Nikola Jokic named MVP finalist, 2 other Nuggets get NBA awards nods

Bennett Durando, The Denver Post on Apr 19, 2026

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DENVER — It’s ho-hum at this point, but Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic is officially an MVP finalist, the NBA announced Sunday, and will have a chance to finish top-two in voting for a sixth consecutive year.

Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama are the other two finalists. Gilgeous-Alexander is considered a heavy favorite to win the award for a second straight season. Jokic was the runner-up to him in 2025.

The winner is usually announced early in the second round of the NBA playoffs.

Jokic, 31, joined Russell Westbrook and Oscar Robertson as the only players to average a triple-double for an entire season last year. Now he has accomplished the feat twice in a row, after averaging 27.7 points per game and leading the league in rebounds (12.9) and assists (10.7). If he finishes first or second place, he’ll join Bill Russell and Larry Bird as the only players to have six straight top-two seasons. He has won three times in his 11-year NBA career.

Jokic secured his eligibility for the accolade by playing his 65th game on the last night of the regular season, narrowly meeting the NBA’s quota to appear on awards ballots. He missed four weeks in January after hyperextending his left knee and suffering a bone bruise.

The league unveiled the three leading vote getters for all of its individual awards Sunday. Two other Nuggets were recognized. Tim Hardaway Jr. is a finalist for Sixth Man of the Year alongside Miami’s Jaime Jaquez and San Antonio’s Keldon Johnson. Jamal Murray is up for Clutch Player of the Year against Gilgeous-Alexander and Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards.

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