Nikola Jokic Joined Elite Group With Third MVP Award

Published on May 9th, 2024 2:33 pm EST
Written By: Dave Manuel


Earlier this week, Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets was named the league's Most Valuable Player for the third time.

In doing so, Jokic joined an elite group of players who have won the MVP award at least three times in their careers.

In fact, just nine players have accomplished this feat.

-

At the top of the list sits Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who won the league's MVP award a total of six times - three times with the Milwaukee Bucks, and three times with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Two players - Bill Russell and Michael Jordan - won the MVP award five times. Many people felt as though Jordan deserved to win more - 1993 is listed an one example, when Jordan scored 32.6 points per game and finished third in MVP voting behind Charles Barkley and Hakeem Olajuwon.

LeBron James and Wilt Chamberlain both won the MVP award four times. Chamberlain managed to win the MVP award in his rookie season in the league, which is quite the feat.

Four players - Moses Malone, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Nikola Jokic - have won the MVP award three times.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Steph Curry are the only two active MVP players who have won two MVP awards.

The complete list looks like this:

Bob Pettit
Karl Malone
Tim Duncan
Steve Nash
Steph Curry
Giannis Antetokounmpo

-

Jokic is still only 29 years old, meaning that he still has a number of years left in his prime to add to his trophy case.

With another MVP award, Jokic would join LeBron James and Wilt Chamberlain as players with four MVP awards - truly elite company.