PHOENIX SUNS

Suns’ Chris Paul finishes 5th in MVP voting, Nuggets’ Jokic wins award

Jun 8, 2021, 5:11 PM | Updated: 8:28 pm

Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul (3) passes as Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) defends during ...

Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul (3) passes as Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) defends during the second half of Game 1 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series, Monday, June 7, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

(AP Photo/Matt York)

Phoenix Suns point guard Chris Paul finished fifth in MVP voting, the NBA announced Tuesday.

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic won the award.

Paul received the third-most first-place votes with two. Jokic got 91 of the 100 while Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry added five. New York Knicks point guard Derrick Rose oddly got the last, a ballot that was voted on by the fans.

Trailing Jokic in the voting were Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, Curry, Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and Paul.

Paul played a part in a huge turnaround for the Suns, who went 34-39 last season and improved to 51-21 this season.

The 36-year-old point guard averaged 16.4 points and 8.9 assists. Paul led the league in free throw percentage at 93.4%, and along with his 49.9% mark from the field and 39.5% shooting at three-point range, it made for one of the most efficient seasons of Paul’s Hall of Fame career.

Paul was also durable, playing in 70 of the Suns’ 72 games and one of the two games he missed was the regular season finale when head coach Monty Williams elected to give a few players some rest before the playoffs.

The Suns acquired Paul last offseason from the Oklahoma City Thunder in a deal that included Kelly Oubre Jr. and Ricky Rubio.

Phoenix Suns

Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns dives for the ball against Jaxson Hayes #11 of the Los Angeles ...

Kellan Olson

Phoenix Suns exit in-season tournament in controversial fashion vs. Lakers

The Phoenix Suns sure made the NBA In-Season Tournament eventful, giving it its first controversy in a loss to the Lakers.

8 hours ago

LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers takes a shot against the Phoenix Suns in the first half ...

Arizona Sports

Phoenix Suns eliminated from NBA In-Season Tournament by Lakers

The Phoenix Suns were eliminated from the NBA In-Season Tournament on Tuesday, falling to the Los Angeles Lakers.

9 hours ago

Eric Gordon, Phoenix Suns...

Damon Allred

Suns’ Eric Gordon expected to play in NBA In-Season Tournament quarterfinal vs. Lakers

Phoenix Suns guard Eric Gordon (knee) is expected to play in the team's quarterfinal matchup in Los Angeles against the Lakers on Tuesday.

13 hours ago

Nassir Little, Phoenix Suns...

Kevin Zimmerman

Suns’ Nassir Little barely made his daughter’s birth after flight from New York

The last three months jostled Nassir Little's life. The Phoenix Suns forward and new father got thrown into the Damian Lillard trade.

16 hours ago

Kevin Durant in Suns-Lakers...

Arizona Sports

NBA In-Season Tournament schedule, bracket: Suns get Lakers in quarters

Here's a schedule of the Phoenix Suns' path in the 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament and a bracket of the teams that made it.

1 day ago

Brandon Ingram, New Orleans Pelicans...

Damon Allred

Pelicans top Kings, clinch first West spot in NBA In-Season Tournament semis

The Pelicans punched their ticket to Las Vegas for the NBA In-Season Tournament semifinals and await the winner of Suns-Lakers.

1 day ago

Suns’ Chris Paul finishes 5th in MVP voting, Nuggets’ Jokic wins award