Denver Nuggets star center Nikola Jokic was named NBA Most Valuable Player on Wednesday, marking the third time in four seasons that he has won the award.

Jokic is the ninth player to win the award three or more times.

He received 79 first-place votes and totaled 926 points in balloting performed by a group of sportswriters and broadcasters. Oklahoma City guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (15 first-place votes, 640 points) was second and Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (four first-place votes, 566 points) was third.

Jokic averaged 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds and nine assists in 79 games this season. He had 25 triple-doubles, second in the league behind Domantas Sabonis (26) of the Sacramento Kings.

"It's got to start with your teammates, you know," Jokic said. "Without them, I cannot do nothing. Coaches, players, organization, medical staff, strength coaches, development coaches. It's all one big circle, but I cannot be whatever I am without them."

Jokic was the runner-up behind Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers last season. He won the award in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar holds the record of six MVP awards. Michael Jordan and Bill Russell won it five times, while Wilt Chamberlain and LeBron James each won four.

Jokic is tied with Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Moses Malone as three-time winners.

Though Jokic won the award comfortably, he wasn't offended during an interview on TNT when it was suggested that Gilgeous-Alexander might have been a more worthy winner.

"There are a lot of players who deserve it," Jokic said. "It's probably the details and the small things."

Jokic led the Nuggets to the NBA title last season and helped Denver compile a 57-25 record this year.

The Nuggets beat James' Los Angeles Lakers in five games in the first round of the playoffs in the Western Conference but now are facing a tough situation after losing the first two games against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round. The series now shifts to Minneapolis for the next two games.

"Tomorrow, we leave and go to Minnesota and try to get the series back to Denver," Jokic said.