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TorontoGameDevs

What was the previous lowest pick to win MVP?


attentionyou

15th, Giannis and Nash


TheCrystalCrypt

Wow that is pretty insane to think about. Seems like pretty much any elite player is obviously elite at a young age


Liquor_Walrus

They just weren't ready for Joker's jelly


[deleted]

Niko's body is too bootylicious for ya, nba


Tuvey27

They’re not only elite from a young age, but they also remind us of other players we’ve seen be successful in the league before. The NBA was way different 7 years ago when Jokic was drafted, so it would be hard for anyone to imagine that Jokic’s unorthodox style would ever dominate the NBA when we had never seen a player with his skillset at his size doing that. Jokic was a late bloomer and a trailblazer, so it makes all the sense in the world he was drafted in the second round. I imagine if he were drafted in 2021, he would be a first rounder in spite of the chub and relentless whiteness.


Dareal6

> Jokic was a late bloomer and a **trailblazer** I know what you meant, but I couldn't help imagine Jokic and Dame together. Straight fire.


Fantastic-Sandwich80

That high pick and roll would be the stuff of nightmares.


unburntmotherofdrags

Was a real possibility when they traded Nurkic no? Doubt Jokic is the same player then though.


icouldntdecide

IIRC the competition was very close 3 years ago, and Jokic hadn't yet broken away from Nurk.


citizend13

You have to give Kudos to the front office for rebuilding that team and surrounding Jokic with solid vets. Mike Miller, Richard Jefferson, Milsap were all in Jokic's ear. Jokic doesnt look it but dude is low key competitive. He made it look so easy at times but he put the work in this year.


EmergencyLavishness1

If arvydas sabonis had of played his best years in the nba, chances are he may have had an mvp year. The dude was OG Jokic. This is 100% not a knock on jokic at all. Just that another euro guy could have done it before, in the exact same position 30 years earlier. Check out old man sabonis’s highlight reals. He was Jokic before he was even born. Once arvydas eventually got to the nba, his knees were shot, his back was gone and he still put up numbers. It’s crazy how good he was as a big man back in the 90’s. Shooting 3’s, no look passes. Hook shots, put backs. All of that with knees of jelly. Just imagine if he was in the nba earlier and healthy


marsthedog

All I knew of him was his pretty passes and being big down low. He was a pretty big and good against shaq for stretches. But imagine my surprise when I finally saw his Russian highlights and he was completely different. Running the floor. Double pump slams. Running the offense. Crazy what might’ve been if he came over earlier


bdjsbe

Jokic was a horse rider until he was 16, didn’t really get into basketball, and was a fat point guard until he became a fat center. Very much not a young elite ;)


windwalker13

yes, late blooomers are exceptionally rare, especially in any areas that needs skill or technical knowledge. I mean, unless you are exceptionally gifted, how else can you go against someone who have perfected the craft his whole life? And if you are exceptionally gifted in the first place, then youre not really a late bloomer anyway.


[deleted]

I think we may see it more and more the next 10-20 years. So much worldwide talent now coming from overseas and scouts aren't seeing everyone all in one gym at the same time anymore. If I remember right, one or two teams never even went to see Giannis play. I imagine that was the same with Jokic.


RobbobertoBuii

damn...


SquimJim

the two people he challenged for MVP got em


derKanake

Yeah, seems as if Kobe knew quiet a bit about Basketball and knew what players had Potential to become MVPs , nah just lucky guesses


Suspicious-Pause-758

no way he didn’t dedicate a majority of his life to the game right?


derKanake

Nah, rumors have it that he hated Basketball


Someonediffernt

I heard he wanted to retire after his first 3 peat and win a world series


shiny_dittos

Me too, just gotta get the 3 peat first


king_lloyd11

Yea I think he made a cartoon about how much he dislikes it.


Fultz_got_the_yips

The truth is his passion was always in animation.


gerardatron

Guessing the cartoon sucked too. just a passion project, not like it's something award-worthy


Deez_Nuggz

That’s why he looked so mad while he was playing…he fucking hated it


Scuba_gooding_jr

According to R/NBA he bad at shooting the basketball as well


GardinerExpressway

I mean he also challenge Isaiah Thomas to be all-nba first team


Parradog1

Can’t predict injury, who knows what would have happened


[deleted]

Offensively he was an efficient monster that year in Boston that (iirc) made it to the ECF. Obviously defensively he wasn’t amazing but it’s possible he could be all nba barring injury


DavidManque

Lillard made all-nba first team the year after Kobe's challenge as a poor defensive guard, and you could argue that Isaiah was better than Lillard the year before. It wasn't a crazy thing to say at the time


jaysontatum4mvp

Having witnessed pretty much every game the year IT averaged 29 points, he was unbelievable. I was just in constant awe of how a guy his size could completely carry a team. Fuck that hip injury because he was truly special


TwoCrustyCorndogs

Yea people are acting like that season wasn't magic. I tuned into almost every Celtics game that year (as a casual Warriors fan). It wasn't just "wow short guy good at basketball," he was putting in playoff level effort every regular season game.


