Nikola Jokic, the star player for the Denver Nuggets, has been named as one of the finalists for the NBA's Most Valuable Player award, alongside Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder. If Jokic secures the award, he will join an elite group of players with three or more MVP titles.
It has been confirmed that an international player will win the MVP award for the sixth consecutive year, with Jokic being the frontrunner this season. The NBA's postseason awards also revealed Victor Wembanyama as a top contender for the Rookie of the Year award, with impressive stats throughout the season.
Wembanyama, a standout player for the San Antonio Spurs, is expected to become the third Spurs player to win the Rookie of the Year award, following in the footsteps of David Robinson and Tim Duncan. The French player has showcased remarkable skills, leading in various categories and topping the league in blocked shots.
In the Defensive Player of the Year category, Miami's Bam Adebayo, Utah's Rudy Gobert, and Wembanyama are the top three finalists. The race for the Most Improved Player award features Tyrese Maxey of the Philadelphia 76ers, Coby White of the Chicago Bulls, and Alperen Sengun of the Houston Rockets.
For the Sixth Man of the Year award, Bobby Portis of the Milwaukee Bucks, Malik Monk of the Sacramento Kings, and Naz Reid of the Minnesota Timberwolves are the finalists. The Clutch Player of the Year category sees Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors, DeMar DeRozan of the Chicago Bulls, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder vying for the title.
Lastly, the Coach of the Year award finalists include Mark Daigneault of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Chris Finch of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Jamahl Mosley of the Orlando Magic. Daigneault has already received the coach of the year award from the National Basketball Coaches Association, a precursor to the official NBA award.
