The NBA has announced the finalists for this season’s major awards, including Most Valuable Player, Rookie of the Year, Coach of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Sixth Man of the Year, Most Improved Player, and Clutch Player of the Year.
The MVP, Rookie of the Year, and Coach of the Year finalists were announced at halftime of the NBC broadcast of Game 1 between the Pistons and Magic, while the league’s official account tweeted the rest.
Most Valuable Player
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder)
- Nikola Jokic (Nuggets)
- Victor Wembanyama (Spurs)
The leaders of the three top teams in the Western Conference all have strong arguments for MVP. Jokic became the first player to lead the league in rebounds and assists per game while also averaging 27.7 points. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31.1 PPG and led the Thunder to the league’s best record despite the fact that multiple starters missed substantial time this season. Wembanyama averaged 25.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, and a league-best 3.1 blocks per game while emerging as a lock for Defensive Player of the Year.
Rookie of the Year
- Cooper Flagg (Mavericks)
- Kon Knueppel (Hornets)
- VJ Edgecombe (Sixers)
This race is expected to come down to the former Duke teammates. Knueppel played a key role for a resurgent Hornets squad, becoming the first rookie to lead the league in made three-pointers while averaging 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game in 81 appearances. Flagg’s Mavs finished well out of the postseason picture, but he showed massive star upside, averaging 21.0 PPG, 6.7 RPG, and 4.5 APG while scoring at least 42 points in four separate games. Edgecombe averaged 35.0 minutes per game over 75 contests, posting a well-rounded 16.0 PPG, 5.6 RPG, and 4.2 APG.
Coach of the Year
- Joe Mazzulla (Celtics)
- J.B. Bickerstaff (Pistons)
- Mitch Johnson (Spurs)
Mazzulla and Bickerstaff each led massively overperforming teams that managed to dominate the Eastern Conference despite having players in and out of the lineup all year. Johnson helped navigate a tricky guard rotation and spacing issues as the Spurs posted the second-best record in the league.
Defensive Player of the Year
- Chet Holmgren (Thunder)
- Ausar Thompson (Pistons)
- Victor Wembanyama (Spurs)
Wembanyama is the overwhelming favorite to win this award, ranking first in total blocks, blocks per game, defensive rating, and defensive rebounding percentage this season. Holmgren was second in blocks per game for the league’s top defense, while Thompson proved himself to be arguably the best perimeter defender in the league with his combination of off-ball defensive play-making and point-of-attack dominance.
Most Improved Player
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Hawks)
- Deni Avdija (Trail Blazers)
- Jalen Duren (Pistons)
Both Avdija and Duren were first-time All-Stars this season, while Alexander-Walker earned a starting spot on his new team and raised his scoring from 9.4 points per game last season to 20.8 PPG this season on .459/.399/.902 shooting splits, all career high percentages.
Sixth Man of the Year
- Tim Hardaway Jr. (Nuggets)
- Jaime Jaquez Jr. (Heat)
- Keldon Johnson (Spurs)
Hardaway cracked 40% from three this season for the first time in his career while shooting 6.9 attempts in his 26.6 minutes per game. Most importantly for the injury-plagued Nuggets, he played 80 games, including six starts, and was the team’s fifth-highest scorer. Jaquez had an impressively well-rounded contribution off the bench, posting career-highs of 15.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.7 assists. Johnson was a crucial scoring hub for the Spurs bench units while adding offensive pop when the starters struggled to score.
Clutch Player of the Year
- Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves)
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder)
- Jamal Murray (Nuggets)
Gilgeous-Alexander and Edwards ranked first and second, respectively, in clutch scoring per game, while Murray was second in total clutch points behind the Thunder star and shot the most efficiently from three of the guards.
Brett Siegel of Clutch Points notes (via Twitter) that the awards will be announced in the coming days and weeks, starting with Defensive Player of the Year on Monday, April 20.
Still believe jokic is the best for now. Very smart player. Slow,fat,but his bb iq is out of the world.
I thought Edwards missed too many games to be eligible for any awards.
The 65-game rule doesn’t apply to some awards (Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie, Sixth Man, Clutch Player).
I have no idea why Jamal Murray is a finalist for Clutch Player of the Year. Just as headscratching as him getting 16 FTs in Game 1. I’m lost because his teammate, a guy named Nikola Jokic was more clutch.
In the clutch time stat Murray had better fg% and +/- Jokic was a -.03 while Murray was a +.04 can’t give to some one that holds a negative.
Knueppel not Knuepple
Derrick White omitted from DPOY finalists is a pretty big surprise IMO
Agree on White.
These would be my choices:
MVP – Jokic
ROY – Knueppel
COY – Mazulla
DPY – Wemby
MIP – Avidja
Sixth – Hardaway Jr.
Clutch – Shai
James should be in there, he will be Finals Mvp this year
Hahaha hahaha
I think luka will come back from injury and get finals MVP calling it right now
People don’t understand about James, the Lakers are so good and they will win. One of the Lakers will get finals MVP but James is the King of all kings so he will get it. People just hate on his greatness
Hahaha hahaha hahaha
The Defensive player of the year. Has to be Wemby. A premier rim protector/rebounder is most important player on defense. His MVP is coming.
This is why every team in NBA should carry a rim protector. Basketball is a 2way sport. It’s a strategy, scheme every team can use during a game.
DPOY — Wemby
Coach of the year has to be Bickerstaff. Not close imo.
COY — JB Bickerstaff
MVP — The Joker
MIP — Deni A
Clutch — SGA
6th Man — K Johnson
I like Keldon a lot. Someone should trade for him and start him at SG. He is ready.
Jaylen Brown should be MVP and it’s not even close
Jaylen Brown was the only one of the MVP candidates who markedly stepped up his play and handled increased responsibility carrying a team for the first time.
Chet isn’t even the best defensive player on OKC. He has no business being a DPOY finalist.