:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69425559/1321611872.0.jpg)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic has been awarded the NBA’s 2020-21 MVP trophy, the first in franchise history. The former 41st pick in the 2014 draft averaged 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 8.3 assists, and 1.3 steals this season while carrying the Nuggets to the third seed in the Western Conference.
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard placed seventh behind Jokic, Joel Embiid, Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Chris Paul, and Luka Doncic. Lillard received a single 3rd-place vote, five 4th-place votes, and ten 5th-place votes, totaling 38 points. Jokic had 971 points, taking 91 out of a possible 100 first place votes. Curry and Paul were the only other players earning more than one first-place nomination.
Here is the official voting.
With the first Kia NBA MVP Award of his career, Nikola Jokić becomes the first player to earn the honor as a member of the @nuggets. He received 91 of the 101 first-place votes.
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) June 8, 2021
More ▶️ https://t.co/KFtBBl414B pic.twitter.com/ijRjMBMXFH
This season Lillard recorded averages of 28.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 7.5 assists. His team lost to Jokic and the Nuggets 4-2 in the first round of the NBA playoffs, during which home fans from both sides chanted, “MVP!” for their team’s candidate.