Nikola Jokic named NBA Finals MVP / News - Basketnews.com

Nikola Jokic has been named a unanimous NBA Finals MVP after averaging 30.2 points, 14.0 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game during the Finals series in which the Denver Nuggets beat Miami Heat.

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

Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic has been named the NBA Finals MVP after Denver beat the Miami Heat in Game 5.

Player of the Game EFF 36 Nikola Jokic Points 28 Accuracy 12-16 Rebounds 16 Assists 4

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.

In a 94-89 win in Game 5, Jokic had 28 points (11/13 2PT, 1/3 3PT, 3/5 FT), 16 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block, and 4 turnovers.

Jokic received all 11 votes in the NBA Finals MVP voting.

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.

"It's good, it's good. The job is done, we can go home now," Jokic said after the game.

Jokic joined Giannis Antetokounmpo, Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, and Hakeem Olajuwon as the only players born overseas to win the NBA Finals MVP award.

Throughout his career, the 28-year-old Jokic has won NBA MVP twice (2021, 2022), NBA Western Conference MVP (2023), was named NBA All-Star five times, and All-NBA First Team three times.

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.

Nikola Jokic highlights

The moment Denver Nuggets became NBA champions

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