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Nikola Jokic made history in the 2020-21 NBA season by winning the MVP award. Not only did he become the only Denver Nuggets player to win the accolade but also became the lowest-drafted player in the history of the game to win the regular season's most valuable player trophy.
Jokic's win has become a reminder of how unpredictable the league can be. As a matter of fact, Jokic's record breaking win reminded us of the critic written by Anton Ego in the animated film Ratatouille.
"In the past, I have made no secret of my disdain for Chef Gusteau's famous motto: Anyone can cook. But I realize, only now do I truly understand what he meant. Not everyone can become a great artist, but a great artist can come from anywhere," he wrote.
Nikola Jokic, a Serbian, winning the NBA regular season MVP despite being the 41st overall pick reminds us that exceptional talent can be born anywhere in the world and will shine regardless of all the obstacles in their path.
Listing the only 3 players to win NBA MVP 3 years in a row
The Joker's MVP record is impressive and inspiring but it is in no way or manner the most impressive feat when it comes to being the best player in a given season. The Nuggets player has a long road ahead of him and he might even break more records and win more MVPs.
However, there are three individuals in the history of the NBA that have set a record that is more magical realism than pure reality.
Today, we list the only three players to win three consecutive MVP awards.
#1 Bill Russell
The kind of points averaged by scoring stars in the modern era of the NBA mimic the rebounds Bill Russell averaged in his career. Not the greatest scorer of his time, the 12-time All-Star led the league in rebounds in four different seasons. His dominance under the paint as a ball gatherer is highlighted by his career average of 22.5 rebounds per game.
The Boston Celtics legend's tally of 11 championship rings is a record that will perhaps never be broken. He is widely considered to be not just one of the greatest centers but one of the greatest players in the history of the game.
An NBA Hall of Famer as a player and a coach, Bill Russell won five MVPs in his career, of which three were consecutive. His three consecutive wins in 1961, 1962 and 1963 was the first of its kind.
Also Read: How much is Larry Bird’s Net Worth in 2021?
#2 Wilt Chamberlain
Wilt Chamberlain was a living, breathing cheat-code NBA star. It is hard to believe that a man was capable of crushing his opponents with such force. But reality is often stranger than imagination, and Wilt's stats prove this.
A 7'1" center, Chamberlain began his career, as peculiar as it may sound, with the Harlem Globetrotters. He even toured the world with the world famous Trotters, famously playing in Moscow in 1959.
He then joined the Philadelphia Warriors, a precursor to the Golden State Warriors, for his NBA debut. Wilt Chamberlain remains, to this day, the only player in the history of basketball or the NBA to average over 50 points a season. His 50.4 points and 25.7 rebounds per game in the 1961-62 season remain the only-of-its-kind season averages.
The 13-time All-Star led the league in rebounds for 11 seasons. His career average of 22.9 rebounds per game is unrivaled and even greater than Russell's 22.5 rebounds. What made Wilt perhaps an even better player than Russell was his beyond-belief scoring ability.
The legend from the city of Philadelphia won the scoring title in seven different seasons. His 100 point game is the greatest individual performance in an NBA match. For his exceptional skills and dominance, Chamberlain won the MVP four times. His 1966, 1967 and 1968 regular season most valuable player awards cement his place on this list.
#3 Larry Bird
Before we begin talking about his highness Larry Bird, we must discuss the Celtics legend's now famous game against the Portland Trail Blazers.
On February 14, 1986, the three-time NBA Championship winner informed his team and the press that he planned on playing the upcoming game solely with his left hand. Although he did use his right hand, of his 21 field goals that day, 10 were made with his left hand.
After the game, the curious media couldn't help but ask the Celtics legend his reasons for using his off-hand so much to which Bird replied:
"I'm saving my right hand for the Lakers."
Larry Legend is one of the greatest NBA players not just because of his accolades, which he has many, but also for his flare, his gusto and his rivalry with Magic Johnson and the LA Lakers.
The three-time Finals winner also won the prestigious MVP award three-times. His 1984, 1985 and 1986 awards make him part of one of the most exclusive clubs in the league. No one has repeated this feat since Bird's final regular season MVP award.
Also Read: How much is Larry Bird’s Net Worth in 2021?
