The Serbian is the first player to win the award after the death of Bill Russell, to whom the award is dedicated
He is also the first center to do so since Shaquille O’Neal in 2002.
the serbian Nikola Jokiccenter of the Denver Nuggets, was chosen this Monday as Finals MVP of the NBA after leading his team to the first title of its history in the series for the ring against the Miami Heat and close to a triple double on average in the postseason.
The Nuggets won the first NBA title in their history by win the Finals series 4-1 after a 94-89 victory at home against the Heat in Game 5. Jokic contributed 28 points, 16 rebounds and 4 assists this Monday.
The Serbian led the NBA playoffs by points scored (600), rebounds (269) and assists (190) and is MVP of the Finals after being chosen MVP of the regular season twice in a row, in 2021 and 2022.
He received the MVP award of the Finals from the hands of NBA commissioner Adam Silver, who stressed that the center is the first to receive this award after the death of Bill Russell, the legendary Boston Celtics player who passed away last August at the age of 88 and to whom the trophy is dedicated. Silver reckoned Russell would be happy to know that the Finals MVP is a center, like he was. Jokic is the first center to win the Finals MVP award since Shaquille O’Neal in 2002.
The Serbian exchanged heartfelt hugs with his relatives, present at the Ball Arena in Denver, before going to collect the award. “We believe in ourselves, in our relationship. Trophies are important, but our relationship goes beyond that, it will continue even after our careers end,” Jokic said upon receiving the MVP award. His coach, Michael Malone, celebrated the center and considered that he “demonstrated once again that he is the best player in the nba“.