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abr 20 2026The NBA officially announced the finalists for the seven major regular season awards for 2025-26, a list marked by the dominance of several title-contending franchises and the repeated presence of some of the league's biggest stars.
In the race for the Kia NBA Most Valuable Player award, the three candidates are Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, leader of an Oklahoma City Thunder team thrust into the forefront of the West; Nikola Jokić, who returns to compete for another honor after another elite campaign with the Denver Nuggets; and Victor Wembanyama, who has become the absolute reference point for the San Antonio Spurs.
The Rookie of the Year award will feature VJ Edgecombe, Cooper Flagg, and Kon Knueppel as finalists, three young players who made an immediate impact on their respective franchises.
On the defensive end, the Defensive Player of the Year presents a highly competitive battle between Chet Holmgren, Ausar Thompson, and once again Victor Wembanyama, who repeats his candidacy and confirms his total influence on both sides of the floor.
For the Most Improved Player award, the selected names were Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Deni Avdija, and Jalen Duren.
The Sixth Man of the Year award will be decided among Tim Hardaway Jr., Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Keldon Johnson.
In clutch moments, the Clutch Player of the Year will feature Anthony Edwards, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Jamal Murray as contenders.
Finally, the Coach of the Year award will pit J.B. Bickerstaff, Mitch Johnson, and Joe Mazzulla against each other.
The list reflects the competitive weight of teams like the San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets, and Detroit Pistons, all with multiple representatives in awards that will be announced during the playoffs.
