NBA award finalists: Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo up for MVP
The NBA announced its top three vote-getters for its awards on Friday, just ahead of its final slate of play-in tournament games broadcast on TNT. The MVP finalists probably won't surprise you.
For the second straight year, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic are the top three players in the MVP race. Both Antetokounmpo and Jokic have already won the award twice, but Embiid is the favorite to take it this season.
There are plenty of competitive races across the ballot, including the inaugural NBA Clutch Player of the Year Award.
Here are the finalists for each award, all in alphabetical order by last name:
MVP
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Defensive Player of the Year
Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies
Brook Lopez, Milwaukee Bucks
Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers
Rookie of the Year
Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder
Most Improved Player
Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz
Sixth Man of the Year
Malcolm Brogdon, Boston Celtics
Bobby Portis Jr., Milwaukee Bucks
Immanuel Quickley, New York Knicks
Clutch Player of the Year
De'Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings
Coach of the Year
Mike Brown, Sacramento Kings
Mark Daigneault, Oklahoma City Thunder
Joe Mazzulla, Boston Celtics
