NBA award finalists 2025: Full list of candidates for MVP, Defensive Player of the Year and more

Gilbert McGregor

NBA award finalists 2025: Full list of candidates for MVP, Defensive Player of the Year and more image

The 2025 NBA Playoffs are well underway, but standout performers from the 2024-25 regular season are still in line for acknowledgement.

On Sunday, the NBA revealed the finalists for each of the seven end-of-season awards: Most Valuable Player, Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Most Improved Player, Sixth Man of the Year, Clutch Player of the Year, and Coach of the Year.

A global panel of broadcasters and sportswriters votes on these awards, and ballots were submitted by Tuesday, April 15. The 2024-25 season is the second in which players needed to play in at least 65 games to be award-eligible, save for a few special cases.

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Here are the finalists for this year's end-of-season awards.

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Most Valuable Player

Finalists

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder
  • Nikola Jokic, Nuggets

Previous winners

SeasonWinner
2023-24Nikola Jokic, Nuggets
2022-23Joel Embiid, 76ers
2021-22Nikola Jokic, Nuggets
2020-21Nikola Jokic, Nuggets
2019-20Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks
2018-19Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks
2017-18James Harden, Rockets
2016-17Russell Westbrook, Thunder
2015-16Stephen Curry, Warriors
2014-15Stephen Curry, Warriors

Rookie of the Year

Finalists

  • Stephon Castle, Spurs
  • Zaccharie Risacher, Hawks
  • Jaylen Wells, Grizzlies

Previous winners

SeasonWinner
2023-24Victor Wembanyama, Spurs
2022-23Paolo Banchero, Magic
2021-22Scottie Barnes, Raptors
2020-21LaMelo Ball, Hornets
2019-20Ja Morant, Grizzlies
2018-19Luka Doncic, Mavericks
2017-18Ben Simmons, 76ers
2016-17Malcolm Brogdon, Bucks
2015-16Karl-Anthony Towns, Timberwolves
2014-15Andrew Wiggins, Timberwolves

Defensive Player of the Year

Finalists

  • Dyson Daniels, Hawks
  • Draymond Green, Warriors
  • Evan Mobley, Cavaliers

Previous winners 

SeasonWinner
2023-24Rudy Gobert, Timberwolves
2022-23Jaren Jackson Jr., Grizzlies
2021-22Marcus Smart, Celtics
2020-21Rudy Gobert, Jazz
2019-20Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks
2018-19Rudy Gobert, Jazz
2017-18Rudy Gobert, Jazz
2016-17Draymond Green, Warriors
2015-16Kawhi Leonard, Spurs
2014-15Kawhi Leonard, Spurs

Sixth Man of the Year

Finalists

  • Malik Beasley, Pistons
  • Ty Jerome, Cavaliers
  • Payton Pritchard, Celtics

Previous winners  

SeasonWinner
2023-24Naz Reid, Timberwolves
2022-23Malcolm Brogdon, Celtics
2021-22Tyler Herro, Heat
2020-21Jordan Clarkson, Jazz
2019-20Montrezl Harrell, Clippers
2018-19Lou Williams, Clippers
2017-18Lou Williams, Clippers
2016-17Eric Gordon, Clippers
2015-16Jamal Crawford, Clippers
2014-15Lou Williams, Raptors

Most Improved Player

Finalists

  • Cade Cunningham, Pistons
  • Dyson Daniels, Hawks
  • Ivica Zubac, Clippers

Previous winners 

SeasonWinner
2023-24Tyrese Maxey, 76ers
2022-23Lauri Markkanen, Jazz
2021-22Ja Morant, Grizzlies
2020-21Julius Randle, Knicks
2019-20Brandon Ingram, Pelicans
2018-19Pascal Siakam, Raptors
2017-18Victor Oladipo, Pacers
2016-17Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks
2015-16CJ McCollum, Trail Blazers
2014-15Jimmy Butler, Bulls

Clutch Player of the Year

Finalists

  • Jalen Brunson, Knicks
  • Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves
  • Nikola Jokic, Nuggets

Previous winners

The Clutch Player of the Year trophy was introduced during the 2022-23 NBA season.

SeasonWinner
2023-24Stephen Curry, Warriors
2022-23De'Aaron Fox, Kings

Coach of the Year

Finalists

  • Kenny Atkinson, Cavaliers
  • J.B. Bickerstaff, Pistons
  • Ime Udoka, Rockets

Previous winners 

        SeasonWinner
        2023-24Mark Daigneault, Thunder
        2022-23Mike Brown, Kings
        2021-22Monty Williams, Suns
        2020-21Tom Thibodeau, Knicks
        2019-20Nick Nurse, Raptors
        2018-19Mike Budenholzer, Bucks
        2017-18Dwane Casey, Raptors
        2016-17Mike D'Antoni, Rockets
        2015-16Steve Kerr, Warriors
        2014-15Mike Budenholzer, Hawks

          Gilbert McGregor

          Gilbert McGregor first joined The Sporting News in 2018 as a content producer for Global editions of NBA.com. Before covering the game, McGregor played basketball collegiately at Wake Forest, graduating with a Communication degree in 2016. McGregor began covering the NBA during the 2017-18 season and has been on hand for a number of league events.