2025 NBA awards: Experts' picks for MVP, DPOY, top rookie, more honors

On Monday, the NBA unveiled thefinalists 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

• Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks


• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder


• Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

Chris Herring:Gilgeous-Alexander

>Tim MacMahon:Gilgeous-Alexander

>Bobby Marks:Gilgeous-Alexander

>Dave McMenamin:Gilgeous-Alexander

>Kevin Pelton: Gilgeous-Alexander

>Ramona Shelburne:Gilgeous-Alexander

>AndréSnellings: Jokic

>Marc J. Spears:Gilgeous-Alexander

>Jeremy Woo:Jokic

>Michael C. Wright:Jokic

Defensive Player of the Year

Finalists

• Dyson Daniels, Atlanta Hawks


• Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors


• Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers

Chris Herring:Daniels

>Tim MacMahon:Mobley

>Bobby Marks:Daniels

>Dave McMenamin:Daniels

>Ramona Shelburne: Green

>AndréSnellings: Green

>Marc J. Spears: Green

>Jeremy Woo:Mobley

>Michael C. Wright:Mobley

Rookie of the Year

Finalists

• Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs


• Zaccharie Risacher, Atlanta Hawks


• Jaylen Wells, Memphis Grizzlies

Chris Herring:Castle

>Tim MacMahon: Castle

>Bobby Marks:Risacher

>Dave McMenamin:Castle

>Kevin Pelton: Wells

>Ramona Shelburne: Castle

>AndréSnellings: Castle

>Marc J. Spears: Castle

>Jeremy Woo:Risacher

>Michael C. Wright:Castle

Most Improved Player

Finalists

• Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons


• Dyson Daniels, Atlanta Hawks


• Ivica Zubac, LA Clippers

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

• Malik Beasley, Detroit Pistons


• Ty Jerome, Cleveland Cavaliers


• Payton Pritchard, Boston Celtics

Chris Herring: Pritchard

>Tim MacMahon:Beasley

>Bobby Marks:Pritchard

>Dave McMenamin:Pritchard

>Kevin Pelton: Pritchard

>Ramona Shelburne: Beasley

>AndréSnellings: Beasley

>Marc J. Spears:Pritchard

>Jeremy Woo:Pritchard

>Michael C. Wright:Pritchard

Coach of the Year

Finalists

• Kenny Atkinson, Cleveland Cavaliers


• J.B. Bickerstaff, Detroit Pistons


• Ime Udoka, Houston Rockets

Chris Herring:Atkinson

>Tim MacMahon:Bickerstaff

>Bobby Marks:Bickerstaff

>Dave McMenamin:Atkinson

>Kevin Pelton: Atkinson

>Ramona Shelburne: Bickerstaff

>AndréSnellings: Atkinson

>Marc J. Spears:Bickerstaff

>Jeremy Woo:Atkinson

>Michael C. Wright:Bickerstaff

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

>Kevin Pelton: Brunson

>Ramona Shelburne: Edwards

>AndréSnellings: Jokic

>Marc J. Spears:Edwards

>Jeremy Woo:Brunson

>Michael C. Wright:Brunson

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