola Jokic doesn’t care about basketball trophies.