Editing Denver Nuggets (section)

==== 2020–22: Jokic wins back to back MVP awards ====
[[File:Michael Porter Nuggets (cropped).jpg|thumb|Michael Porter Jr. was drafted as the 14th pick in the 2018 NBA Draft and helped the Nuggets to their first title in 2023]]
In the [[2020–21 NBA season]], Jokić was named the [[NBA Most Valuable Player Award|NBA Most Valuable Player]], becoming the first center since [[Shaquille O'Neal]] in [[1999–2000 NBA season|2000]] and the first player in Nuggets franchise history to win the award. He also became the first Serbian player, third European player overall (along with [[Dirk Nowitzki]] of [[Germany]] and [[Giannis Antetokounmpo]] of [[Greece]]), and sixth international player to ever win the award (along with [[Hakeem Olajuwon]] of [[Nigeria]], [[Tim Duncan]] of the [[United States Virgin Islands|U.S. Virgin Islands]], [[Steve Nash]] of [[Canada]], Nowitzki of Germany, and Antetokounmpo of Greece). Jokić also became the lowest ever drafted player at #41, and the first player in NBA history to be selected in the second round of the common era draft, to win the MVP award.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nikola Jokic wins 2020–21 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Award |url=https://www.nba.com/news/nikola-jokic-wins-2020-21-kia-nba-most-valuable-player-award |website=www.nba.com |access-date=June 9, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=July 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210721153907/https://www.nba.com/news/nikola-jokic-wins-2020-21-kia-nba-most-valuable-player-award |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=June 8, 2021|title=Sources: Nuggets big man Jokic wins MVP honor|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31592058/denver-nuggets-big-man-nikola-jokic-wins-first-nba-mvp-award-sources-say|access-date=June 8, 2021|website=ESPN.com|language=en|archive-date=June 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608224938/https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31592058/denver-nuggets-big-man-nikola-jokic-wins-first-nba-mvp-award-sources-say|url-status=live}}</ref> Although the Nuggets finished the season with the third seed in the Western Conference and beat their first round opponents, the [[Portland Trail Blazers]], in six games, the loss of starting guard [[Jamal Murray]] to an ACL tear contributed to the team's sweep by the eventual Western Conference champions, the second-seeded [[Phoenix Suns]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Jamal Murray injury timeline: How Nuggets star recovered from ACL tear |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/jamal-murray-injury-timeline-nuggets-acl/dvzmgseycqpbiqj3jeita0fo |website=www.sportingnews.com |date=September 16, 2022 |access-date=April 25, 2023 |archive-date=April 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425162140/https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/jamal-murray-injury-timeline-nuggets-acl/dvzmgseycqpbiqj3jeita0fo |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[2021–22 NBA season|following season]] saw more poor injury luck for the Denver Nuggets. Nine games into the season, starting forward [[Michael Porter Jr.]] joined Murray on the sidelines with season-ending back surgery.<ref>{{cite web |title=How long is Michael Porter Jr. out? Latest injury updates on Nuggets forward |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/michael-porter-jr-injury-updates-nuggets/1b3fo58nx0238133a3839tkqqx |website=www.sportingnews.com |date=November 22, 2021 |access-date=April 25, 2023 |language=en |archive-date=April 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425161817/https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/michael-porter-jr-injury-updates-nuggets/1b3fo58nx0238133a3839tkqqx |url-status=live }}</ref> In spite of the injuries, Jokić and starting power forward [[Aaron Gordon]] carried the Nuggets to the sixth seed, the former becoming the first-ever player in NBA history to accumulate 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 500 assists in a single season.<ref name="nba.com">{{cite web |title=NIKOLA JOKIĆ NAMED KIA NBA MOST VALUABLE PLAYER FOR SECOND CONSECUTIVE SEASON |url=https://www.nba.com/nuggets/news/nikola-jokic-named-kia-nba-most-valuable-player-for-second-consecutive-season |website=www.nba.com |access-date=April 25, 2023 |language=en |archive-date=April 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425161817/https://www.nba.com/nuggets/news/nikola-jokic-named-kia-nba-most-valuable-player-for-second-consecutive-season |url-status=live }}</ref> Jokić went on to receive the Kia MVP Award for the second year in a row – joining 12 other players in NBA history to achieve the award in back to back years, and the first center to do so since [[Moses Malone]] in [[1981-82 NBA season|1982]] and [[1982-83 NBA season|1983]].<ref name="nba.com"/> In the first round of the [[2022 NBA playoffs|playoffs]], Jokić's Nuggets fell five games to the [[Golden State Warriors]], who went on to win the championship.