Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokić named NBA MVP for third time in four seasons

(CNN) —Denver Nuggets star center Nikola Jokić was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player on Wednesday, marking the third time he has been awarded the honor in four seasons.The 29-year-old Serbian averaged 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds and 9.0 assists per game this season – all in the top 10 across the league – while helping lead the defending champion Nuggets to a 57-25 record and the second seed in the Western Conference.Jokić becomes the ninth player in NBA history to win the award at least three times.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar holds the record with six MVP titles, Michael Jordan and Bill Russell have won it five times, and Wilt Chamberlain and LeBron James four times.Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Moses Malone have also won it on three occasions.Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander came second in the voting and Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Dončić finished third.Jokić thanked his teammates and coaches when asked about his thoughts on his string of MVP awards.“Without them, I am nothing,” Jokić told NBA on TNT. “Coaches, players, organization, medical staff … It’s all one big circle. I cannot be what I am without them.“There are a lot of players that deserve it, it’s probably details and...