Nikola Jokic is the favorite to win his third consecutive NBA MVP. The Serbian native is on course to become the fourth player in NBA history to win three consecutive MVPs, after Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell and Larry Bird.
Jokic is maintaining triple-double averages (24.6 points, 11.7 rebounds, 10.0 assists) with the top-ranked Denver Nuggets.
But former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins, now an analyst at ESPN, says there is racial hypocrisy in the voting for the award. On Wednesday’s edition of “First Take,” Perkins highlighted how only three players since 1990 have won an MVP while falling outside the top 10 in points per game: Jokic in his first MVP election in 2020-21, Dirk Nowitzki (2006-07) and Steve Nash (2004-05, 2005-06).
“What do these guys have in common? I’ll leave one wondering about that,” he said, testing co-host Stephen A. Smith.
But there are other statements that cause discussion: «If I were a European player, white, and my surname ended in “-ic”, I would be looked at as Jokic right now. Shit, I’d give these youngsters 20 and 10 every night.’
39 points in 28 minutes!!!! That’s what Joel “The Philly” Embiid had tonight! It’s a damn shame that certain individuals are going to continue to IGNORE what this man is doing!!! Don’t mind me tho and Carry on…
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) March 8, 2023
“When it comes down to guys winning MVP since 1990, it’s only three guys that won the MVP that wasn’t top 10 in scoring…Steve Nash, Jokic and Dirk Nowitzki. What do those guys have in common?”
– Kendrick Perkins pic.twitter.com/NuE5yNKjry
— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) March 1, 2023
Kendrick Perkins says he’d be looked at like Nikola Jokic if he was European:
“If I was a European player, white, and my last name ended with “-ic”, I would be be looked at like Jokic is right now. Shit, I’d give these young bucks 20 and 10 every night.”
— NBACentral (@TheNBACantrel) March 8, 2023