Jul 6, 2021; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; ESPN analysts/commentator Mark Jackson during the Phoenix Suns against the Milwaukee Bucks during game one of the 2021 NBA Finals at Phoenix Suns Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
While the playoffs roll on, the Suns are already reportedly planning to shop Chris Paul. Also, Ja Morant lost $39 million and Mark Jackson was big wrong.
If the Basketball Gods favor us, we could end up with a trio of Game 7s between Sunday and Monday. But while you’re waiting to find out what happens, catch up on the latest NBA rumors, award-voting debacles and contract updates.
NBA rumors: Mark Jackson apologizes for leaving Nikola Jokic off his MVP ballot
As the old viral Tweet says: “Each day on Twitter there is one main character. The goal is to never be it.” The same can be said for MVP Award voting.
Sports fans in the greater Boston area know Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe as a reliable source of Celtics analysis and insight. Everyone else around the country remembers him as the guy who kept LeBron James from becoming the first unanimous MVP in NBA history with a 2013 vote for Carmelo Anthony. Andy Larsen caused a minor storm on social media a few weeks ago by defending his vote for Walker Kessler over Paolo Banchero as the Rookie of the Year.
And then, yesterday, Mark Jackson was outed as the lone voter to leave Nikola Jokic off his MVP ballot. To clarify, Jackson didn’t just pick someone else over Jokic. He picked five other players over Jokic, leaving him off the ballot completely.
Jackson apologized for the oversight in a Sirius XM NBA interview later in the day:
“One thing I live by, you make a mistake, you own it. Absolute mistake made by me… In thinking how did I make that mistake: you can tell I put one center, two forwards and two guards. So I wasn’t even thinking.
“I apologize to the Denver Nuggets. I apologize to Nikola Jokic, who is not only in the MVP discussion and deserved to be on my ballot but he is one of the greatest players in the history of this game and a top-10 center of all-time. So I own it. If you want to take away my vote or do whatever, more than welcome. I made a mistake.”