Canada’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Serbia’s Nikola Jokic and France’s Victor Wembanyama are the three finalists for the 2025-26 NBA regular season MVP award, the league announced.
Gilgeous-Alexander, MVP in 2024-25, has led the Oklahoma City Thunder to the best record in the NBA (64-18) with an average of 31.1 points per game and 55.3% shooting.
Jokic (Denver Nuggets), who has been MVP three times, has averaged a triple-double with 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds and 10.7 assists.
Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs) leads the league in blocks with 3.1 per game, in addition to 25 points and 11.5 rebounds.
Luka Doncic misses out on NBA MVP finalist spot
Slovenian Luka Doncic, the top scorer of the season, is out of the running for the MVP award, even though the NBA had pardoned him to be able to opt for this award despite not having played the minimum of 65 games.
Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel and VJ Edgecombe finalists for NBA Rookie of the Year
In addition to the MVP, the NBA also announced the finalists for its other awards, such as Rookie of the Year, which will be contested by Cooper Flagg (Dallas Mavericks), Kon Knueppel (Charlotte Hornets) and V.J. Edgecombe (Philadelphia 76ers).
Wembanyama will also compete for Defensive Player of the Year, alongside Chet Holmgren (Thunder) and Ausar Thompson (Detroit Pistons).
The finalists for the ‘Clutch’ player award, which distinguishes the best in tight finishes, are Gilgeous-Alexander himself, Jamal Murray (Nuggets) and Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves).
The Sixth Man of the Year award will be chosen from the likes of Mexican Jaime Jaquez Jr. (Miami Heat), Keldon Johnson (Spurs) and Tim Hardaway Jr. (Nuggets).
Jalen Duren (Pistons), Deni Avdija (Portland Trail Blazers) and Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Atlanta Hawks) will compete for the Most Improved Player award.
Finally, the nominees for Coach of the Year are Joe Mazzula (Boston Celtics), Mitch Johnson (Spurs) and J.B. Bickerstaff (Pistons)
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