Nikola Jokic and his European friends take out last 4 American NBA Finals MVPs

Talk about irony. The Crypto.com Arena has become lifeless thanks to the MVP level performances of these two individuals. Nikola Jokic and his Denver Nuggets swept the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals last year. This time at least, LeBron James and his teammates avoided the sweep, but still lost the series 1-4.

Regarded as the toughest matchup in the West, fans of the game saw how James and his fellow Lakers ran up the score, only for the 2-time MVP Serbian to rally his troops back and win 4 games. LeBron James has won the NBA Finals MVP 4 times. This loss puts a dampener on a potential 5th as he moves towards retirement.

For Kawhi Leonard, the story is a bit different. He came into the series with a banged-up knee. That knee did not bring out the best from the 2-time NBA Finals MVP winner. In the games he played, another European Luka Doncic torched him. Drawing many fans to think that the once vaunted perimeter defender did not have it in him anymore.

Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant won Finals MVPs with the Golden State Warriors

The Golden State Warriors have won 4 NBA titles en route to establishing themselves as the team of the league. They have two NBA Finals MVPs currently plying their trade in the league. Stephen Curry with the Warriors itself, and Kevin Durant with the Phoenix Suns. But both are out, and in embarrassing fashion.

Stephen Curry was the first to go. After dropping to 10th in the regular season standings, they faced a Sacramento Kings team in the play in game. Only to get blown out of the arena on the back of overall bad play from the entire team. That too by another European in Domantas Sabonis. The Kings big man has been dominating the double-double charts this entire season. He brought that play again in the play in game to oust Curry, who could not muster up his usual playoff magic.

At least Curry can be given the benefit of the doubt of having only 1 do or die game at his disposal. But that cannot be said about his former championship-winning teammate Kevin Durant. The 2-time Finals MVP and his superstar teammates on the Phoenix Suns were swept by the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Durant recognized that the Timberwolves play in a way to bring out the best in their players. Superlative on defense and efficient on offense. Something that has been the often-underappreciated Rudy Gobert‘s game all season. He brought that to the playoffs and denied the 14-time All-Star American and his uber- talented teammates any chance to close in on their double-digit leads throughout the 4 games.

Looking ahead to next season

It is not as if the 4 are ready to give up any hope. They are extremely competitive athletes who want to try until their bodies give up. However, all of them need their teams to figure out the best-supporting casts for them. At this age, they need quality contributors to at least help distribute the load until the Finals arrive.

If the teams are able to construct such rosters, these superstars will manage their bodies well to aim for another Finals MVP. These Americans will try their best. However, Nikola Jokic and his European friends are younger and will be waiting for them next year.