NBA announces individual award finalists including MVP – Basketball insider
The NBA announced its finals finals season-ending awards, such as MVP (Most Valuable Player) and DPOY (Defensive Player of the Year), among others.
Every finalist is confirmed on TNT Inside the NBA and announced by Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neal.
In an interesting moment, Barkley announced the last name of Atlanta Hawks rookie Zaccharie Risacher as “Ricochet.”
Here is a list of finalists for the seven seasons season individual awards.
2024-25 The complete list of awards finalists for NBA regular season ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/4bgbfqpoht
– NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 20, 2025
The Most Valuable Player (Michael Jordan Trophy)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder)
The Canadians lead the league with 32.7 points per game and scored 5.0 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.7 steals and a block in 76 games. The Thunder also led the league's best 68-14 with the closest Western enemies, 16 games.
Nikola Jokic (Nuggets of Denver)
Jokic became the third player in NBA history, and on average is a triple-double player this season. He scored 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, 10.2 assists and 1.8 steals in 70 games. The three-time MVP also shot 57.6% from the field, including the highest 3-point shooting percentage.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)
Antetokounmpo has another spectacular season, with an average of 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.2 blocks, and a distance steal. He shot 60.1% from the field and played 67 games.
Defensive Player of the Year (Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy)
Dyson Daniels (Atlanta Hawks)
The “big obstacle thief” from Australia has exactly three steals per game. He has been a nightmare against the guards, with no passes around him.
Golden State Warriors
The green number may not have the most gorgeous numbers, but the appreciation of his defensive intelligence and preventive work is profound. He is the key to the Warriors' defense, looking better on the floor with Jimmy Butler.
Evan Mobley (Cleveland Cavaliers)
Considered a favorite to win the award, Mobley's length, mobility and edge protection make him one of the most intimidating guards in the league.
The most progressive player (George Mikan Trophy)
Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons)
The 23-year-old brought the Pistons back to the playoffs after just 14 wins last season. He averaged 26.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 9.1 assists and 70 steals per game. He is expected to be an all-NBA team, but it is controversial as to whether the previous draft pick for the award should be considered.
Dyson Daniels (Atlanta Hawks)
With a huge defense, Daniels doubled his score, with an average score of 14.1 points. He also added 5.9 rebounds and 4.4 assists while shooting nearly 50% from the field. He won two NBA awards.
Ivica Zubac (Los Angeles Clippers)
Zubac is a strength throughout the season, with an average of 16.8 points and 12.6 rebounds, the highest in his career. He also contributed 1.1 blocks while shooting 62.8% from the field. In a bigger role without Kawhi Leonard, Zubac has been going all out.
Sixth Person of the Year (Jon Haflicek Trophy)
Malik Beasley (Detroit Pistons)
Beasley scored the biggest three-pointer among the substitutes and ranked second only with Anthony Edwards.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Jerome averaged a career-high 12.5 points per game in 20 minutes and became a major work on the bench for 64-win Cavaliers.
Payton Pritchard (Boston Celtics)
Pritchard was a great performance on the Celtics bench and he was in a big number when Jaylen Brown or another starter went missing.
NBA Clutch Trophy (Jerry West Trophy)
Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks)
In a newer NBA awards category, no one gets more points (5.6 points) than Brunson on average. In these cases, he also shot 51.5% from the field and 84% from the free throw line.
Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves)
Edwards leads the league with a score of 157 in the clutch scheme. That was one point higher than Brunson, who played for 25 minutes. If there is a decisive game, Brunson scored 22 points in 135 minutes, while Edwards lost 51.
Nikola Jokic (Nuggets of Denver)
Jokic gained 140 clutches in 140 minutes. He shot 56.2% from the field, including one-third. In those minutes, he was 61 points.
Rookie of the Year (Wilt Chamberlain Trophy)
Stephen Castle (San Antonio Spurs)
The Castle became a legal component of the Spurs, averaging 14.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 81 games. Once Victor Wembanyama and De'aaron Fox were both excluded from the season, he played a bigger role.
Zaccharie Risacher (Atlanta Hawks)
Risacher was quiet about the big chunks of the season but showed his abilities when he received the venue. In the rotation between Jalen Johnson and De'andre Hunter until behind the injury and trade, Risacher averaged 14.9 points, while shooting 50% from the field after the All-Star post-game three-pointers and 40.4% from two-thirds.
Jaylen Wells (Memphis Grizzlies)
Wells became a reliable starter for the Grizzlies, scoring 10.4 points and 3.4 rebounds while shooting 35.2% from three-pointers and playing solid defense. He suffered a horrible fall at the end of the season and a broken wrist.
Coach of the Year (Red Auerbach Trophy)
Kenny Atkinson (Cleveland Cavaliers)
Atkinson is a coach of the year favorite, leading the Cavaliers to 64 wins and finishing No. 1 in the Eastern Conference. He overhauled the offense to get the best rating on the offensive rating and fought for several NBA awards.
JB Bickerstaff (Detroit Pistons)
Bickerstaff helped turn the 14-win team into a 44-win team with a sixth seed. The Pistons have become a tenacious defense team under his guidance.
IME UDOKA (Houston Rockets)
The Rockets surprised many with 52 wins and the West's second best record. Houston is arguably the toughest defensive team in the league, playing an extremely physical basketball brand.
