The Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokić, and the Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo have been announced as finalists for the highly coveted 2025 NBA MVP award. This news was revealed by the league and broadcast on TNT on Sunday, creating excitement among fans and analysts alike.
The MVP award is one of several individual accolades determined by a panel of one hundred media members who cover the NBA. This panel is also responsible for selecting three All-NBA teams, two All-League Defensive teams, and two All-Rookie teams. The winners of these prestigious awards will be unveiled during TNT’s playoff coverage in the upcoming weeks.
Among other significant awards, finalists for the Defensive Player of the Year include the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Evan Mobley, the Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green, and the Atlanta Hawks’ Dyson Daniels. Additionally, the finalists for Sixth Man of the Year are the Boston Celtics’ Payton Pritchard, Cleveland’s Ty Jerome, and the Detroit Pistons’ Malik Beasley. Meanwhile, the race for Rookie of the Year features the San Antonio Spurs’ Stephon Castle, the Hawks’ Zaccharie Risacher, and the Memphis Grizzlies’ Jaylen Wells.
Nikola Jokić, the reigning MVP who has won the award three times, is aiming to join legends LeBron James and Wilt Chamberlain as a four-time MVP winner. Jokić has had a standout season, achieving career highs with an impressive average of 29.6 points per game, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has made headlines as the NBA’s top scorer, averaging 32.7 points per game. He not only excelled in scoring but also played a pivotal role as the best player on the league’s top team this season. Meanwhile, Giannis Antetokounmpo, a two-time MVP, has also had an outstanding season, averaging 30.4 points and 11.9 rebounds. The competition for the MVP award is expected to be closely contested, primarily between Jokić and Gilgeous-Alexander.
The race for the Defensive Player of the Year award does not have a clear front-runner this season. While reigning Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama was a strong candidate, his season was cut short due to a blood clot in his shoulder after 46 games. To be eligible for most awards, players must appear in at least 65 games.
Dyson Daniels has emerged as a strong contender, leading the NBA with an average of 3.0 steals per game. In the Sixth Man category, Payton Pritchard averaged 14 points and shot 41 percent from beyond the arc, while Ty Jerome, who missed the previous season, averaged 12.5 points and boasted impressive shooting percentages.
Malik Beasley played a vital role in the Pistons’ transformation from the worst team in the NBA to the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference, ranking third in the league with an average of 3.9 three-pointers made per game. On the rookie front, Stephon Castle, Wembanyama’s teammate, participated in 81 games and averaged 14.7 points.
Finalists for additional prestigious awards include: Coach of the Year candidates Kenny Atkinson of the Cavaliers, J.B. Bickerstaff of the Pistons, and Ime Udoka of the Rockets. The Clutch Player of the Year finalists are Jalen Brunson of the Knicks, Anthony Edwards of the Timberwolves, and Jokić. Finally, the finalists for Most Improved Player are Cade Cunningham of the Pistons, Ivica Zubac of the Clippers, and Dyson Daniels of the Hawks.
Recently, Atkinson was recognized as the NBA Coach of the Year by the trade association representing him and the league's other coaches. He has distinguished himself as one of the few coaches in NBA history to secure at least 60 wins in his inaugural season.
As the NBA playoffs approach, the anticipation surrounding the announcement of these awards heightens, with fans eagerly awaiting to see who will take home the league’s highest honors.