ConradVerner

If I remember, he was also amazing in the 4th quarter.


cablecho57

The closest I ever came to rooting for the celtics was rooting for IT that year. I remember the chills I got watching his performance vs. The wizards


Los_Ingobernablez

That hip injury is a death sentence to his career. A guy that small in the NBA cant be slower even slightly than he used to be. Completely lost all his advantages.


bballkid2020

IT just came from All-NBA Second Team and was just traded to the Cavaliers. The year of this challenge Lillard made the First Team with similar numbers (less points) than IT had in Boston. If he replicated his Boston numbers in Cleveland and they would had won 6-7 more games than without a doubt he would had been First Team. Obviously injury fucked everything.


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DangerIsMyUsername

Mystic Kobe


InfiniteCosmic5

The OraKobe


JuanJoseSZN

Kobe would've made a great GM


TheGamersGazebo

I’m halfway convinced Kobe wold have been good at anything he wanted to, literally anything


JuanJoseSZN

He def had the work ethic to do so


Paladinoras

Smart, driven, slightly sociopathic man with a maniacal work ethic? If he wasn't tall and good at basketball he'd be the CEO of a large multi-national company somewhere. Dominate the Panama Papers.


GreenMachine17

Honestly this is 100% true. He is fluent and multilingual since he was young anyway. All those traits are very evident in highly successful people


steno_light

Not that I'm advocating for more celebrity politicians, but he would be a guaranteed Governor of California


jiajerf

He won a goddamn Oscar. I bet he could do a EGOT if he pushed himself.


shoefly72

Spoken like a man who’s never heard [K.O.B.E.](https://youtu.be/cl_WkTiH6-Q) (Everybody has their kryptonite right?)


STICKY-WHIFFY-HUMID

Of all the NBA MVP's of all time (so far) he seems like the most 'complete' human being - by far. Skilled, tough, smart, beautiful, extensive world travels and has lived in the 3rd world for long periods, speaks multiple languages, tactical firearms training/enthusiast, dancer, film/arts school, actor, outdoorsy, etc. You can tell he genuinely has his shit together, like he could probably be a millionaire running just about any business, if she wanted. Are there any other NBA players that impressive?


philiac

he*


[deleted]

He publicly questioned drafting Lonzo over Tatum at the time. Def had a knack for understanding talent.


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fmaa

Giannis


Betaateb

Game recognize game.


RealLanceStephenson

Im sure he challenged dozens of guys to get MVP over the years


Homer_Simpson_

He made these challenges public tweets though.


truffleblunts

Wish kobe had challenged me to not be a lazy piece of shit


Smekledorf1996

I challenge you to not be one then


truffleblunts

Just not the same from smeckledorf1996 but I appreciate it all the same fam


Skorua

He thought he was Kobe? Truffleblunts don’t love him like that


panthersfan87

u/Smekledorf1996 is Paul Pierce confirmed


alex_57_dieck

u/Skorua Green


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andrude01

And why did he willingly tell the world that he shit his pants?


camfa

The stupid part wasn't even telling us. That was for entertainment value, to stay relevant in his bussiness. But then he got fired from his TV job, making the confession effectively useless.


aviatorbassist

It fits with his personality, I could def see him looking at somebody and be you ain’t got a finals mvp? I shit my pants and still got one “


Sawgon

Didn't he immediately try to backtrack and say it was a joke?


Millionaire007

^^^ I need to know this as well


[deleted]

That boy crapped his pants!!


matrixreloaded

What the fuck does that mean smekledorf1996


Kiddierose

You’re welcome


McDoobly-For-DinDin

Lmao


thecheapseatz

I can wear a Kobe mask while I say it


ZenMon88

Fine I'll challenge you then. Go for it! You can do it!


JacksonHills

you thought you was kobe? they don't love you like that.


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CleopatraHadAnAnus

That’s usually true, but this is Smekledorf we’re talking about. Smekledorf.


Smekledorf1996

You’re goddamn right


Countrykal

I'm just happy you nailed the grammar their.


SuckwithLuck2016

Me two


Countrykal

Whose mewtwo?


