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The Best of the Day: June 8th, 2021
See the best of the day in sports from June 8, 2021 including Nikola Jokic's MVP award, Donovan Mitchell's spectacular Game 1, and more!
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The ‘Best of the Day’ is a daily PSO original series showcasing the most significant stories, highlights, and facts going on in the land of the NFL, NBA, & MLB every day. Get a recap on EVERYTHING that happened on 6/8 here.
A new NBA MVP was crowned as Nikola Jokic became the most recent winner of the award. Joel Embiid and Donovan Mitchell both had phenomenal games for their teams while they each secured wins for the 76ers and Jazz respectively. Rudy Gobert came up with a clutch block to prevent the Clippers from sending the game to OT. PSO ranks the top-5 2021 NFL Draft classes and June 8th also marks the 55th anniversary of the NFL and AFL agreeing to a merger.
Here is the best of the day from June 8, 2021:
Nikola Jokic became the lowest drafted player ever to win MVP
Denver Nuggets C Nikola Jokic was named the 2021 NBA Most Valuable Player after averaging 26.4 PTS, 10.8 REB, and 8.3 AST per game while leading the Nuggets to the number 3 seed in the west despite Jamal Murray‘s season-ending injury in early April. During 2020-21’s 72-game regular-season, Jokic recorded 60 double-doubles (1st) and 16 triple-doubles (2nd).
He became the first MVP drafted outside the top 15 of the NBA Draft at 41st overall, the fifth NBA MVP born outside of the United States (Hakeem Ojaluwon, Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, Giannis Antetokounmpo), the first Nuggets MVP, and the first Center to win the award since 2001.
Congratulations to NBA MVP Nikola Jokic!
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) June 9, 2021
- 1st Denver #Nuggets player to ever win MVP
- Lowest drafted (41) MVP in NBA history
- 1st Center to be named MVP since Shaq in 2001
- 1 of 3 players to finish top-5 in total PTS/REB/ASThttps://t.co/7Cr56xhCfg
Nikola Jokic is presented the 2020-21 #KiaMVP Award by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. pic.twitter.com/exJEJqFvcy
— NBA (@NBA) June 9, 2021
NBA MVP first-place votes this season (what stands out here?):
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 8, 2021
🏀Nikola Jokic 91
🏀Stephen Curry 5
🏀Chris Paul 2
🏀Joel Embiid 1
🏀Giannis Antetokounmpo 1
🏀Derrick Rose 1
MVP winners by draft pick:
— StatMuse (@statmuse) June 8, 2021
1 — 21
2 — 10
3 — 7
4 — 2
5 — 2
6 — 3
7 — 2
8 — 1
9 — 1
10
11
12 — 1
13 — 3
14
15 — 4
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41 — 1 pic.twitter.com/5iBgNGEtTG
Related: Stories of the Day
JOEL EMBIID SHOWED WHY HE’S THE NBA’S MVP WHEN HEALTHY
After a disappointing loss in Game 1, the Philadelphia 76ers bounced back thanks to a dominant second-half performance to even the series. Joel Embiid had a 40-point double-double to lead all scorers, Seth Curry added 21 with a great outing from beyond the arc, and Tobias Harris recorded 22 in an efficient game. This time around, the Sixers did a much better job defensively, specifically in containing Trae Young. He wasn’t allowed much access to the paint, where he likes to toss it to a big man or shoot a floater.
After his performance on Tuesday, Embiid reminded everyone why he was the favorite just a couple of months ago, as he looked like himself prior to being sidelined. Nikola Jokic had a hell of a season and deserves the MVP for his overall body of work, especially once Jamal Murray went down, but what Embiid this season on both ends of the floor while leading the number 1 team in the East would’ve likely earned him Philly’s first MVP award since Allen Iverson 20 years ago had Embiid stayed healthy.
COLORS KEY | FULL 76ERS OUTLOOK
🔥 40 PTS FOR EMBIID 🔥@JoelEmbiid's #NBAPlayoffs career high powers the @sixers in Game 2.. Series tied 1-1 as it shifts to Atlanta, with Game 3 on Friday at 7:30pm/et on ESPN. #ThatsGame pic.twitter.com/3SJxIU7AlW
— NBA (@NBA) June 9, 2021
Joel Embiid tonight:
— StatMuse (@statmuse) June 9, 2021
40 PTS
13 REB
13-25 FG
12-16 FT
The first 40/10 playoff game by a Sixer since Billy Cunningham in 1970. pic.twitter.com/sUGqK71D7N
Related: NBA Takeaways of the Day
2x DPOY Rudy Gobert came up clutch
THE CLOSEOUT.
— NBA (@NBA) June 9, 2021
THE SECOND CONTEST.
THE GAME-SEALING BLOCK.
GOBERT THINGS 🤯
The @utahjazz' big man in the middle comes up big on defense to win a thrilling Game 1! #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/3q3npSfghk
Related: NBA Highlights
G Donovan Mitchell, UTA (W v.LAC): 45 PTS (16-30 FG | 6-15 3P), 5 AST, 3 REB, 1 BLK, 1 STL, 3 TO
#PlayerOfTheDay (6/8/21) - G Donovan Mitchell, UTA
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) June 9, 2021
TOP FACTS:
- T-most GP (4) of 40+ PTS in Jazz playoff history
- Tied Malone's 4 40pt GP in 28 GP; Malone took 149
- More playoff GP w/ 45 pts than all other Jazz combined
KEY STATS:
45 PTS (32 2nd half), 5 AST, 16-30 FG https://t.co/PYuKT5f7GD
Related: Players of the Day
Los Angeles Clippers (109) vs. Utah Jazz (112)
[Highlights] #1 @JAZZ (-174; $13.00) d. #4 CLIPPERS (+154; $10.44) 112-109 [LAC +4 | o220.5] (UTA 1-0)
Related: Games of the Day
Related: Facts of the Day
Ranking the Best 2021 NFL Draft Classes by Pro Sports Takes
Cold Hard Truth joins the PSO crew to rank the top-5 2021 NFL Draft classes
Ranking the best 2021 NFL Draft Classes ft. @CHTPodcast including the #Bears, #Patriots, #Jets, #Lions, and more! https://t.co/O4cF0XIknp
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) June 8, 2021
Related: Latest PSO Posts
DATE: June 8, 1966
SIGNIFICANCE: AFL merged with the NFL, changing the landscape of sports forever
FULL story on the 1970 NFL-AFL merger that changed the landscape of sports forever https://t.co/nsZVTzQrE8
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) June 8, 2021
Related: Significant Sports History
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