Earlier this week, when the Denver Nuggets clinched the NBA title, Nikola Jokic made historical past in a number of methods. He grew to become the primary middle to obtain the Finals MVP award since Shaquille O’Neal in 2002 and the bottom draft choose ever with that accolade – and it’s not even that shut. The Serbian large man was chosen within the 2014 draft at No. 41, a full 12 spots decrease than the place Dennis Johnson, the 1979 Finals MVP, was chosen in 1976.
Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports activities
Draft place: No. 41 in 2014
Gamers chosen earlier than him: Spencer Dinwiddie, Jerami Grant, Glenn Robinson III
Concentrate on Sport/Getty Photographs
Draft place: No. 29 in 1976
Gamers chosen earlier than him: Jacky Dorsey, Phil Hicks, Bob Carrington
JEFF HAYNES/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
Draft place: No. 28 in 2001
Gamers chosen earlier than him: Gerald Wallace, Samuel Dalembert, Jamaal Tinsley
Andrew D. BernsteinNBAE by way of Getty Photographs
Draft place: No. 18 in 1985
Gamers chosen earlier than him: Blair Rasmussen, Invoice Wenninghton, Uwe Blab
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports activities
Draft place: No. 15 in 2013
Gamers chosen earlier than him: Steven Adams, Kelly Olynyk, Shabazz Muhammad
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports activities
Draft place: No. 15 in 2011
Gamers chosen earlier than him: Alec Burks, Markieff Morris, Marcus Morris
Elsa/Getty Photographs
Draft place: No. 13 in 1996
Gamers chosen earlier than him: Erick Dampier, Todd Fuller, Vitaly Potapenko
Concentrate on Sport/Getty Photographs
Draft place: No. 12 in 1977
Gamers chosen earlier than him: Tom LaGarde, Ray Williams, Ernie Grunfeld
Elsa/Getty Photographs
Draft place: No. 10 in 1998
Gamers chosen earlier than him: Jason Williams, Larry Hughes, Dirk Nowitzki
Getty Photographs
Draft place: No. 10 in 1964
Gamers chosen earlier than him: Jeff Mullins, Barry Kramer, Mel Counts
David Richard-USA TODAY Sports activities
Draft place: No. 9 in 2004
Gamers chosen earlier than him: Josh Childress, Luol Deng, Rafael Araujo
MARK RALSTON/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
Draft place: No. 9 in 1998
Gamers chosen earlier than him: Robert Traylor, Jason Williams, Larry Hughes
Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports activities
Draft place: No. 9 in 1969
Gamers chosen earlier than him: Bingo Smith, Bob Portman, Herm Gilliam
Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports activities
Draft place: No. 9 in 1962
Gamers chosen earlier than him: Len Chappell, Wayne Hightower, Leroy Ellis
Elsa/Getty Photographs
Draft place: No. 7 in 2009
Gamers chosen earlier than him: Tyreke Evans, Ricky Rubio, Jonny Flynn
Carl Skalak /Sports activities Illustrated by way of Getty Photographs
Draft place: No. 6 in 1978
Gamers chosen earlier than him: Rick Robey, Michael Ray Richardson, Purvis Quick
JEFF HAYNES/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
Draft place: No. 5 in 2003
Gamers chosen earlier than him: Darko Milicic, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh
Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Community
Draft place: No. 4 in 1965
Gamers chosen earlier than him: Fred Hetzel, Invoice Bradley, Invoice Buntin
Awards, Blast, Denver Nuggets, Evergreen, Featured, Nikola Jokic