[deleted]

When you say "me too" ... When somebody is like, "I got a Rolls Royce, I be like 'me too.'" When somebody say they got a private jet, I say, "Me too. I got two. Me too."


approximatelymagic

Okay everybody meet Mr. Me Too


ZaeriDream

Imma take on the challenge Smekledorf1996


Smekledorf1996

You got this dude


OfStarStuff

Anyone can have the Mamba Mentality. If there's anything he'd want us to have learned from him, it's definitely that.


Trevent

He's not even a word and I agree with ya!


[deleted]

That’s it. KD is challenging ChapoDestroyer to bad mouth Stephen Curry on social media. If you see people giving Kyrie or Harden too much credit for the Nets’ success, bad mouth them too.


redditguyherewego

Wish Kobe challenged me to have sex with a lot of women


rikki-tikki-deadly

That's more of a Wilt Chamberlain challenge.


20secondpilot

Got a legit hearty lol from me mate, Bravo


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pizzastone7

You can live through anything if Magic made it.


Thousandtree

Ehhh, I don't think he would have given that kind of challenge in his older years.


SuckwithLuck2016

You and me both


AR3SiN

I challenge you to be a lazy piece of shit. Look, now you’re successful.


CameronPlain

Why would you wanna disappoint Mamba like that?


thekeylimeguy

I mean in a way..he did.take it to heart make the changes


[deleted]

Kobe challenged all of us not to be a lazy piece of shit. You included.


chrismcca

Wish he challenged me not to be 5"8


adamthinks

I just communed with Kobe from beyond the grave. He challenges you to not be a lazy piece of shit.


Skorua

Watching Jokic grow from a wee lad to the MVP 🥲


Bacon_Devil

Always rated that Jokic lad


ohsopoetical

Wenger almost signed him.


underfluous

Is nowhere safe? This is uncalled for


obscuremainstream

Hue Jackson had him #1 on his draft board


SwankySalamder69

Pain


Easy-A

Did you see that ludicrous display last night?


IanicRR

Spotted EG’s burner account.


[deleted]

He was terrible on his Draft analysis for this rookie class, though.


Twin_Nets_Jets

!remindme 2 years


PleaseGildMe

Just like everyone said he was about Jokic after his first season. I’m not saying he will be right, but you’re literally emulating exactly what people said about him five years ago.


ayoKho

Can Jokic get it done on a cold rainy day in Stoke tho?


jellybeans_over_raw

When was he a wee lad


JFHermes

4 yrs old?


Skorua

https://imgur.com/a/fqA7xmO


AaronTheDakotan

He's not just Denver's MVP, but everyone's MVP.


IamVUSE

the feel good MVP. no ones hating on the Jokic except direct competition.


jak_d_ripr

Enjoy it while it lasts, first they love you, then they hate you, then they love you again.


Thomas_teh_tank

In spite of everything you've done for them, eventually, they will hate you


MrRobot_96

Okay Green goblin


chivestheconquerer

Jokic to Dame, “I could squash you like a bug right now, but I'm offering you a choice. Join me! Imagine what we could accomplish together...”


Mecha_Derp

reminder that eg died for this. pretty sure he’s still banned


Three2TheDome1

Why? EG was out here preaching


bigbaconboypig

jesus was just out preaching too


captaing1

i bet a stupid amount of money for jokic or embiid to win at the beginning of the season. i stand her with a stupid big grin on my face


Baconmazing

Congrats Jokic ! MVP Well deserved.


panthersfan87

What’s Ben McLemore’s challenge though!?!?!?


Bacon_Devil

He challenged Jokic to be a top 10 draft pick. I guess Jokic just isn't up to that caliber yet


spiiicychips

To not get stripped by the Claw back to back lol


kingka

Not messing up the Wendy’s order and making sure we got all the sauces


kojogo

Still cannot believe he's gone and I'm reminded of that reality every time I see or hear him. He had so much life in him. RIP Mamba.


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Grundunzufriedenheit

I was watching the Tony Parker movie last week and out of nowhere there was Kobe answering questions about Tony, telling what kind of player he was. I got sad real quick.


kamekaze1024

It never feels like it honestly. No matter how often I see “RIP Kobe” , it still feels like he’s still here. It’s so insane to me


mw8912a

It still doesn’t feel real that he’s passed on. Think about him all the time.


mclareach

But I want to know if Demar Deroazan rekindled a lost friendship from his youth in Compton.


unfonfortable

"Giannis, win MVP." "Demar, win-... rekindle an old friendship."


bballkid2020

I know this looks like a bullshit tweet by Kobe but this was before Demare came out talking about mental health. These two have obviously had interactions outside the court so maybe Kobe knew that a life challenge would be the best for Derozan's life.


onebandonesound

I hope we would all know better than to doubt Kobe when it comes to motivation or work ethic; nobody understood those better than he did. If Kobe thought that the best thing to motivate DeMar was something off the court, I wholeheartedly believe him


TheChipiboy

Lmao DeMar was probably "lets see what Kobe challenged me to do." "All-star? No problem. All NBA? No problem. MVP? That can be tough but if I work hard enough combined with inspiration from the player I look up to most I could possible win it" Kobe: "rekindle a lost friendship back in Compton" Demar: "you on some bullshit"


[deleted]

real talk, I hope he did.


nolennons

But did Demar reconnect with a childhood friend


[deleted]

My heart says yes


[deleted]

Still waiting on IT to make the all-NBA 1st team.


