Recently, the NBA announced the top three finalists for seven main individual awards, such as Most Valuable Player, Rookie of the Year, and Defensive Player of the Year.
With several award races concluding at the end of the regular season, and after injuries significantly impacted both the Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year categories, we asked our panel of NBA experts to share their predictions for the winners from the announced finalists.
Will Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder earn his first MVP trophy, or can Nikola Jokic from the Denver Nuggets, with a strong finish, secure his fourth MVP title in five years?
Following the absence of Victor Wembanyama, the San Antonio Spurs center who was a strong contender for DPOY but missed the end of the season due to a shoulder blood clot, which player among Draymond Green, Evan Mobley, or Dyson Daniels is now most likely to win the award?
Here are the predictions from our panel of experts, starting with the MVP and concluding with the Clutch Player of the Year.
MVP
Finalists
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Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
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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
André Snellings: Jokic
Marc J. Spears: Gilgeous-Alexander
Jeremy Woo: Jokic
Defensive Player of the Year
Finalists
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Dyson Daniels, Atlanta Hawks
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Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors
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Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers
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
Rookie of the Year
Finalists
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Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs
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Zaccharie Risacher, Atlanta Hawks
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Jaylen Wells, Memphis Grizzlies
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
Most Improved Player
Finalists
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Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
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Dyson Daniels, Atlanta Hawks
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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
Sixth Man of the Year
Finalists
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Malik Beasley, Detroit Pistons
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Ty Jerome, Cleveland Cavaliers
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Payton Pritchard, Boston Celtics
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
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
Clutch Player of the Year
Finalists
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Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
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Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
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Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
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
