SGA or Jokic? Castle or Risacher? Our experts pick every NBA award

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.

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Finalists

• Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

• Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

Chris Herring: Gilgeous-Alexander
Bobby Marks: Gilgeous-Alexander
Dave McMenamin: Gilgeous-Alexander
Ramona Shelburne: Gilgeous-Alexander
André Snellings: Jokic
Kevin Pelton: Gilgeous-Alexander
Jeremy Woo: Jokic

Latest sports news Football match highlights Esports tournament updates Sports predictions 2025 Trending esports players Defensive Player of the Year

Finalists

• Dyson Daniels, Atlanta Hawks

• Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors

• Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers

Chris Herring: Daniels
Bobby Marks: Daniels
Dave McMenamin: Daniels
Ramona Shelburne: Green
André Snellings: Green
Jeremy Woo: Mobley

Latest sports news Football match highlights Esports tournament updates Sports predictions 2025 Trending esports players Rookie of the Year

Finalists

• Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs

• Zaccharie Risacher, Atlanta Hawks

• Jaylen Wells, Memphis Grizzlies

Chris Herring: Castle
Bobby Marks: Risacher
Dave McMenamin: Castle
Ramona Shelburne: Castle
André Snellings: Castle
Kevin Pelton: Wells
Jeremy Woo: Risacher

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Finalists

• Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons

• Dyson Daniels, Atlanta Hawks

• Ivica Zubac, LA Clippers

Chris Herring: Zubac
Bobby Marks: Daniels
Dave McMenamin: Zubac
Ramona Shelburne: Zubac
André Snellings: Zubac
Kevin Pelton: Cunningham
Jeremy Woo: Zubac

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Finalists

• Malik Beasley, Detroit Pistons

• Ty Jerome, Cleveland Cavaliers

• Payton Pritchard, Boston Celtics

Chris Herring: Pritchard
Bobby Marks: Pritchard
Dave McMenamin: Pritchard
Ramona Shelburne: Beasley
André Snellings: Beasley
Kevin Pelton: Pritchard
Jeremy Woo: Pritchard

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Finalists

• Kenny Atkinson, Cleveland Cavaliers

• J.B. Bickerstaff, Detroit Pistons

• Ime Udoka, Houston Rockets

Chris Herring: Atkinson
Bobby Marks: Bickerstaff
Dave McMenamin: Atkinson
Ramona Shelburne: Bickerstaff
André Snellings: Atkinson
Kevin Pelton: Atkinson
Jeremy Woo: Atkinson

Latest sports news Football match highlights Esports tournament updates Sports predictions 2025 Trending esports players Clutch Player of the Year

Finalists

• Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks

• Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves

• Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

Chris Herring: Brunson
Bobby Marks: Brunson
Dave McMenamin: Jokic
Ramona Shelburne: Edwards
André Snellings: Jokic
Kevin Pelton: Brunson
Jeremy Woo: Brunson