Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nokola Jokic, and Giannis Antetokounmpo are NBA MVP finalists; Payton Pritchard up for Sixth Man
They were considered such big favorites that BetMGM Sportsbook didn't even offer realistic odds toward the end of the regular season on anyone else winning. Gilgeous-Alexander was the favorite, Jokic was the second choice, and nobody else had odds shorter than 500-1.
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Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (front) averaged a triple-double during the regular season with 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists.
David Zalubowski/Associated Press
Given that All-NBA voting now essentially mirrors MVP voting, being an MVP finalist basically guarantees an All-NBA first-team nod. It'll be the ninth appearance on that team for Antetokounmpo, the seventh for Jokic and the third for Gilgeous-Alexander.
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Last year's MVP finalists were Jokic, Gilgeous-Alexander, and Luka Doncic — then of the Mavericks, now with the Lakers.
A panel of writers and broadcasters who cover the NBA voted on the awards last week. The NBA will announce the winners of the various awards, along with the All-NBA and All-rookie teams, over the coming weeks.
Coach of the year
Former Celtics coach Ime Udoka has the Rockets as the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference in his second year in Houston.
Godofredo A. Vásquez/Associated Press
Finalists:
Kenny Atkinson, Cavaliers; J.B. Bickerstaff, Pistons; Ime Udoka, Rockets.
This is how good a race this was: Leominster's Mark Daigneault, who won last year, led Oklahoma City to a 68-win season and didn't get into the top three.
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Atkinson led the Cavaliers to a 64-win season, the best in the Eastern Conference. He was announced Saturday as the winner of the National Basketball Coaches Association's coach of the year award, a separate trophy from the NBA honors.
Bickerstaff, in his first year with the Pistons, and Udoka took their teams to the playoffs, and the Rockets got the No. 2 seed in the West.
Last year:
Daigneault won, with the Timberwolves' Chris Finch and Jamahl Mosley of the Magic the other finalists.
Rookie of the year
Finalists:
Stephon Castle, Spurs; Zaccharie Risacher, Hawks; Jaylen Wells, Grizzlies.
Castle — the No. 4 pick in last year's draft — could be the second consecutive NBA Rookie of the Year from San Antonio, after Victor Wembanyama was the unanimous winner last season.
Risacher and Wells were the No. 3 and No. 4 rookie scorers this season behind Castle. A notable omission: The Wizards' Alex Sarr, who averaged 13 points this season.
Last year: Wembanyama won, with Chet Holmgren of the Thunder and the Hornets' Brandon Miller the other finalists.
Sixth man of the year
Finalists:
Malik Beasley, Pistons; Ty Jerome, Cavaliers; Payton Pritchard, Celtics.
After making 40.7 percent of his 3-pointers this season, Celtics guard Payton Pritchard is a finalist for the Sixth Man of the Year Award.
Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
Pritchard is the overwhelming favorite, though voters clearly took note of what Beasley did off the Pistons' bench — making 319 3-pointers — and Jerome was particularly steady for the Cavs all season.
Last year:
The Timberwolves' Naz Reid won, with the Kings' Malik Monk and the Bucks' Bobby Portis the other finalists.
Most Improved Player
Finalists:
Cade Cunningham, Pistons; Dyson Daniels, Hawks; Ivica Zubac, Clippers.
Cunningham led Detroit's wild turnaround year — a 28-game losing streak last season, the No. 6 seed this season — and should be an All-NBA selection as well. Daniels and Zubac both had exceptionally good seasons, particularly on the defensive end.
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Last year:
Tyrese Maxey of the 76ers won, with the Rockets' Alperen Sengun and Coby White of the Bulls the other finalists.
Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (left) is among the finalists for Most Improved Player after Detroit had a 30-game jump from 14 to 44 wins.
Albert Pena/Associated Press
Defensive player of the year
Finalists:
Dyson Daniels, Hawks; Draymond Green, Warriors; Evan Mobley, Cavaliers.
Daniels was a steals machine, Mobley has the gift of being able to defend the rim with physicality but not foul, and Green is seeking his second award after winning it in 2016-17.
The Timberwolves' Rudy Gobert remains on four DPOY awards, tied with Basketball Hall of Fame inductees Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace as winners of the most. Wembanyama — who won the blocked-shots title this season — probably would have won this award in a runaway had he not been sidelined since the All-Star break with deep vein thrombosis in one of his shoulders.
Last year:
Gobert won, with Bam Adebayo of the Heat and Wembanyama the other finalists.
Clutch player of the year
Finalists:
Jalen Brunson, Knicks; Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves; Nikola Jokic, Nuggets.
Can't go wrong here. Edwards had 157 points in clutch time this season, Brunson had 150, and Jokic had 140.
Last year:
The Warriors' Stephen Curry won, with DeMar DeRozan — then with the Bulls, now with the Kings — and Gilgeous-Alexander the other finalists.
Jalen Brunson is who the Knicks turn to down the stretch.
Meg Oliphant/Getty
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