Nikola Jokic misses MVP but joins Larry Bird and Bill Russell in impressive NBA mark
Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images Nikola Jokic missed out on the 2025-26 NBA MVP award after Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won the race. The Oklahoma City Thunder guard finished comfortably ahead in first-place votes. Jokic received only ten first-place votes, but he remained the strongest alternative.
He was the most selected player in second place and finished with 634 voting points. That result will naturally frustrate him after averaging a triple-double across the regular season. Still, the final ballot also confirmed his remarkable year-to-year standard.
Nikola Jokic joins exclusive list alongside Larry Bird and Bill Russell Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images According to ESPN, Jokic became only the third player in NBA history to finish in the top two of MVP voting across six straight seasons. The other two are Larry Bird, who did it from 1981 to 1986, and Bill Russell, who achieved the same run from 1958 to 1963. That places Jokic alongside two defining figures in NBA history.
It also underlines the consistency behind his three MVP awards and his continued regular-season influence. Few players have sustained that level for so long. Nikola Jokic may still need more titles to match his historic level Jokic’s individual résumé is already exceptional, but team success will still shape how his career is judged historically.
The Nuggets’ first-round elimination this season, against an injury-plagued Minnesota Timberwolves team, increased focus on Denver’s next steps. Their rebuild or reshaping could be important for Jokic’s future. More championships would strengthen the legacy attached to his production.