Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets has become just the ninth player in history to be named the NBA’s MVP at least three times – beating Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to the prize

Nikola Jokic is the NBA’s MVP once again (Image: Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Shaquille O’Neal didn’t shy away from telling Nikola Jokic that he did not deserve to be the NBA’s MVP for this season.

Jokic, 29, made history on Wednesday by becoming just the ninth man to be named the NBA’s MVP on three occasions, having also achieved the feat in 2021 and 2022. The prize cements Jokic’s status as one of the greatest centers to have graced the NBA.

Only Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Moses Malone (three times), Wilt Chamberlain and LeBron James (four times), Bill Russell and Michael Jordan (five times) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (six times) have also been named the NBA’s MVP at least three times.

Despite making history, Jokic was told by O’Neal that he shouldn’t have been crowned as the NBA’s MVP this season. O’Neal, who won the award in 2000, thinks Shai Gilgeous-Alexander should’ve claimed the prize for his work with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Gilgeous-Alexander finished second in the vote, with Luka Doncic in third.

O’Neal told Jokic as much during a live broadcast on TNT. The icon said: “Joker… you know I love you, you’re the best player in the league and I want to congratulate you. But I want you to hear it from me first, I thought that SGA should’ve been the MVP. That’s no disrespect to you, but congratulations.”

Jokic, who is currently completing in the NBA Playoffs with the Denver Nuggets, replied: “Thank you Shaq. We don’t judge people here so that’s fine, it’s your opinion.”

Shaquille O’Neal told Jokic he didn’t deserve to be MVP on live TV ( Image: TNT Sports)
Yet Jokic then started laughing before confirming he was “joking”. O’Neal, also smiling and laughing, replied: “All good. I love you, I love your brothers. One thing we always going to do is keep it real with each other. Congratulations.”

Jokic admitted that a lot of players deserved the award and added: “It’s probably details and the small things (that determine it).”

He also praised his colleagues in Denver. Jokic added: “It’s got to start with the teammates, without them, I cannot do nothing. Coaches, players, organization, medical staff, strength coaches, development coaches. It is all one big circle. But I cannot be whatever I am without them.”

Denver head coach Michael Malone, meanwhile, said of Jokic in April: “It’s hard to differentiate greatness from greatness from greatness. And then that’s what he’s been over multiple years now. I know the last six years now, we’ve had by far the best record in the Western Conference and only second of the NBA behind, I think Milwaukee in that time.”

Jokic faces a mountain to climb if he’s to win his second NBA championship with the Nuggets this year. Denver is 2-0 down to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference semifinals, with both of those defeats coming in Colorado. The two teams meet in Minnesota on Friday before another game at the Target Center two days later.