ESPN’s Mark Jackson admits Nikola Jokic blunder after MVP poll criticism

Two of essentially the most tantalizing mysteries within the historical past of sports activities media have been solved.

It’s been a matter of intrigue that one NBA MVP voter had left Nuggets famous person Nikola Jokic fully off the highest 5 of his poll.

It wound up being Mark Jackson, which then begged the query, how may somebody who performed and coached within the NBA and calls video games for ESPN have such a exceptional oversight?

“Mistake,” Jackson advised Justin Termine and Eddie Johnson on the SiriusXM NBA channel Thursday afternoon.

“One factor I reside by, you make a mistake, you personal it. I’m not a man that does it for clicks or to be trending. Absolute mistake made by me. I’m considering, how did I make that mistake? You’ll be able to inform I put one middle, two forwards and two guards, so I wasn’t even considering.”

Jackson’s poll had included Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Donovan Mitchell.

He apologized on to the Nuggets and Jokic for the error.

“I apologize to the Denver Nuggets. I apologize to Nikola Jokic, who shouldn’t be solely within the MVP dialogue and deserved to be on my poll, however he’s one of many biggest gamers within the historical past of this recreation,” Jackson mentioned.

“He’s a top-10 middle of all-time. I personal it. If you wish to take away my vote, or do no matter, greater than welcome, I made a mistake.”

Jackson acknowledged he nonetheless would’ve voted for Joel Embiid first for MVP, however reiterated that Jokic deserved to be on the poll.

Earlier this week earlier than, earlier than Jackson was revealed to be the one who omitted Jokic, Charles Barkley spoke on TNT’s “Contained in the NBA,” and mentioned that individuals who left Jokic off the poll “shouldn’t even get a vote.”

Host Ernie Johnson responded he hoped that he hoped the Jokic snub was a “clerical error,” and Barkley attributed it to being a “rattling fool.”