NBA awards finalists: SGA, Jokic in tight race for MVP
The NBA revealed its three finalists for the 2024-25 awards Sunday. Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is attempting to dethrone three-time MVP Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets. The pair is joined by Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo as the third finalist.
Most Valuable Player
| Name | Team | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Oklahoma City Thunder | G |
| Nikola Jokic | Denver Nuggets | C |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks | F |
The MVP race has been a two-man competition all season between Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic. SGA led the Thunder to the winningest campaign in franchise history and the NBA's best record. He also paced the league in scoring with 32.7 points per game. Meanwhile, Jokic is looking to win his second consecutive MVP and third in the last four years. He became the third player in league history to average a triple-double and posted career highs in points (29.6) and assists (10.2). Antetokounmpo's numbers were nothing to laugh at either, as he posted 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game. He also shot over 60% from the field for the second straight season.
Rookie of the Year
| Name | Team | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Stephon Castle | San Antonio Spurs | G |
| Zaccharie Risacher | Atlanta Hawks | F |
| Jaylen Wells | Memphis Grizzlies | G |
San Antonio Spurs freshman Stephon Castle is the likely front-runner for the league's first-year honor. The 20-year-old led all qualified rookies in scoring with 14.7 points per game while missing just one contest all season. However, Zaccharie Risacher, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft, impressed out of the gate for an Atlanta Hawks squad that reached the play-in. Meanwhile, Jaylen Wells, a second-round find by the Memphis Grizzlies, was thrust into the starting lineup after just six games and never relinquished his spot.
Sixth Man of the Year
| Name | Team | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Payton Pritchard | Boston Celtics | G |
| Malik Beasley | Detroit Pistons | G |
| Ty Jerome | Cleveland Cavaliers | G |
Microwave scoring guards are frequent candidates to win the league's top reserve prize, and this year is no exception. All three finalists averaged at least 12 points and shot a minimum of 40% from distance while providing their respective squads with timely offensive boosts when called upon off the bench.
Defensive Player of the Year
| Name | Team | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Evan Mobley | Cleveland Cavaliers | F |
| Dyson Daniels | Atlanta Hawks | F |
| Draymond Green | Golden State Warriors | F |
The Defensive Player of the Year award race was blown wide-open once Victor Wembanyama went down with a blood clot. Evan Mobley felt like the favorite as the defensive catalyst of the East-best Cavaliers. Dyson Daniels led the league with three steals per game and 229 total swipes. Draymond Green, unlike the other finalists, forced himself into contention with some self-promotion, and the Warriors' 20-7 record post-All-Star break added fuel to his fire.
Most Improved Player
| Name | Team | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Cade Cunningham | Detroit Pistons | G |
| Dyson Daniels | Atlanta Hawks | G |
| Ivica Zubac | Los Angeles Clippers | C |
Cade Cunningham's incredible leap was a pivotal factor in the Detroit Pistons' complete turnaround following a dismal 2023-24 campaign, making him the likely favorite. However, Ivica Zubac's own across-the-board improvement was instrumental in helping the Los Angeles Clippers replace some of the production that left with Paul George's exit, while Daniels' emergence as a defensive menace earned him plaudits in his debut campaign with the Hawks.
Coach of the Year
| Name | Team |
|---|---|
| Kenny Atkinson | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| J.B. Bickerstaff | Detroit Pistons |
| Ime Udoka | Houston Rockets |
Ime Udoka is the only Coach of the Year finalist who was with his current team last season. In his debut year in Cleveland, Atkinson transformed the Cavaliers into a free-flowing juggernaut in the Eastern Conference, and with much of the same roster from last season. J.B. Bickerstaff, who Atkinson replaced in Cleveland, vindicated himself in the Motor City by winning 44 games with a Pistons squad that won just 31 in the previous two seasons combined.
Clutch Player of the Year
| Name | Team | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Nikola Jokic | Denver Nuggets | C |
| Jalen Brunson | New York Knicks | G |
| Anthony Edwards | Minnesota Timberwolves | G |
The league's most recently introduced end-of-season honor recognizes those who made the most significant contributions in crunch time. It's no surprise then that all three finalists ranked inside the top 10 for total points in clutch games, which the NBA defines as contests separated by no more five points with five minutes remaining in the fourth or overtime. Anthony Edwards and Jalen Brunson were Nos. 1 and 2 with 157 and 156 clutch points, respectively, while Jokic placed fourth with 140.