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Kevin Garnett puzzled by Nikola Jokic winning third MVP award over Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jayson Tatum

Originally posted on FirstSportz | By Ajinkya Aswale | Last updated 5/12/24

The Denver Nuggets star player, Nikola Jokic won the MVP award this NBA 2023-24 season for outstanding performances. However, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder was also in contention to win the award. After Jokic was announced as the MVP award winner, many fans and analysts were in disbelief.

Notably, Kevin Garett , a former NBA player also was amongst one of them. During an interview with “KG Certified,” NBA icon Kevin Garnett shared his opinions about the 2024 MVP competition. Jokic won his 3rd MVP award this year, but Garnett feels Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Jayson Tatum should have taken home the trophy.

It’s a regular season award, and usually the best player on your team usually represents the best team. So I thought Shai [Gilgeous-Alexander] should have had [the MVP]. He's on the best team in the league... it's a regular-season award. Kevin Garett via All The Smoke

“It’s a regular season award, and usually… The best player on your team usually represents the best team… I thought Shai [Gilgeous-Alexander] should have had [the MVP].”

Kevin Garnett on Nikola Jokic winning the MVP

(via @allthesmokeprod)pic.twitter.com/ZwXHQ9moV5
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 11, 2024

Interestingly, Jokic won the MVP award effortlessly, and there was no contest in the end. During a season in which he averaged 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 9.0 assists per game on 58.3% shooting(StatMuse), he was given 79 votes for first place. Most voters believed Jokic had the upper hand over the competition because the Nuggets placed third in the Western Conference.

Garnett’s not the only one who believes Shai Gilgeous Alexander deserves the MVP award

A lot of noise and talk has surrounded the MVP award this NBA season. Nikola Jokic eventually won the award but many believe that he should not have won it in the first place. Many former NBA players and analysts shared their opinion on the award, claiming Shai Gilgeous Alexander was the worthy winner of the highly decorated award instead.

I was today years old when I learned that Nikola Jokic is NOT the go-to guy for the Nuggets in the clutch LOL pic.twitter.com/8wSHbVPIhI
— Swipa (@SwipaCam) May 9, 2024

After Kevin Garnett, former NBA player, Gilbert Arenas believes Nikola Jokic wasn’t deserving of the 2024 NBA MVP title. Arenas believes that the Joker shouldn’t even be a first choice.

[Jamal Murray] is the guy who Jokic relies on to hit those buckets. He becomes the number-one option… So you’re giving the MVP to a guy when it counts has to give it to another guy. Gilbert Arenas via Night Cap

Regardless of perspective, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic appeared to be in the running for MVP for the whole of the regular season. Each player is a superstar in their own right, and it will be interesting to watch how their careers develop in the future.

This article first appeared on FirstSportz and was syndicated with permission.

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