Nikola Jokic has been named NBA MVP for the second straight season

By Ben Morse, CNN

Updated 0139 GMT (0939 HKT) May 12, 2022

Nikola Jokic has won his second consecutive MVP award.

(CNN)Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic has been named as the NBA's Most Valuable Player for the second season in a row.

The 27-year-old Serbian — who was the 41st pick of the 2014 draft — was named as an All-Star for the fourth successive season after another dominant year from the center position. He pipped Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo to the award. Jokic is the 15th player to win the MVP multiple times and the second straight to win back-to-back awards after Antetokounmpo in 2018-19 and 2019-20.Jokic accepted the award while at his horse stable in Serbia. When asked by TNT's Ernie Johnson after winning the award if he ever considered himself a longshot, Jokic agreed, adding, «There is no way I'd come to NBA and play basketball from this city, from this stable, basically, and now I'm playing basketball in the best league in the world and playing at a high level.»

Jokic was at his horse stable in Serbia while accepting his MVP award