Jokic makes history with 5th consecutive top-2 finish in MVP voting

There was Bill Russell. There was Larry Bird. And now, there’s Nikola Jokic.

By finishing second in this year’s MVP balloting behind only Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jokic — the Denver Nuggets star — became just the third player in NBA history with a top-two finish in five or more consecutive seasons.

He won the award in 2021, 2023 and 2024, plus was second in 2022 and again this year.

Russell and Bird, a pair of Boston Celtics greats, each were first or second in the balloting in six consecutive seasons.

Russell won in 1958, 1961, 1962 and 1963, while finishing second in 1959 and 1960. Bird was second in 1981, 1982 and 1983 before winning in 1984, 1985 and 1986.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1971-74) and Tim Duncan (2001-04) are the other players with four straight top-two finishes. Michael Jordan and LeBron James each had two different streaks of three consecutive top-two finishes in the voting — but never got past that.

Jokic had the sixth instance of a player finishing a season averaging a triple-double — at least 10 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds per game.

Only one of those seasons has led to an MVP win.

Oscar Robertson averaged a triple-double in 1961-62; he didn’t win MVP that year. Russell Westbrook did it four times and won the MVP award only once in that span. And now, Jokic finished second after a season statistically like none other.

For the fourth consecutive year, no player born in the U.S. got a single first-place vote in the MVP race.

Gilgeous-Alexander (Canada) got 71 votes this year, and Jokic (Serbia) got the other 29.

The last time a U.S.-born player got a first-place vote was 2021, when Stephen Curry got five votes, Chris Paul got two and Derrick Rose got one.

Last year, Jokic got 79 first-place votes, while Gilgeous-Alexander got 15, Luka Doncic (then of Dallas, now of the Los Angeles Lakers) got four and Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo — born in Greece and someone also of Nigerian descent — got one.

In 2023, Cameroon-born Joel Embiid (73), Jokic (15) and Antetokounmpo (12) got all the first-place nods, while in 2022 it was Jokic (65), Embiid (26) and Antetokounmpo (nine) atop all the ballots.

LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers made it back onto the ballots this season, marking the 20th time in his 22 years in the NBA that he got at least one MVP vote.

He was sixth in this year’s voting.

James didn’t get a vote in either of the last two seasons. He’s the first player in NBA history to get at least one MVP vote in 20 different seasons.

The No. 1 pick drought in the MVP race continues.

It’s now 12 consecutive years since a No. 1 draft pick won the MVP award, going back to LeBron James – then of Miami – in 2013.

The MVPs, and their draft slot, since then:

— Kevin Durant, MVP in 2014, No. 2 pick in 2007

— Stephen Curry, MVP in 2015 and 2016, No. 7 pick in 2009

— Russell Westbrook, MVP in 2017, No. 4 pick in 2008

— James Harden, MVP in 2018, No. 3 pick in 2009

— Giannis Antetokounmpo, MVP in 2019 and 2020, No. 15 pick in 2013

— Nikola Jokic, MVP in 2021, 2022 and 2024, No. 41 pick in 2014

— Joel Embiid, MVP in 2023, No. 3 pick in 2014

— Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, MVP in 2025, No. 11 pick in 2018

For the first time in seven years, Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo did not get a first-place MVP vote.

That ended the longest active streak. Nikola Jokic now has that streak, with five consecutive years of at least one first-place vote.

Antetokounmpo's run was the longest in the NBA since LeBron James got a first-place vote in eight consecutive years from 2008 through 2015. That run ended when Golden State’s Stephen Curry became the first — and still only — unanimous MVP in 2016.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba

Oklahoma City Thunder's Isaiah Hartenstein (55) and Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic (15) compete for a rebound in the second half of Game 7 in the Western Conference semifinals of the NBA basketball playoffs, Sunday, May 18, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic warms up before Game 7 in the Western Conference semifinals of the NBA basketball playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Sunday, May 18, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)

The first stage of Mohamed Salah’s rehabilitation at Liverpool is complete after the Egypt forward returned to the team for its 2-0 win over Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday.

The question now as Salah heads off to the Africa Cup of Nations: Is there a future for him at Anfield when he comes back?

Salah, who let rip last weekend about his current frustrations at Liverpool, entered as a 26th-minute substitute to a big ovation and set up the second of Hugo Ekitike’s goals as the defending champion extended its unbeaten run to five games in all competitions.

Also Saturday, Chelsea beat Everton 2-0 and was set on its way to victory by Cole Palmer’s first goal in three months. First-place Arsenal hosts last-place Wolverhampton later.

Salah held talks with Liverpool manager Arne Slot on Friday in an effort to overcome their issues and the result was that Salah was recalled to the matchday squad for the Brighton game. He had been a substitute for the last three Premier League matches before being left at home for the midweek Champions League trip to Inter Milan as a punishment for his explosive comments to reporters last weekend.

“It was an easy decision to put him in the squad," Slot said. “I have said many times before what has been said between us will stay between us.”

Liverpool's fans demonstrated they are willing to excuse Salah for his show of anger and gave him a rapturous welcome when he came on as a substitute for the injured Joe Gomez midway through the first half.

By then, Liverpool was leading 1-0 thanks to Ekitike's rising shot inside the first minute and Salah showed glimpses of his class, especially on the counterattack. It was Salah's corner kick that was headed in by Ekitike for the second goal in the 60th, sparking another round of chants for the Egyptian.

Slot said Salah was a threat all game.

“Pleasing to see but not a surprise,” Slot said.

Salah could be away for more than a month if Egypt goes all the way in the Africa Cup.

It was a second straight start for Palmer, whose season has been blighted by a groin injury that has restricted him to seven games in all competitions.

There looked to be nothing wrong with Palmer when he ran onto Malo Gusto's pass and slipped a finish inside the near post to give Chelsea the lead in the 21st minute at Stamford Bridge.

However, Palmer said after the game that he wasn't at his best yet because he was “still dealing with an injury.”

“It’s just a matter of not doing too much too soon,” Palmer told the BBC. “Literally, it’s just a day-by-day thing. Hopefully it gets better.”

Gusto added the second goal in the 45th minute for Chelsea, which jumped to fourth place.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca complained after the match at a lack of support at the club “in general” and said the last two days had been his worst time since arriving in the summer of 2024.

Burnley slumped to a seventh straight loss after being turned over 3-2 by Fulham, with a loud chorus of boos greeting the final whistle at Turf Moor.

Harry Wilson set up two goals and scored the other for Fulham, which climbed to 13th place.

Burnley, which was promoted last season, stayed in next-to-last place and is five points from safety.

Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80

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Chelsea's Cole Palmer celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Everton in London, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)

Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Liverpool fans hold placard depicting Liverpool's Mohamed Salah before the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, left, challenges for the ball with Brighton's Lewis Dunk during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)