I still remember the excitement building up throughout the 2020-2021 NBA season, watching Nikola Jokić transform from an All-Star into a legitimate superstar. When the MVP voting results finally dropped, it felt both surprising and completely deserved. The Denver Nuggets center became the first player in franchise history to win the award, and honestly, I think his performance throughout that challenging COVID-affected season was nothing short of remarkable.
Looking at the voting breakdown, Jokić absolutely dominated with 91 first-place votes out of 100 possible. That's 91% of the first-place selections going to one player, which is pretty incredible when you consider the talent in the league. Joel Embiid finished second with just one first-place vote, while Stephen Curry rounded out the top three with five first-place votes. The gap between first and second place was staggering - Jokić accumulated 971 total points compared to Embiid's 586. What struck me most was how Jokić managed to play all 72 games in that shortened season while putting up 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game. Those numbers aren't just good - they're historic for a center.
I've always been fascinated by how MVP voting reflects not just individual excellence but team success and narrative. The Nuggets finished third in the Western Conference despite Jamal Murray's devastating ACL injury late in the season. Jokić essentially carried the team on his back, and voters clearly recognized that extraordinary leadership. His player efficiency rating of 31.3 led the league, and he became the first center since Shaquille O'Neal in 2000 to win the award. Personally, I believe his unique skill set as a playmaking big man revolutionized how we think about the center position.
There's something special about international players winning this award, and Jokić became the sixth international MVP in NBA history. Watching him play, you could see his basketball IQ was off the charts - the way he orchestrated the offense, made incredible passes, and consistently made the right play. I remember thinking during several games that season that he was literally playing chess while everyone else was playing checkers. His impact went far beyond traditional stats, though his advanced metrics were equally impressive with a +8.2 box plus-minus and 9.8 win shares.
The voting distribution tells an interesting story about how the basketball community viewed different candidates. Giannis Antetokounmpo finished fourth despite having another stellar season, which shows how voter fatigue can influence these awards. Meanwhile, Chris Paul's fifth-place finish highlighted how his leadership transformed the Phoenix Suns into contenders. What I find compelling about Jokić's win is that it wasn't just about raw numbers - it was about how he elevated his game when his team needed him most, maintaining remarkable consistency throughout the season's challenges.
Reflecting on that season now, Jokić's MVP award feels like a turning point in his career and for the league. He proved that unconventional players could reach the highest individual honor through skill, intelligence, and relentless improvement. The voting results validated what many of us had been witnessing - the emergence of a truly unique talent who was redefining his position. While some might argue about whether other candidates were more deserving, the overwhelming margin in the voting suggests this wasn't particularly close in voters' minds. Jokić's journey from second-round pick to MVP remains one of the best stories in recent NBA history, and his 2021 season will be remembered as one of the most impressive individual campaigns we've seen.
