Nikola Jokic Admits 'Zero Interest' in NBA MVP Announcement
Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic is the reigning back-to-back MVP, and is once again a finalist for the award this season. Despite this, Jokic does not have any real interest in the award. When asked after Monday night's victory over the Phoenix Suns about the MVP announcement coming tomorrow, Jokic said he has zero interest in it.
Nuggets head coach Michael Malone echoed the same sentiments, saying, "I know what motivates Nikola Jokic, myself, and the rest of the guys in that locker room. It's not the MVP."
Not concerned with individual accolades at this point in his career, Jokic just wants to win a championship with the Denver Nuggets. This is a team that has been consistently in the playoff picture over the last several seasons, but they have been unable to get over that championship hump. The top seed in the Western Conference this season, Denver certainly expects to make the NBA Finals. Up 2-0 on the Phoenix Suns, Denver is just two wins away from the Western Conference Finals, where they would face the winner of the Lakers vs. Warriors series.
This is an important season for the Nuggets, because as of right now, they are widely looked at as favorites in the Western Conference. While they may not be as popular as teams like the Lakers and the Warriors, their consistent dominance this season has many believing they should come out of the West. Making sure this happens is a much bigger concern for Jokic than the MVP award.