Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic was named NBA Most Valuable Player for the fifth consecutive season on Tuesday, joining an exclusive group that includes only Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain in winning five straight MVP awards.
Jokic received 98 of 120 first-place votes, the second-highest total in the award's history, with his closest competitor, Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, finishing a distant second. The voting reflected near-unanimous recognition of Jokic's dominant season.
"This award belongs to my teammates and coaches," Jokic said through a translator at the ceremony. "I am a player who makes others better, and without their contributions, none of this would be possible."
Jokic led the Nuggets to a 58-24 record while averaging 26.4 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 9.2 assists per game. His triple-double average for the season placed him among the statistical leaders across all major categories.
The Nuggets enter the playoffs as the number two seed in the Western Conference, with Jokic seeking to improve on last year's second-round exit. "Individual awards are meaningful, but team championships are what I really want," Jokic said.
The MVP award marks the third major honor for Jokic this season, joining the All-Star Game MVP and the Western Conference Player of the Month awards he collected throughout the regular season.