NBA finals game 7: Here's how is the finals mvp chosen
As the 2025 NBA season nears its conclusion, all eyes are on Game 7 between the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder, taking place on June 22 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. Like every season, the conversation around who will be named the Most Valuable Player sparks heated debate among analysts, insiders, and fans. The MVP award goes back to the late 1960s, and over the years, many great players have earned their place in NBA history with unforgettable performances.(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
The MVP award goes back to the late 1960s, and over the years, many great players have earned their place in NBA history with unforgettable performances.
With the thrilling series between the Pacers and Thunder heading into Game 7, the spotlight has also turned to the Finals MVP talk, especially in interviews and on sports podcasts. Big names like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Lakers standout Luka Dončić are currently in the mix for the 2025 MVP honor. How is MVP chosen ?
The MVP is chosen by a group of 100 people from various areas of the media—broadcast, digital, and print—who are based in the US and Canada and are well-versed in the game. This voting panel is put together ahead of the playoff series each season. Each panelist selects five players based on their regular-season performance.
An odd number of players are voted on to prevent a tie, and the player who receives the most total points from the votes is named MVP. The names of the voting panel are kept private until the Finals are over.
Also Read: Who votes for NBA Finals MVP? Rules, panel, and selection process
To be eligible for the MVP, a player must have played in at least 65 games during the season. Panelists rank their top five based on personal stats, value to their team, and overall impact throughout the season.
According to the current buzz, the top contenders for the 2025 MVP are Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Lakers' Luka Dončić, and Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokić. All three have delivered standout seasons and are in strong position to win one of the league's most prestigious awards.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
42 minutes ago
- Time of India
NBA trade rumors: Giannis Antetokounmpo trade buzz explodes after John Haliburton courtside clash
Giannis Antetokounmpo trade buzz explodes after John Haliburton courtside clash (Image Source: Getty Images) A courtside clash involving Tyrese Haliburton's father, a viral moment and now whispers of a blockbuster NBA trade. What started as a heated playoff exchange between Giannis Antetokounmpo and John Haliburton, father of Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, had turned into something much bigger. As the 2025 offseason heats up, fans and insiders are left wondering: could a rivalry suddenly turn into an unexpected alliance? If it happens, it might bring these two basketball families under the same roof. The NBA world is watching closely. Giannis Antetokounmpo Pacers trade rumors heat up after viral confrontation Now in June 2025, talks suggest a Giannis Antetokounmpo move to the Indiana Pacers is on the table. If it happens, it could bring Tyrese Haliburton and Giannis under the same roof. And that could reshape the dynamic, both on and off the court. Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was openly not respected, has since apologized and said that things are "in a good place" with John Haliburton. Meanwhile, Tyrese also spoke out and called the father's actions unlucky and promised to take it up personally. If Giannis joins the Pacers and if John truly embraces the change it could turn a flashpoint into a powerful alliance. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Fans are watching, analysts are stirring, and the NBA landscape might be bracing for a major twist. John Haliburton confronted Giannis Antetokounmpo after Tyrese Haliburton's game winner On April 29, right after Game 6 in Indianapolis, Tyrese Haliburton hit a game-winner that knocked out the Milwaukee Bucks. The Indiana Pacers' bench exploded. But something else quickly stole the spotlight. John Haliburton, Tyrese's father, rushed onto the court. He waved a towel and shouted in the direction of Giannis Antetokounmpo. The moment turned tense. Giannis walked up to him. Security and staff stepped in before things got worse. Fans nearby caught it on video. Later, Giannis Antetokounmpo spoke out. He said John's comments were 'totally disrespectful.' The NBA community took notice. It wasn't just a proud dad's moment. It became a flashpoint between two rising rivals. Also Read: Dwyane Wade's wife Gabrielle Union extends her unwavering support for Victoria Monét in a heartfelt post Follow all the live updates, scores, and highlights from the India vs England Test match here . Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Referees picked by the NBA for Game 7 are James Capers, Josh Tiven, Sean Wright