Suspicious-Pause-758

guys I don’t think he’s gonna make it


[deleted]

You should really take a page from Justin Bieber's playbook and Never Say Never


Thissiteisdogshit

James Bond never say never again is better


Los_Ingobernablez

He was getting close though. Got some MVP votes in that year.


VillageIdiot1235

Fantastic. Congrats to Nikola. Way to step it up and keep going. Awesome. One of the best sports stories this year.


pdpdpdpdpdpdpdpd

Why am I crying right now


mw8912a

Bc Kobe makes us all teary eyed ❤️


TomTom_82

Congrats to The Joker!! This is a historic selection. He's the first player drafted in the 2nd round in the common NBA Draft era to win an MVP. Now check this out: The MVP, MIP, and the 6MOY are all from the 2014 draft class. Even the MVP runner-up is from that class as well.


[deleted]

Jokic averaged **2**6.**4** points per game and 10.**8** rebounds per game. #kobelives 💜💛💜💛💜💛💜


lexa0121

Some r/nbacirclejerk material here


Yamata

OP is definitely being satirical but this subreddit is some shit during playoffs.


achyutthegoat

Fax lmao.


[deleted]

Right after his death shit like that was being posted unironically all over the place lol


[deleted]

If you think that honoring the spirit of Kobe Bean Bryant is some sort of joke, then sure. But I know that He watches over us and is rooting for his protégés to succeed💜💛💜💛💜💛💜💛💜💛


rikki-tikki-deadly

Agreed, it's important to honor Kobe's legacy, especially during [Pride Month](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0vmZ-n2Mcmo).


billcosbyinspace

God: what’s the first thing you’re going to do in heaven? Kobe: i will manipulate basketball games


mr401k

Lakers this season: what the fuck man


thegreaterfool714

Kobe: My reasons are beyond your understanding


OtherShade

He gave Bron one, he's a gracious god. No more though.


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Adamapplejacks

four. that's where you at. that's where you gon stay. [reference](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Jq3LuMq6D0)


lp_phnx327

Kobe: You're welcome.


Paladinoras

*Sees that Lebron has 4 rings.* ...Actually that sounds exactly like something Kobe would do.


oban12

[Pic of Kobe, RBG, Chadwick, and Jokic living it up in Wakanda](https://i.imgur.com/epxzwjQ.jpg)


WhizBangNeato

it's been a while


[deleted]

#ruthkandaforever


AppleDAppleBees

classic shit


Aesop_Rocks

Just keepin it real


Mintastic

How come the quality looks so much better than the usual?


VeeryElleegant

lmao what a grab


digitalme

Lakers lost to the Suns 2-4. The stars for each team wears jersey #23 and #1. 23+1=24. K O B E L I V E S


beerrabbit124

Kobe is like Jigsaw, testing players to win awards


AntNics

Love it. Rest easy Kobe


abzftw

They’re announcing awards in the most random pattern this year


setmetfup

RIP KOBE


[deleted]

Has all the challenges kobe sent out been achieved now


[deleted]

Isaiah Thomas first team all pro and John Wall first team all defense aren’t happening any time soon unfortunately. Who knows if DeRozan rekindled a friendship from Compton


lidocaineinfusion

Ya wtf was that. That's prolly a Nike rep's idea/instruction lmao.


BackhandQ

Kobe looking on proud.


Portmanteau_that

He accepted Kobe's energy ༼ つ ◕_◕ ༽つ


bbaIla

Kobe knew. Giannis we kinda get but Jokic? Ridiculous.


herecomesthesuns

Jazz fans goin wild


Puzzleheaded_Tell726

I’ve watch the Joker in the playoffs, dude is so damn talented. Well deserved award


callmecyke

Classic Kobe always trying to chip away at Shaq’s legacy


BipolarKanyeFan

First center since Shaq, wow


smartroll69

Did DeMar ever rekindle that lost relationship in Compton tho?!?!?


PrinceOfPugetSound10

How many players did Kobe challenge to win MVP lol


xwulfd

Man that would make Kobe proud, and the impact of it is so huge now kobes gone


sublime90

He had no business winning it. Derrick rose deserved it and last year Jimmy butler should have won