Last week, Nikola Jokic was awarded his third NBA MVP trophy. This season, the Serb won ahead of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic. On this subject, many observers have criticized the votes, believing that the Nuggets pivot does not deserve this new distinction. This is not the case for Paul Pierce, immense legend of the Boston Celtics, who congratulates Jokic while bashing the league.
Nikola Jokic Does he deserve his third MVP trophy? This season, the Serbian failed to take his franchise to the top of the Western Conference, ahead of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder. However, throughout the season he averaged 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds and 9 assists per game, while having missed only three games. At any rate, Paul Pierceformer NBA champion with the Boston Celtics in 2008, believes that the votes did reward the best player in the league, but not at the right time.
Victor Wembanyama: The complete review of his crazy first season in the NBA! pic.twitter.com/UR1TeSy6II
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A trophy announced too late?
Indeed, according to the former swingman, the NBA should award the trophy earlier in the season in order to avoid incessant criticism: “I think it is well deserved (for Jokic). But the thing is, I don’t like it when they announce the winner in the second round of the playoffs. Because people are like, ‘Oh he had a few bad games, they’re down 2-0, he doesn’t deserve the MVP.’ They should make the announcement as soon as the season is over! ” said Pierce. “Last year, Joel Embiid was MVP, but Jokic broke everything in the playoffs and we were like: ‘Joker should have been MVP.’ This is a trophy for the regular season, give it away as soon as the regular season is over. Because I don’t like seeing people on social media: ‘Oh, Shai should have got it, look he just planted 30 PTS against Doncic.’ They take the playoffs into account. » he continued.
When Nowitzki suffered from it too
An idea that seems rather logical since it is after the Finals that we reward the MVP of the Finals. Moreover, if we recall the case Dirk Nowitzki in 2007, that season, the Mavericks had won 67 victories but were eliminated in the 1st round by the Warriors. A few days later, the main person received his MVP trophy, without any emotion, because disappointed for his franchise. However, this should have been celebrated as a real consecration.
2024-05-13 18:13:08
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