OKLAHOMA CITY — James Capers, Josh Tiven and Sean Wright joined a very small club on Sunday. HT Image Capers, Tiven and Wright were announced by the NBA as the officiating crew for Game 7 of the NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers. It's the first Game 7 of a finals for all three, who are now the 22nd, 23rd and 24th referees in NBA history to land such an assignment. 'Being selected to work the NBA Finals is the top honor as an NBA official," Byron Spruell, the NBA's president of league operations, said earlier this month when the 12-person list of finals referees was revealed. And Game 7, one would think, is the top of the top honors. Scott Foster, a two-time Game 7 finals referee and generally considered one of the best in the game, was not picked for the crew. Had he been, he would have become the seventh referee picked to work at least three Game 7s in the title series. The referees in NBA history who have worked that many are Mendy Rudolph , Earl Strom , Sid Borgia , Dan Crawford , Joe Crawford and Richie Powers . Foster — who is frequently criticized online by fans — was defended by Indiana coach Rick Carlisle after Game 4, notable because it was a game that the Pacers lost. 'As far as officiating, I think it's awful some of the things I've seen about the officiating, and Scott Foster in particular,' Carlisle said before Game 5. 'I've known Scott Foster for 30 years. He is a great official. He has done a great job in these playoffs. We've had him a lot of times. The ridiculous scrutiny that is being thrown out there is terrible and unfair and unjust and stupid.' The NBA had 75 full-time officials this season and 36 of those were selected to work the first round of the playoffs. The officiating roster is further trimmed going into each playoff round, with the league's referee operations management team determining who should advance. Capers is working his 13th finals, Tiven his sixth and Wright is in the finals for only the second time. It's the second game of these finals for all three referees — Capers worked Indiana's win in Game 3, while Wright and Tiven were both on the crew for Oklahoma City's win in Game 4. James Williams, who worked Games 2 and 5 of the series, was picked as the alternate for Game 7. David Guthrie, who officiated Games 1 and 6, was the referee assigned to the replay center in Secaucus, New Jersey, for Game 7. Thunder coach Mark Daigneault addressed officiating — and how he and his team respect referees — from a general perspective Saturday, when asked how his team has avoided being called for very many technical fouls this season. 'The outcome of the game and the context of the game is outside of our control,' Daigneault said. 'In between the lines is inside our control. The referees in that category, too. We can't control how they call the game and what they put a whistle on and what they don't. We can control a lot of other things in the game, and that's what we need to focus on.' NBA: /hub/NBA This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
NYT Connections hints June 22: Puzzle features basketball themes ahead of NBA finals Game 7
The June 22 edition of Connections: Sports Edition surprised players with a set of abbreviated clues. As reported by CNET, puzzle number 272 avoided full words altogether. Instead, it featured a list of letters and numbers referring to something linked to the NBA. The format caught many off guard. It was published just ahead of the Game 7 of the NBA finals between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder. The June 22 Connections: Sports Edition featured a basketball-themed puzzle with abbreviated clues linked to the NBA. The puzzle is part of the sports-specific version of Connections. It became a regular feature on February 9, the day of Super Bowl Sunday, following its official launch. Since then, it has continued to appear on The Athletic app, which is owned by The New York Times. Even though it sits behind a paywall on the app, the puzzle remains freely available online for those who want to try it daily. Also read: Draymond Green makes shocking prediction ahead of OKC vs Pacers NBA Finals Game 7 Hints directed players through basketball terms and groupings The standard four color-coded groups were included: yellow, green, blue, and purple. This structure remains the same in each puzzle. However, this edition focused strictly on basketball. Each group followed a specific theme, and hints were provided to guide players through the process: Yellow group hint: Where you play on the court Green group hint: Look for the score Blue group hint: Statistics Purple group hint: Not full names Those who regularly follow basketball were likely to find these groupings easier. For others, especially casual fans, it required careful thought and prior knowledge of NBA-related terminology. Group answers revealed for June 22 puzzle All 16 clues followed the basketball theme. Each item fell under one of the four groups. The correct breakdown is: Yellow group (positions): C, PF, PG, SF Green group (team codes): IND, LAC, MEM, OKC Blue group (stats): 3P, FG, FT, STL Purple group (player nicknames): CP3, KD, LBJ, SGA Several solvers noted that the format was tougher than usual. Without a solid grasp of basketball, abbreviations such as 'SGA' or '3P' were not easy to place. Still, CNET reported that fans appreciated the clever use of short forms and said it was one of the more challenging puzzles in recent weeks. FAQs What is the theme of today's Connections: Sports Edition? The entire puzzle was basketball-themed, featuring abbreviations tied to NBA terms. Where can you play Connections: Sports Edition? The puzzle is available for free online and also in The Athletic app. What do the colors in the puzzle represent? Each color - yellow, green, blue, purple - indicates a separate group, ranked by difficulty. Are the clues always related to sports? Yes, in this version of the game, all clues follow sports-related themes.
