When the Denver Nuggets picked Nikola Jokic at No. 41 in 2014, ESPN aired a Taco Bell commercial instead of covering the Serbian’s selection.

Eight years later, things have changed. Jokic will reportedly win MVP for a second straight season and is poised to sign a five-year, $254 million extension with the Nuggets — which would be the largest contract in NBA history. 

Joker’s individual accolades haven’t yet translated into the postseason, but he’s revolutionized the game for big men. 

• He joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, and Moses Malone as the only centers with multiple MVPs.
• Jokic became the first player in NBA history with 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 500 assists in a season.
• He’s just the 15th player to win MVP in consecutive seasons.
• He’s the sixth international player to win the award — he and Giannis Antetokounmpo have won the last four.

The 27-year-old carried the Nuggets into the playoffs as the 6-seed, despite playing without co-stars — and big investments — Jamal Murray (5 YRs, $158.3M) and Michael Porter Jr. (5 YRs, $207M). 

Denver’s injuries notwithstanding, critics still knock Jokic for only once advancing past the second round — but as the lowest-drafted MVP ever, he’s still arguably the best draft pick in NBA history.

He’ll need his supporting cast for a deeper playoff run next year, but Jokic has a chance to make even more history by joining Bill Russell (1961-63) and Larry Bird (1984-86) as the only players to win three consecutive MVPs.

When the Bruins needed it most, “The Perfection Line” made its long-awaited return to help keep the team’s Stanley Cup hopes alive.

After not playing together for months, Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, and David Pastrnak combined for 16 points in Games 3 and 4 — including 10 in the latter — to give Boston two wins and even its first-round series against Carolina.

Bergeron (49) and Marchand (48) are now the second- and third-leading goalscorers in franchise playoff history.

There’s little doubt the trio will stay together for Tuesday’s Game 5 — but there’s a possibility that this playoff run could be the Line’s last dance.

• Bergeron’s in the final season of his eight-year, $55M contract; there’s speculation the 36-year-old will retire, but the team will likely seek a team-friendly deal if he returns.
• Marchand has three seasons remaining on his eight-year, $49M deal — but his full no-movement clause becomes a modified no-trade clause starting this offseason.
• Pastrnak — one of the NHL’s great young goalscorers — has one season remaining on his six-year, $40M pact and may command an extension exceeding $10M AAV.

Ultimately, the constraints of the salary cap may not allow the B’s to keep all three — especially given their recent moves.

In the last year, Boston signed defensemen Charlie McAvoy ($9.5M AAV), Hampus Lindholm ($6.5M), and Brandon Carlo ($4.1M) — as well as winger Taylor Hall ($6M) — to long-term extensions.

Teenage sensation Carlos Alcaraz continued his meteoric rise to the top of the men’s tennis world with Sunday’s home-soil victory at the Madrid Open.

En route to the title — the Spaniard’s ATP Tour-leading fourth championship in 2022 — the 19-year-old burned through the sport’s giants, defeating World No. 4 Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals, No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the semis, and No. 3 Alexander Zverev in the final.

Alcaraz’s breakout season has lifted him to a career-high No. 6 world ranking and made him arguably the best men’s player on the planet.

• He is the 2022 ATP Tour’s money leader with $3.7M in earnings, raising his career total to $5.5M.
• Starting the year ranked 32nd in the world, Alcaraz became the youngest to break into the Top 20 since Andrei Medvedev in 1993 and youngest to crack the Top 10 since Nadal in 2005.
• Alcaraz is the only player to eliminate both Nadal and Djokovic at the same clay-court tournament.
• He leads the Tour with 28 victories and has won seven matches in a row against Top 10 opponents.

The next major milestone for Alcaraz will be a Grand Slam title. He has played in five, making it as far as the 2021 U.S. Open quarterfinals. 

The sixth time could be the charm at this week’s French Open: Alcaraz has the second-best odds (+200) to win at Roland-Garros, behind 13-time winner Nadal (+175).