Reclaiming the title or taking it for the first time, ESPN’s choice is Nikola Jokic (Denver).

Local media outlet ESPN released the results of its own MVP voting for the 2023-2024 season on its official website on April 4 (KST). ESPN polled 100 officials and counted the votes in the following way: 10 points for first place, 7 points for second place, 5 points for third place, 3 points for fourth place, and 1 point for fifth place.

Yokichi came out on top. Yokichi received all 100 votes, including 85 first place votes. His total score was 953 points. He narrowly edged out Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, 텍사스홀덤사이트 who had 626 points.

After leading the Denver Nuggets to the Finals last season, Jokic has been a dominant force this season. He started all 73 games and averaged 26.4 points, one 3-pointer, 12.3 rebounds, nine assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.9 blocked shots in 34.6 minutes per game. He has 23 triple-doubles, and Denver is in first place in the Western Conference behind Jokic.

At his current pace, he is well on his way to taking home the MVP trophy he lost to Joel Embiid (Philadelphia) last season. “It doesn’t mean a lot to me to win back-to-back MVPs,” Jokic said in the past, according to ESPN. I’m just focused on winning,'” Jokic once said. But regardless of his philosophy, he has a very good chance of following in the footsteps of the greats who have won three or more MVPs.”

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (six times), Bill Russell, Michael Jordan (five times), Wilt Chamberlain, LeBron James (four times), Moses Malone, Larry Bird, and Magic Johnson (three times) are the only players to win three or more MVP awards. Jokic will attempt to become the ninth player ever to do so.

Gilgeous Alexander is another MVP favorite. With a starting lineup all 23 years old or younger, the Oklahoma City Thunder have developed into a team that is battling Denver for the top spot in the Western Conference, and Gilgeous Alexander has been at the center of it all. He averaged 30.3 points, 1.3 3-pointers, 5.5 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 2.1 steals per game.

After Jokic and Gilges-Alexander, Luka Doncic (Dallas-493 points), Yanis Adetokunbo (Milwaukee-334 points), and Jayson Tatum (Boston-119 points) rounded out the top five. Joel Embiid (Philadelphia), last season’s MVP, was not considered because he did not play in the 65 games required for MVP honors.