Unmoved MVP: Nikola Jokic hands another trophy to his horses

Although grateful to win a third NBA MVP award, Nuggets center Nikola Jokic doesn't have much use for the accompanying Michael Jordan Trophy.

Recognized in a ceremony Tuesday before dominating Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals series at Denver, Jokic revealed the trophy does bring him some kind of joy.

"You know I'm grateful to get another MVP, but for me it's just basketball," Jokic said before scoring 40 points with 13 assists and seven rebounds to lift the Nuggets over the Minnesota Timberwolves and to a 3-2 series edge.

The only other player to win the Michael Jordan Trophy since the NBA renamed the MVP award in 2022, 76ers center Joel Embiid was moved to tears while his son ran toward him during an emotional acceptance speech in front of the home crowd in Philadelphia last summer.

Jokic famously accepted his second of three MVP awards in his horse stable in May 2022.

"I don't know why other players cry when they get this trophy," Jokic said Tuesday. "What I do is I end up giving it to my horses to play with, that brings joy in my heart."