Golden State Warriors standout guard Stephen Curry and centers Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets and Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers are the three contenders for Kia Most Valuable Player, as the league announced its finalists for regular-season honors on Thursday.
The other five awards: NBA Coach of the Year, Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Kia NBA Most Improved Player, Kia NBA Rookie of the Year and Kia NBA Sixth Man.
The three finalists for each annual award are based on voting from a global panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.
Coach of the Year will be decided from among Quin Snyder, Utah Jazz; Tom Thibodeau, New York Knicks; and Monty Williams, Phoenix Suns.
The Defensive Player of the Year award will come from Rudy Gobert, Jazz; Draymond Green, Warriors; or Ben Simmons, 76ers.
Most Improved Player candidates are Jerami Grant, Detroit Pistons; Michael Porter Jr., Denver Nuggets; and Julius Randle, New York Knicks.
The finalists for Rookie of the Year are LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets; Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves; and Tyrese Haliburton, Sacramento Kings.
And the Sixth Man contenders are Jordan Clarkson and Joe Ingles, Jazz; along with Derrick Rose of the Knicks.
Winners will be revealed during TNT’s playoff coverage at a time yet to be announced.
–Field Level Media