Mike Malone on Nikola Jokic’s record-setting season: “The MVP isn’t even a competition”

DENVER, CO - APRIL 7: Head Coach Michael Malone of the Denver Nuggets celebrates with Nikola Jokic #15 after becoming the first player in NBA History with 2,00 points, 1,000 rebounds and 500 assists in a season during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on April 7, 2022 at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)

By Antigoni Zachari / info@eurohoops.net

Nikola Jokic made history Thursday and created his own club as the single player in NBA history with 2.000 points, 1.000 rebounds, and 500 assists in a single NBA season in a victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Nuggets also clinched their playoffs berth with this win and head coach Mike Malone had many reasons to celebrate.

“I know I’m very biased, I admit that wholeheartedly, the MVP isn’t even a competition”, he told reporters after the game. “I mean, there are other great players, but what Nikola Jokic has done this year, with this team, with everything we’ve had to go through, is incredible. He was good last year and he’s even better this year”.

Jokic and the Nuggets currently hold the sixth seed in the Western Conference standings and have returned to the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.

Jokic landed the 2021 MVP award and his performance has been elevated in the 2021-22 campaign. He leads the Nuggets with an average of 27.1 points, 13.8 rebounds, and 7.9 assists across 74 games in the regular season, though he keeps a low profile when it comes to predictions. “If that’s enough, it’s enough,” he stated about chasing after another MVP award. “If not, you cannot control that.”

 

Photo credit: Getty Images

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