Gary Sheffield, Jr
Videos by OutKick
Denver Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic has been named MVP of the league, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The big man is BACK.
BREAKING: Nikola Jokic has won the NBA MVP Award. pic.twitter.com/j4RsLsFZpZ
— NBA Retweet (@RTNBA) June 8, 2021
Although they lost Game 1 of last night’s Western Conference semi-finals matchup with my Phoenix Suns — with me in the building, I should add — Jokic is proving big men have a role in today’s NBA. If you watched any of Jokic this season, then you know why he’s the most valuable player in the game today.
He managed to touch the ball on offense without slowing down the pace that modern day NBA offenses need. Surround Jokic with shooters, and he can operate an offense as a point guard/big man hybrid. Combine that with making shots he has no business making, and you end up as Most Valuable Player in basketball.
The Denver Nuggets will need him to play like an MVP in this playoff series too, though. He was relatively average in last night’s loss. I’m willing to bet my last dollar Shaq goes on a 10-minute soliloquy on the the Nuggets star.
Tremendous mutual respect between Nikola Jokic and @DeandreAyton. #ThatsGame #NBAPlayoffs
— NBA (@NBA) June 8, 2021
Nuggets/Suns Game 2: Wednesday at 9:30pm/et on TNT. pic.twitter.com/z8yzWEcYyD
26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 8.3 assists a game from a center is going to win you MVP when your wing man, Jamal Murray, plays just 48 games. Congratulations to Nikola Jokic on the award.
The MVP of one of the most popular sports in the world and in America and I’ve never heard of him. I’m not sure if that says something about my knowledge of sports or if it says something about how sad basketball has become in this country. Particularly, the NBA.
Probably you considering the NBA is more popular today than any time you ever watched.
How is that possible if the data shows viewership is way down. Please explain.
If there is one player to watch – it’s him. Check him out in the nuggets next playoff game. In a game that has turned into a one-on-one and look at me game over the years – Jokic bucks that trend and can do it all (pass, defend, shoot). Very unselfish player. Plus – half the shots he throws up you will be like “how the hell did that go in”
I never heard of him either. My NBA fandon goes back to Bob Cousy’s Celtics … thru Bird. Magic, Jordan and even the early days of Steph Curry … but no more. It ceased being “entertainment” for me. I appreciate that it is still popular … but not with me any more.
Too bad the ratings don’t prove your point. Data means something so please do educate us with numbers on how the NBA is more popular.
Thank you
Want to bet that the predominant black players in this league will barely congratulate him?
Agreed. They’ll look at it as white supremacy.
Another snarky comment from the author we can’t just post our opinions without this crapola
Yep. It would be nice if there was some data to back up his point about the NBA being more popular than ever.
The audience of the NBA is from China and it always has been. The fact that anyone, and seemingly you included, think American ratings are remotely impactful in this conversation, I can’t help you. Politics aside, every sport has a market. The average basketball fan is chinese. Just the facts.
Never forget you’re in my venue, not your own. Like walking into someone’s home and complaining about the cooking.
Yeah ok slick bfd
Well since you put it that way, let me take you on a walk down memory lane. Most watched college basketball game and highest television rating was Indiana State v Mich State in 1979. Now, I wouldn’t be surprised if you thought it was Gonzaga and whoever they played this past year but you’d be wrong. But I appreciate you weighing in on my comment. Now I know it’s not me. China??? To paraphrase a line from Tombstone, debating you on sports is like playing cards with my brother’s kids. You dont know what the best NBA was because you weren’t born yet. I, like many on here, have lived through both.
Good one he’s just a sensitive one you notice he is the only one that conducts himself in this juvenile manner
And my membership on VIP gives me an open invite into your kitchen (venue). So, if you dont want people complaining about your cooking, then learn how to cook.
Couple more smart ass comments from the author lecturing all the VIP’s about his realm he fits right in with all the dopes in the nba defending the Chicoms
Think this will be my last comment on this “venue.” This is too easy. Perhaps others will do the same. Maybe he can get a large following of Chinese readers from the CCP. I’m going to go read some VIP articles from sports journalists who know what they’re talking about.
I’m right there with ya