2024-04-23 14:51:11
Jokic is among the three finalists for the MVP award for the fourth year in a row, winning the award in 2021 and 2022, but last year he finished second behind Philadelphia “76ers” player Joel Embiid.
Embiid and Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokunbo were MVP finalists alongside Jokic in each of the previous two seasons, but were replaced this season by Gilges-Alexander and Doncic.
Jokic finished the regular season with averages of 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds and 9.0 assists. Gilges-Alexander averaged 30.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 2.0 steals this season, while Doncic led the league with 33.9 points and 9 steals. .2 rebounds and 9.8 assists.
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Vembanyama, Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller and Thunder center Chet Holmgren are competing for the title of best rookie this season.
Vembanyama set several records in his first season with the Spurs, averaging 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 3.6 blocks and 1.2 steals, while Holmgren averaged 16, 5 points and 7.9 rebounds while Miller averaged 17.4 points and 184 3-pointers this season.
Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert, who previously won the Defensive Player of the Year award three times and was a finalist from 2017 to 2022, leads this year’s finalists along with Wembanyam and Miami Heat center Bama Adebayo.
Gobert averaged 12.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game in the regular season. Adebayo averaged 10.4 rebounds, one steal and one block each.
Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey, Chicago Bulls guard Kobe White and Houston Rockets center Alperen Shengin are competing for the Most Improved Player award.
Maxey averaged 25.9 points and 6.2 assists this season. White averaged 19.1 points and 5.1 assists, while Shengin averaged 21.1 points, 9.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists.
Sacramento “Kings” guard Malik Monk, “Timberwolves” center Naz Reed and “Bucks” forward Bobby Portis are competing for the award of the best reserve player of the season.
Monk averaged 15.4 points and 5.1 assists in the regular season, Reed averaged 13.5 points and 5.2 rebounds, both career highs, and Portis averaged 13.8 points and 7. 4 rebounds.
For the second year in a row, Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Deignault is competing for the best coach award, against Jamal Mosley from Orlando Magic and Timberwolves coach Chris Finch.
Under Mosley’s leadership, the Magic boast one of the league’s best defenses and won the Southeast Division title. Finch, on the other hand, won 56 games with Minnesota, the second most in club history.
Meanwhile, DeMar DeRozan of the “Bulls” is competing for the award, which is given to the player for the biggest contribution to the team’s success, for the second year in a row, and this year he has been joined by “Warriors” guard Stephen Curry and Gilges-Alexander.
2024-04-23 14:51:11