The NBA on Sunday disclosed the three finalists for each of its major 2025-26 end-of-season honors, covering Most Valuable Player, Rookie of the Year, Coach of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Sixth Man of the Year, Most Improved Player and Clutch Player of the Year.
The league unveiled the MVP, Rookie and Coach candidates during halftime of NBC’s Game 1 broadcast between Detroit and Orlando. The remaining categories were posted shortly afterward on the NBA’s official social-media channels.
MVP
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder
Nikola Jokić, Nuggets
Victor Wembanyama, Spurs
All three lead Western Conference clubs that finished first, second and third in the standings. Jokić topped the league in both rebounds and assists per game while scoring 27.7 points. Gilgeous-Alexander steered Oklahoma City to the NBA’s best record despite numerous injuries around him. Wembanyama averaged 25.0 points and is also a leading candidate for Defensive Player of the Year.
Rookie of the Year
Cooper Flagg, Mavericks
Kon Knuepple, Hornets
VJ Edgecombe, 76ers
Flagg delivered 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists per night, posting four games of at least 42 points. Knuepple paced the league in made three-pointers and played a key role in Charlotte’s turnaround. Edgecombe logged 35.0 minutes over 75 games, averaging 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists.
Coach of the Year
Joe Mazzulla, Celtics
J.B. Bickerstaff, Pistons
Mitch Johnson, Spurs
Mazzulla and Bickerstaff guided injury-hit rosters to dominant Eastern Conference records. Johnson solved rotation and spacing issues while San Antonio secured the NBA’s second-best mark.
Defensive Player of the Year
Chet Holmgren, Thunder
Ausar Thompson, Pistons
Victor Wembanyama, Spurs
Wembanyama led the league in total blocks, blocks per game, defensive rating and defensive-rebound percentage. Holmgren finished second in blocks per game, and Thompson emerged as one of the NBA’s premier perimeter stoppers.
Most Improved Player
Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Hawks
Deni Avdija, Trail Blazers
Jalen Duren, Pistons
Avdija and Duren each earned their first All-Star selections. Alexander-Walker jumped from 9.4 to 20.8 points per game while shooting .459/.399/.902 and winning a starting spot in Atlanta.
Sixth Man of the Year
Tim Hardaway Jr., Nuggets
Jaime Jaquez Jr., Heat
Keldon Johnson, Spurs
Hardaway topped 40 percent from three for the first time on 6.9 attempts per game and appeared in 80 contests. Jaquez supplied career-best averages of 15.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists off Miami’s bench. Johnson anchored San Antonio’s reserve scoring.
Clutch Player of the Year
Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder
Jamal Murray, Nuggets
Gilgeous-Alexander and Edwards ranked first and second in clutch scoring, respectively. Murray was second in total clutch points and paced the group in three-point accuracy.
According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, each award winner will be announced separately, beginning with Defensive Player of the Year on Monday, April 20.
Source: Hoops Rumors
