Did Nikola Jokic lose his NBA Finals MVP trophy? / News - Basketnews.com

Nikola Jokic couldn't tell where his NBA Finals MVP trophy went. However, Malika Andrews later confirmed that it remained in place with the equipment manager Sparky Gonzalez.

Credit: USA Today Sports-Scanpix Credit USA Today Sports-Scanpix

Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic left his NBA Finals MVP trophy in the equipment manager's room and couldn't tell where it went.

Nikola Jokic

MIN:34.97PTS:25.73 (66.58%)REB:12.2As:9.75ST:1.21BL:0.75TO:3.56GM:89ProfileNBA2022/2023

In an interview with ESPN's Malika Andrews on Wednesday, Jokic revealed that he misplaced his NBA Finals MVP award.

"I gotta tell you, I've done a couple of these NBA Finals MVP interviews, and you're the first one to come in without the trophy," Andrews told Jokic.

"I really don't know," Jokić replied. "I left it in [equipment manager] Sparky [Gonzales's] room, and it's not there anymore. So, I don't know."

Even though Jokic couldn't tell where his Bill Russell trophy went, Andrews later confirmed that it remained with Gonzalez, who prepared the NBA Finals MVP award for the upcoming championship parade on Thursday.

The Nuggets won the series 4-1, as Jokic has been averaging 30.2 points, 14.0 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game during the Finals series.

Jokic is the lowest drafted player (41st overall in the second round in 2014) to win the Finals MVP, passing Dennis Johnson, who was drafted 29th overall in 1979, according to research by ESPN Stats & Information.

He also becomes only the third second-round pick to win Finals MVP, joining Willis Reed and Johnson and excluding the undrafted Moses Malone.

During the 2023 NBA Playoffs, Jokic became the first player in NBA Finals history to record a triple-double with 30 points, 20 rebounds, and 10 assists.

Jokic is also responsible for three of the five 30-20-10 playoff games ever, with two of those coming in these playoffs. Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar share the other two.

Jokic recorded 10 triple-double in the 2023 NBA Playoffs. The Serbian star became the first player in NBA history with 10+ triple-doubles in a single playoff run.

Jokic also became the first player in NBA history to lead all players in points, rebounds, and assists in a single postseason.

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