Nikola Jokic last night won his third MVP award in the last four seasons, however, he could continue an infamous streak.
It all actually started when Nikola Jokic won his first MVP award. The season was 2020/2021, the Denver Nuggets were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs. It was 4-0 for the Phoenix Suns after they knocked out the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round with a 4-2 series.
In the following season, Nikola Jokic also won the MVP award, but the team played the entire season without the injured Jamal Murray, and they couldn’t compete against the eventual champions, the Golden State Warriors, who swept them 4-0 in the series.
Millimeters separated the Serbian center from a third consecutive MVP award, but the voters ultimately chose Joel Embiid. Embiid managed to reach the second round of the playoffs, where he was defeated in seven games by the Boston Celtics.
Everything is heading in that direction
Jokic won his third MVP award this season, but the Nuggets are currently trailing 0-2 in the series against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of the Western Conference. They lost both games at home, making it very likely that this will be the fourth consecutive season where the NBA MVP does not advance beyond the second round.
Of course, things aren’t over yet, but everything is heading in that direction.