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NBA Finals MVP Nikola Jokić calmly celebrates Nuggets’ 1st title: ‘The job is done, we can go home now’

Nikola Jokić was named the NBA Finals MVP after leading the Nuggets past the Heat on Monday night

ryan young
Staff writer
·2 min read

Nikola Jokić looked incredibly content on the court at Ball Arena on Monday night.

After the buzzer rang out to end Game 5 of the NBA Finals, giving the Denver Nuggets their first championship, Jokić took his time. With very little emotion on his face, he shook the hands of every single Miami Heat player before whipping out his trademark golf clap.

Nikola Jokić
Nikola Jokić and his daughter celebrate after the Nuggets won their first NBA championship. (Ron Chenoy/USA Today)

Then, still calm as ever, he delivered a very simple line to ESPN’s Lisa Salters.

“It’s good. The job is done, we can go home now,” he said, chuckling.

Jokić’s wife, daughter, brothers and entire family were overcome with emotions almost instantly. Eventually, Jokić got to celebrate with them and coach Michael Malone on the floor. His brothers even started tossing Malone up into the air.

Jokić, a two-time league MVP, was named the NBA Finals MVP.

There’s no doubt that he deserved it, either. Jokić had 28 points and 16 rebounds in their 94-89 win in Game 5 on Monday, which closed out the series 4-1. He averaged 30.2 points, 14 rebounds and 7.2 assists in the NBA Finals and had 10 triple-doubles in the playoffs. Jokić also led the playoffs with 600 points, 269 rebounds and 190 assists, something that’s never been done before in league history.

As simple as it was, Jokić was spot on with his assessment. The job the former second-round draft pick from Serbia set out to do is done.

He’s an NBA champion.

But most importantly, he needs to get home as soon as possible.