For the eighth time in a row, the MVP award will go to an international player.
Gilgeous-Alexander — the current NBA MVP — is one of the finalists for this year’s award, along with Denver’s Nikola Jokic and Wembanyam, who is also a candidate for the best defensive player of the year.
The string of international MVPs began in 2019 and 2020 when Giannis Antetokounmpo won the award. Jokic then celebrated in 2021, 2022 and 2024, while Joel Embiid won the award in 2023. Gilgeous-Alexander was the best last season.
Gilgeous-Alexander is also a finalist for the Clutch Player of the Year award this season.
The NBA announced the finalists for seven individual awards on Sunday night, and the winners will begin to be announced on Monday. The Best Defender award — expected to go to Wembanyama — will be awarded first, followed by Clutch Player on Tuesday and Best Sixth Man on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the appeal that allowed Los Angeles Lakers’ Luka Doncic to get on the ballot could earn him a spot on the All-NBA team, but not his first MVP award. He was not among the top three in the selection. Voting ended last week after Doncic and Detroit’s Cade Cunningham won appeals despite not meeting the 65-game minimum rule.
Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards lost his appeal, but could still win the award. He is a finalist for Clutch Player of the Year, although he was not in the running for MVP and All-NBA honors because those nominations were chosen by the press, while the Clutch Award was voted on by the coaches.
The 2025-26 Finalists for Kia NBA Most Valuable Player.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Nikola Jokic
Victor Wembanyama pic.twitter.com/Gy5UcInp6h— NBA (@NBA) April 19, 2026
Finalists by category:
MVP: Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City), Jokic (Denver), Wembanyama (San Antonio)
Best defender: Wembanyama; Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City); Ausar Thompson (Detroit)
Clutch player: Edwards (Minnesota); Gilgeous-Alexander; Jamal Murray (Denver)
Most Improved Player: Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Atlanta); Deni Avdija (Portland); Jalen Duren (Detroit)
Sixth player: Tim Hardaway Jr. (Denver); Jaime Jaquez Jr. (Miami); Keldon Johnson (San Antonio)
Coach of the Year: JB Bickerstaff (Detroit); Mitch Johnson (San Antonio); Joe Mazzulla (Boston)
Rookie of the Year: VJ Edgecombe (Philadelphia); Cooper Flagg (Dallas); Kon Knueppel (Charlotte)
MVP of the race
Gilgeous-Alexander is trying to win a second consecutive MVP title, while Jokic — who has been a top-two contender for five straight seasons — is seeking his fourth award in six years. Wembanyama is among the finalists for the first time.
Coach of the year
Bickerstaff has already won the NBA Coaches Association Award and is considered the favorite, while Johnson and Mazzulla have led teams that have exceeded expectations.
Rookie of the year
A battle between Flagg and Knueppel is expected, with Edgecombe likely to finish third.
The best defender
Wembanyama was the favorite last season as well, but did not meet the requirement due to illness (thrombosis) after the All-Star break. Rudy Gobert will wait at least another year for his record fifth award.
Clutch player
Gilgeous-Alexander was the top scorer in late games, while Edwards was second. Denver had two candidates, but voters favored Murray.
Sixth player
Jaquez averaged 15.4 points, Johnson 13.2 in all 82 games, and Hardaway the same average in the reserve role. The winner will win this prize for the first time.
Most advanced player
Avdija averaged 24.2 points and led Portland in the fight for the playoffs. Alexander-Walker averaged 20.8 points, while Duren nearly doubled his output from last season.
(Vijesti.ba)
