Mark Schlereth couldn’t care less about the history Nikola Jokic made

A second consecutive MVP loss to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has the 104.3 The Fan morning show questioning whether any of it matters

BY JOEY FREEBURG

May 18, 2026, 10:37 AM

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On a recent edition of “Stokley and Evans, with Mark Schlereth” on 104.3 The Fan, the hosts grappled with a reality that has become painfully familiar in Denver – Nikola Jokic put up a historically dominant season and still didn’t win the MVP award. For the second consecutive year, the honor went to Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

The numbers, as always, were staggering. Jokic averaged a triple-double for the second-straight season and became the first player in NBA history to lead the league in both rebounds and assists per game. He also extended another streak — finishing in the top two of MVP voting for the sixth consecutive season, joining Bill Russell and Larry Bird as the only players to accomplish that feat.

Evans acknowledged the significance of the company.

“(That’s) great company, despite having to be the bridesmaid again,” he said.

Schlereth, however, was not in the mood for silver linings.

“Whoop-de-doo,” he said flatly. “It’s awesome. Who cares?”

There was no sarcasm buried underneath. Schlereth meant every word. For him, the distinction of finishing second — no matter how many consecutive years it spans, is hollow without the award itself.

He drove the point home.

“Nobody will say, 50 years from now, ‘Hey, you remember Jokic? He was in the top two for six straight years. Nobody remembers. Who cares?” Schlereth added. “You either win it or you don’t win it.”

It is a blunt take, but it carries a truth that’s difficult to argue with. Legacy is shaped by trophies, not proximity to them. Russell and Bird aren’t remembered for finishing in the top two — they’re remembered for the championships and the MVPs they won. The historical footnote Jokic added to his résumé this season is impressive, but it doesn’t change the narrative the way a fourth MVP would have.

And that’s what makes this particular chapter so frustrating for Denver. Jokic continues to produce at a level that has almost no precedent in the sport, yet the league’s most-prestigious individual honor keeps slipping just beyond his reach.

The numbers say he’s one of the greatest to ever play. The trophy case, at least for this season, tells a different story.