One of the most debated topics in the world of basketball has recently revolved around solving the mystery of who snubbed Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic in NBA Most Valuable Player voting.
The culprit has now been identified as former NBA player and coach Mark Jackson. But Jackson was quick to apologize for his decision to exclude Jokic from the top five on his MVP ticket.
He called his decision a «mistake,» Jackson said on the SiriusXM NBA channel Thursday afternoon.
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ESPN announcer Mark Jackson is shown during the game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers at Crypto.com Arena on March 23, 2022 in Los Angeles. (Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)
«One thing I live for: you make a mistake, you admit it. I’m not a guy who does it for clicks or to trend. Absolute mistake made by me. I’m thinking, how did I make that mistake? You I can say that I put a center, two forwards and two guards, so I wasn’t even thinking,» Jackson said.
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Recently released voting totals showed Jokic received 15 first-place votes, 52 second-place votes, and 32 third-place votes. He did not receive any fourth or fifth place votes.
Jokic entered the 2022-2023 season as the reigning MVP after winning his second straight trophy last May. A total of 13 players have been named the league’s most valuable player in consecutive seasons.
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic picks up the ball in the first half of Game 2 of an NBA second-round playoff series against the Phoenix Suns on May 1, 2023, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid received this season’s MVP honors after receiving 75 first-place votes.
So it’s clear that Jackson’s vote ultimately wouldn’t have changed the outcome of the MVP race. However, he did send a message about how Jackson viewed Jokic’s candidacy.
Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets goes to the basket against Deandre Ayton #22 of the Phoenix Suns in the first quarter at Ball Arena on April 29, 2023 in Denver. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
All other voters placed Jokic in their first, second, or third position. Jackson said that he apologized to Jokic.
«I apologize to the Denver Nuggets. I apologize to Nikola Jokic, who is not only in the MVP discussion and deserved to be on my ticket, but is one of the greatest players in the history of this game,» Jackson said.
«He’s one of the top 10 centers of all time. I’ve got him. If you want to take my vote away or do whatever, more than welcome, I made a mistake.»
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On a recent edition of TNT’s «Inside the NBA,» basketball Hall of Famer Charles Barkley claimed that whoever omitted Jokic from his ballot «shouldn’t even get a vote.»