On Monday, the NBA unveiled the finalists for its seven major individual awards, including Most Valuable Player, Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.
And after several races came down to the end of the regular season — and after both the ROY and DPOY races were heavily affected by injuries — we’re asking our NBA experts to make their picks among the league’s top three finalists.
Will Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander break through for his first MVP, or could a late surge from the Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic be enough to give the superstar center his fourth award in five seasons?
And after San Antonio Spurs center and DPOY lock Victor Wembanyama was forced to sit out the rest of the season because of a blood clot in his shoulder, which player — Draymond Green, Evan Mobley, or Dyson Daniels — has the inside track at this season’s award?
Let’s get to our panel’s picks, starting at the top with MVP and finishing with the league’s Clutch Player of the Year.
MVP
Finalists
Chris Herring: Gilgeous-Alexander
Tim MacMahon: Gilgeous-Alexander
Bobby Marks: Gilgeous-Alexander
Dave McMenamin: Gilgeous-Alexander
Kevin Pelton: Gilgeous-Alexander
Ramona Shelburne: Gilgeous-Alexander
André Snellings: Jokic
Marc J. Spears: Gilgeous-Alexander
Jeremy Woo: Jokic
Michael C. Wright: Jokic
Defensive Player of the Year
Finalists
Chris Herring: Daniels
Tim MacMahon: Mobley
Bobby Marks: Daniels
Dave McMenamin: Daniels
Ramona Shelburne: Green
André Snellings: Green
Marc J. Spears: Green
Jeremy Woo: Mobley
Michael C. Wright: Mobley
Rookie of the Year
Finalists
Chris Herring: Castle
Tim MacMahon: Castle
Bobby Marks: Risacher
Dave McMenamin: Castle
Kevin Pelton: Wells
Ramona Shelburne: Castle
André Snellings: Castle
Marc J. Spears: Castle
Jeremy Woo: Risacher
Michael C. Wright: Castle
Most Improved Player
Finalists
Chris Herring: Zubac
Tim MacMahon: Zubac
Bobby Marks: Daniels
Dave McMenamin: Zubac
Kevin Pelton: Cunningham
Ramona Shelburne: Zubac
André Snellings: Zubac
Marc J. Spears: Daniels
Jeremy Woo: Zubac
Michael C. Wright: Zubac
Sixth Man of the Year
Finalists
Chris Herring: Pritchard
Tim MacMahon: Beasley
Bobby Marks: Pritchard
Dave McMenamin: Pritchard
Kevin Pelton: Pritchard
Ramona Shelburne: Beasley
André Snellings: Beasley
Marc J. Spears: Pritchard
Jeremy Woo: Pritchard
Michael C. Wright: Pritchard
Coach of the Year
Finalists
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Kenny Atkinson, Cleveland Cavaliers
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J.B. Bickerstaff, Detroit Pistons
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Ime Udoka, Houston Rockets
Chris Herring: Atkinson
Tim MacMahon: Bickerstaff
Bobby Marks: Bickerstaff
Dave McMenamin: Atkinson
Kevin Pelton: Atkinson
Ramona Shelburne: Bickerstaff
André Snellings: Atkinson
Marc J. Spears: Bickerstaff
Jeremy Woo: Atkinson
Michael C. Wright: Bickerstaff
Clutch Player of the Year
Finalists
Chris Herring: Brunson
Bobby Marks: Brunson
Dave McMenamin: Jokic
Kevin Pelton: Brunson
Ramona Shelburne: Edwards
André Snellings: Jokic
Marc J. Spears: Edwards
Jeremy Woo: Brunson
Michael C. Wright: Brunson