NBA Names Finalists for Top Awards Ahead of 2024-25 Season

NEW YORK, NY — The NBA announced the three finalists for each of its seven major individual awards for the 2024-25 regular season on Sunday night. The list features standout players, including Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Giannis Antetokounmpo, who are all vying for the coveted Most Valuable Player award.

Jokic, a three-time MVP, seeks to achieve the milestone of four MVPs in five years, a feat only accomplished by Bill Russell and Michael Jordan. This season, he averaged 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists, joining Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson as the only players to average a triple-double for an entire season.

Gilgeous-Alexander led the league in scoring with 32.7 points per game and propelled the Oklahoma City Thunder to a franchise-record 68 wins, the most since the Golden State Warriors set a record with 73 wins in 2016. His impressive performance also made him a strong contender in ESPN’s MVP straw poll.

Antetokounmpo remains a consistent presence in the MVP conversation, finishing in the top four of voting for seven consecutive seasons. The Bucks forward won the award in both 2019 and 2020.

The finalists for the Defensive Player of the Year position were also highlighted, particularly following the absence of Wembanyama, who was considered the favorite but was sidelined with deep vein thrombosis. Finalists include Draymond Green, Evan Mobley, and Jaden Daniels, each of whom excelled in defensive metrics throughout the season.

Mobley, who became an All-Star this season, averaged 18.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks, while Green helped the Golden State Warriors’ playoff push with significant defensive contributions. Daniels emerged as a strong contender with 3.0 steals per game, emphasizing his impact on the defensive end.

In the Most Improved Player category, candidates include Zubac, Cunningham, and Daniels, with each of them showcasing substantial growth this season. Zubac set career highs in points and rebounds, while Cunningham averaged 26.1 points, 9.1 assists, and 6.1 rebounds.

The Rookie of the Year finalists feature last year’s No. 1 pick, Risacher, along with San Antonio Spurs’ guard Jamal Castle and Ty Jerome. Risacher averaged 12.6 points per game before his season ended due to injury.

In the Sixth Man of the Year category, candidates include Payton Pritchard from the Boston Celtics, Malik Beasley of the Detroit Pistons, and Ty Jerome, who bounced back with an impressive season after injuries plagued his previous year.

Cleveland Cavaliers‘ Kenny Atkinson, Detroit Pistons’ J.B. Bickerstaff, and Houston Rockets‘ Ime Udoka are the finalists for Coach of the Year. Atkinson led the Cavaliers to 64 wins and the East’s top seed, while Bickerstaff oversaw a historic turnaround for Detroit, which more than tripled its win total from the previous season.

The NBA will reveal the winners of these awards and the All-NBA, All-Defense, and All-Rookie teams over the coming weeks, as the league shifts focus to crowning its top performers from an exciting season.