This is why I'm the MVP."

It was a performance that will remain in the history of the NBA. He recognized coaches, teammates, and even opposing aces.

The Denver Nuggets defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 112-97 in Game 5 of the second round of the NBA's Western Conference playoffs in the 2023-2024 season at Denver Ball Arena in Colorado on the 15th (Korea Standard Time). Jokic dominated the game. He had 40 points, seven rebounds, 13 assists, and zero errors. His performance was so overwhelming that legends including Shaquille O'Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Magic Johnson were summoned from the U.S.

After Chris Paul, Jokic is the only player in the history of the NBA playoffs who has scored 40 points and 13 assists or higher but has not committed a single error. Jokic was all the more impressive as he beat Rudy Gobert, who won four Defensive Player of the Year awards including this season. When Gobert was blocking, Jokic threw nine field throws and made eight.

Having lost its first and second games, Denver won its third, fourth and fifth games to lead the team by three wins and two losses overall. With one more win, it will advance to the Western Conference finals.

Jokic was the MVP of last season's final and three of the last four regular seasons. He is the first center to win the MVP award three times in four seasons in 60 years since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Anthony Edwards, the Minnesota ace and next-generation NBA superstar starting this playoff, smiled dejectedly. "I just laugh. That's all I can say about Jokic. I can't get angry. Because he is really good. He is the MVP. He is the best player in the NBA. He showed this well in the past three consecutive games. He showed no weakness in our defense. He just did a good job. I saw the MVP. Jokic showed me that he is the MVP. I don't know what we should do," he said. It was the highest praise the opponent could ever admit.

His teammate Aaron Gordon, who is called Jokic's soul partner, said, "It's incredible. Jokic played an incredible game. He dominated the game in every way. It's amazing. This doesn't make sense."

The same goes for Denver coach Michael Malone. "Jokic has been in MVP mode since Game 3. I think he's shown everyone why he's the best player in the last three games," he said. "Jokic IQ is beyond the category of normal people. It's probably MENSA (an organization where the top 2 percent of the AII is eligible to join)."안전놀이터 추천