All the finalists of the 7 individual NBA awards in the 2024/25 season

The NBA officially revealed the three finalists for the seven major individual awards of the 2024-25 season. The announcement came on Sunday night and included some familiar names as well as emerging stars.

MVP

Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander lead the race for this year's MVP. Jokic is aiming for his fourth MVP in five years. Only LeBron James and Bill Russell have achieved that feat. Jokic averaged 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists this season. He joined Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook as the only players to average a triple-double over a season.

Shai poses a significant challenge. He led the NBA in scoring with 32.7 points per game and guided the Thunder to the best record in the league with 68 wins. That total is the highest since the Warriors' 73-win season in 2016. He had the most 50, 40, and 30-point games in the NBA. He had the longest streak of games with over 20 points. Gilgeous-Alexander also topped the ESPN MVP poll twice late in the year.

Giannis Antetokounmpo rounded out the top three. He narrowly edged out Jayson Tatum for the final finalist spot. Giannis made a strong push in April, averaging a triple-double during that period. His late-season surge likely swayed the voters.

Defensive Player of the Year

Victor Wembanyama seemed destined to win the Defensive Player of the Year award. However, a diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis at the end of the season took him out of contention. That opened the door for other defenders.

Draymond Green has become the favorite. He recorded at least one steal and one block per game for the seventh time in his career. Green helped Golden State return to playoff contention after the addition of Jimmy Butler. He was also named the Western Conference's Defensive Player of the Month in March.

Dyson Daniels impressed with his 3 steals per game, leading the league. His defensive anticipation made him a nightly disruptor. Daniels was named the Eastern Conference's Defensive Player of the Month and ranks 12th in steals for a season.

Evan Mobley also made a strong case. He anchored Cleveland's eighth-ranked defense and won two monthly defensive awards. If Daniels or Mobley wins, it will be their first time being selected as Defensive Player of the Year.

Rookie of the Year

The 2024-25 rookie class didn't produce a standout star, but three strong candidates emerged. In our collective hearts, this award belongs to Jared McCain due to his strong start. However, a meniscus tear at the end of the season derailed his stellar campaign. Spurs' guard Stephon Castle leads the pack. He averaged 14.7 points and 4.1 assists, helping San Antonio stay competitive. If Castle wins, the Spurs will have back-to-back Rookie of the Year winners.

Zaccharie Risacher overcame early struggles to finish the season strongly. He shot over 39% from deep in February, March, and April. Averaging 12.6 points per game, he emerged as a floor spacer for Atlanta.

Jaylen Wells stood out in Memphis. Drafted in the second round, he was a starter for most of the season before fracturing his wrist. The Grizzlies' defense faltered in his absence, dropping from 11th to 21st in defensive rating in just three games.

Sixth Man of the Year

Payton Pritchard stepped up in Boston, averaging 14.3 points and shooting over 40% from the perimeter. He had a standout performance when the Celtics rested their stars and even scored 43 points in a game.

Malik Beasley also made his mark. Averaging 16.4 points and hitting 319 triples, he shot 41.6% from beyond the arc. Beasley ranked second in total threes and helped Detroit stay competitive.

Ty Jerome completes the trio. Returning from injury, he averaged 12.5 points per game. Jerome shot 51.6% overall and nearly 44% from three. His scoring efficiency made him one of the most impactful reserves in the league.

Coach of the Year

Kenny Atkinson of Cleveland, J.B. Bickerstaff of Detroit, and Ime Udoka of Houston are the Coach of the Year finalists. Atkinson led Cleveland to 64 wins and the top spot in the East. He recently won the NBCA Coach of the Year award.

Bickerstaff engineered a historic turnaround for Detroit. The Pistons more than tripled their win total from the previous season.

Udoka transformed the Rockets into the West's second seed. Houston went from a lottery team to a title contender with a young core.

Most Valuable Player

Jalen Brunson, Nikola Jokic, and Anthony Edwards lead this award. Edwards and Brunson tied with 157 points each. Jokic contributed in all facets: 140 points, 50 rebounds, and 36 assists in crucial moments. He ranked in the top three in all those categories.

Most Improved Player

Cade Cunningham led this group with an exceptional season. He averaged 26.1 points, 9.1 assists, and 6.1 rebounds and was a first-time All-Star selection.

Ivica Zubac set career highs across the board. He posted 16.8 points and 12.6 rebounds per game with the Clippers.

Daniels reappears on this list. His role in Atlanta has been more significant, and he has grown on both ends of the court. He achieved career-best averages, more than doubling his points (14.1) from the previous year (5.8).

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Todos los finalistas de los 7 premios individuales de la NBA en la temporada 2024/25