Who Won the 2023 NBA Finals MVP and How Did They Dominate the Court?

Let me be honest with you - I've been following basketball for over two decades, and what we witnessed in the 2023 NBA Finals was something truly special. When people ask me who won the Finals MVP and how they dominated, I can't help but get excited because this wasn't just another championship performance - it was a masterclass in basketball excellence that reminded me why I fell in love with this sport in the first place.

The 2023 NBA Finals MVP went to Nikola Jokić, and let me tell you, this wasn't just some default choice because his team won. What Jokić did throughout that series was nothing short of extraordinary. I've seen great players have great series before, but Jokić's performance felt different - it was like watching a chess grandmaster playing checkers with everyone else. His stats were ridiculous - averaging 30.2 points, 14.0 rebounds, and 7.2 assists while shooting 58.3% from the field across the five-game series. But numbers alone don't capture how completely he controlled every aspect of the game. I remember watching Game 3 where he put up 32 points, 21 rebounds, and 10 assists, becoming the first player in NBA history to record a 30-20-10 triple-double in the Finals. That's the kind of historic dominance we're talking about here.

What struck me most about Jokić's game was how he made everything look so effortless. While other superstars rely on explosive athleticism or flashy moves, Jokić dominated through pure basketball IQ and fundamentals. His court vision was absolutely unreal - I lost count of how many times he made passes that I didn't even see were possible. He'd be double-teamed in the post, and suddenly the ball would find its way to an open shooter in the corner. It was like he had this sixth sense for where everyone was supposed to be. This reminds me of watching elite fencers like those mentioned in our reference material - athletes who dominate through precision and timing rather than pure power. Just as those young fencers collected medals across different weapons and age groups, demonstrating versatile mastery, Jokić showed he could dominate every facet of basketball - scoring, rebounding, playmaking - with equal proficiency.

The way Jokić controlled the pace of games was something I haven't seen since the prime years of Tim Duncan. He never seemed rushed or flustered, even when facing intense defensive pressure. Miami threw everything they had at him - double teams, zone defenses, different defensive matchups - but nothing worked. I particularly remember this one possession in Game 4 where Bam Adebayo was playing absolutely perfect defense on him, and Jokić just calmly backed him down, used a subtle shoulder fake, and hit a turnaround jumper that barely touched the net. It was at that moment I turned to my friend and said, "There's literally nothing they can do to stop this guy."

His impact went far beyond traditional statistics too. The Nuggets' offensive rating with Jokić on the court was 122.4 compared to 98.7 when he sat - that's a staggering 23.7 point difference per 100 possessions. Defensively, he was much better than people give him credit for. He's not the most athletic big man, but his positioning and understanding of angles made him incredibly effective. I noticed how he consistently forced Miami's drivers into difficult shots without fouling - he averaged just 2.2 personal fouls per game despite being the primary rim protector. That's intelligent defense that doesn't show up in highlight reels but wins championships.

What makes Jokić's performance even more impressive to me is the context. This was Denver's first championship in franchise history, and the pressure was immense. Yet he handled it with this remarkable calmness that I find fascinating. There were no emotional outbursts, no trash talking - just pure, efficient basketball. It reminded me of those young fencers we referenced earlier, who across various age categories and weapons maintained their competitive excellence. That ability to perform at the highest level regardless of the circumstances or stage is what separates good players from all-time greats.

The most dominant aspect of Jokić's game, in my opinion, was how he made his teammates better. Jamal Murray had an outstanding series, but much of his success came from the defensive attention Jokić commanded. Aaron Gordon looked like an All-Star because of the easy baskets Jokić created for him. Even role players like Bruce Brown and Christian Braun had career-defining moments because Jokić put them in positions to succeed. This is the mark of a true superstar - not just putting up big numbers, but elevating everyone around you.

Looking back at the series, what stands out to me is how Jokić's dominance wasn't flashy but cumulative. It wasn't about one spectacular dunk or game-winning shot - though he had those moments too. It was about consistently making the right play, possession after possession, game after game. By the end of the series, you could see the frustration in Miami's players - they had no answers. They tried everything, and Jokić had a counter for every strategy. That's the kind of dominance that wins Finals MVP awards and cements legacies. In my book, this performance puts Jokić firmly in the conversation as one of the greatest centers to ever play the game, and honestly, I feel privileged to have witnessed it.