The Race for MVP

On Sunday, the NBA announced the trio of finalists for each of its seven prestigious end-of-season awards. The Most Valuable Player (MVP) category stands out as one of the most tightly contested in league history, featuring Victor Wembanyama, three-time MVP Nikola Jokić, and the reigning award holder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Gilgeous-Alexander aims to join a select group of active players—including Giannis Antetokounmpo, Stephen Curry, LeBron James, and Jokić—who have secured consecutive MVP honors. Notably, both Wembanyama and Gilgeous-Alexander have earned nominations in two separate award categories this season.


Notable Omissions

While Luka Dončić and Cade Cunningham received special exemptions from the league’s 65-game requirement to be considered for postseason awards, neither player ultimately secured a finalist spot for any of the league’s year-end honors, despite both being prominent MVP contenders at various stages of the regular season.


Full List of Award Finalists

The league has confirmed the following contenders for its individual accolades:

  • MVP: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma), Nikola Jokić, Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio)
  • Defensive Player of the Year: Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio), Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma), Ausar Thompson
  • Coach of the Year: Joe Mazzulla, J.B. Bickerstaff, Mitch Johnson (San Antonio)
  • Rookie of the Year: Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, VJ Edgecombe (Philadelphia 76ers)
  • Most Improved Player: Deni Avdija (Portland), Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Jalen Duren
  • Sixth Man of the Year: Keldon Johnson (San Antonio), Jaime Jaquez Jr., Tim Hardaway Jr.
  • Clutch Player of the Year: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma), Anthony Edwards, Jamal Murray

Announcement Schedule

The winners will be unveiled throughout the coming month as the NBA playoffs progress. The league has confirmed the schedule for the first set of announcements:

Monday: Defensive Player of the Year
Tuesday: Clutch Player of the Year
Wednesday: Sixth Man of the Year

Dates for the remaining awards, including MVP and Coach of the Year, have yet to be disclosed by the league.