Nikola Jokić Named 2023 Western Conference Finals MVP as Nuggets Sweep LeBron, Lakers

If Nikola Jokić didn't have the attention of the basketball world before, he certainly does now.

The two-time league MVP helped lead the Denver Nuggets to their first-ever NBA Finals appearance on Monday night after sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers and was named the Western Conference Finals MVP.

Jokić, 28, has been magnificent throughout Denver's run to the Finals but especially against LeBron James and the Lakers as he averaged 27.8 points per game to go along with 14.5 rebounds and 11.8 assists.

It was revenge for the Nuggets, who lost to the Lakers in the conference finals back in the bubble. This time, they dominated most of the way as they were led by Jokić, who's looking like the best player on the planet right now.

Jokić had yet another triple-double in the closeout game with 30 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists. He had one in every single game in the series except for one, which came in Game 3 when Jamal Murray led the way with 37 points.

Arguably his best performance of the series came in Game 1 when he dropped 34 points, 21 rebounds and 14 assists.

Now comes the biggest challenge and biggest stage of Jokić's career in the Finals. Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat currently have a 3-0 series lead over the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals and will look to close out that series Tuesday night in Miami.

The NBA Finals begin June 1 at 8:30 p..m. ET.