Three-time MVP Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets, two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder are the finalists for this season’s Most Valuable Player award, the NBA announced Sunday.
Gilgeous-Alexander averaged a league-best 32.7 points per game while starring for an Oklahoma City squad that produced the best regular-season record (68-14) in the league.
Jokic enjoyed his best all-around statistical season by averaging a triple-double — 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds and 10.2 assists per game.
Antetokounmpo averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists but is a long shot to win the award this time.
The NBA also announced finalists for several other awards. Players have to play in at least 65 games to be eligible for awards.
The Defensive Player of the Year honor is wide open after San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama sustained a season-ending blood clot. He played in just 46 games.
The finalists for the award are Dyson Daniels of the Atlanta Hawks, Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors and Evan Mobley of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Most Improved Player candidates are Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons, Ivica Zubac of the Los Angeles Clippers and Daniels.
Rookie of the Year finalists are Stephon Castle of the Spurs, Zaccharie Risacher of the Hawks and Jaylen Wells of the Memphis Grizzlies.
The finalists for Sixth Man of the Year are Malik Beasley of the Pistons, Ty Jerome of the Cavaliers and Payton Pritchard of the Boston Celtics.
The Clutch Player of the Year finalists are Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks, Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Jokic.
The Coach of the Year finalists all guided their teams to the playoffs. Kenny Atkinson’s Cavaliers had an Eastern Conference-leading 64-18 record. Houston Rockets coach Ime Udoka’s team went 52-30, the second-best record in the West, and J.B. Bickerstaff took the Pistons from an NBA-worst 14-68 record last season to 44-38 this year.
–Field Level Media
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