The basketball community has been debating the exclusion of Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic from the NBA MVP voting from a certain individual.
It has now been revealed that former NBA player and coach Mark Jackson was the person who left Jokic out of his top five MVP ballot.
Read More: Nuggets: Mark Jackson Snubs Nikola Jokic
Mark Jackson Admitted He Wasn't Even Thinking
Jackson had since apologized, characterizing his decision as a mistake and acknowledging that he didn't even think when he made the choice. The voting totals show that Jokic received 15 first-place votes, 52 second-place votes, and 32 third-place votes, and he did not receive any fourth- or fifth-place votes.
Jokic, who won his second consecutive MVP trophy in May 2022, entered the 2022-2023 season as the reigning MVP. Every other voter placed Jokic in their top three positions, and Jackson apologized to both Jokic and the Denver Nuggets for his mistake.
He even acknowledged Jokic's greatness, calling him "one of the greatest players in the history of this game" and "a top 10 center of all time." Jackson also said that he was willing to accept any consequences for his mistake, including having his vote taken away.
The exclusion of Jokic has sparked controversy, with basketball Hall of Famer Charles Barkley stating that anyone who omitted Jokic from their ballot "shouldn't even get a vote."
Ultimately, Jokic's outstanding performance on the court and his recognition from most voters make it clear that he is a truly exceptional player.
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