During a TNT broadcast ahead of tonight’s Wizards-Pacers play-in matchup, the finalists for six big end-of-season 2020/21 awards were announced. Here is the full list, as voted on by reporters.
NBA Most Valuable Player:
- Stephen Curry (Warriors)
- Joel Embiid (Sixers)
- Nikola Jokic (Nuggets)
NBA Defensive Player of the Year:
- Rudy Gobert (Jazz)
- Draymond Green (Warriors)
- Ben Simmons (Sixers)
NBA Rookie of the Year:
- LaMelo Ball (Hornets)
- Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves)
- Tyrese Haliburton (Kings)
NBA Most Improved Player:
- Jerami Grant (Pistons)
- Michael Porter Jr. (Nuggets)
- Julius Randle (Knicks)
NBA Sixth Man of the Year:
- Jordan Clarkson (Jazz)
- Joe Ingles (Jazz)
- Derrick Rose (Knicks)
NBA Coach of the Year:
- Quin Snyder (Jazz)
- Tom Thibodeau (Knicks)
- Monty Williams (Suns)
Some of these current contenders are familiar with the hardware they’re up for again. Curry is a two-time MVP, having won the award previously in 2015 and 2016. Gobert and Green have both previously won Defensive Player of the Year awards — Green in 2017 and Gobert in 2018 and 2019. Thibodeau was voted Coach of the Year a decade ago while with the Bulls.
The winners for the awards will be announced during the 2020/21 NBA playoffs.
If gobert wins dpoy over Ben and green I’m done caring about awards
The fact that Bam Adebayo is not one of the 3 finalists should be enough.
Do they not realize they’re voting omn Green this year, not the past?
Green has been incredible this year. Try watching the games
Bam has been better. Take your own advice and try watching ALL of the games.
Draymond’s defense this season makes Bam’s look like a g-leaguer, try again and actually watch Draymond play for once – you can always tell who only looks at stats, Dray’s game doesn’t work like that.
Bam is overrated, as are the Heat. Jimmy deserves better. I watched like 30 Heat games this year.
Jimmy chose his situation, he deserves whatever he gets
I watch waaay too much basketball. Bam would’ve made the list if they had 4 finalists he was that good.
Grewn did have a very good year on Defense this year and Simmons can shut down any one player but Gobert changes the entire offensive dynamic. His mere presence means Mitchell, Ingles, Conley and O Neale can run you off the 3 point line because Gobert has the paint and as a result all you can do is chuck up mid range jumpers.
Green will finish in a distant 3rd, just like Curry will for MVP.
Gobert is even more likely to win DPOY than Jokic is to win the MVP.
Edwards thought he would be handed the ROY award cause Lamelo misses a few games??? Not a day like it!
huh? there are going to be three finalists no matter what. I don’t think Edwards was confused about that, but I don’t know the guy.
I’m saying people were looking forward to Edwards getting it due to Lamelo missing some games. Even Edwards bought into it. We all know it’s 3 finalists.
I think we all could tell what you were saying
DROSE FOR 6MAN TILL ITS BACKWARDS
Kind of funny that Utah has two 6th Man of the Year candidates. My understanding of how numbers work leads me to believe that one of them would actually be a 7th man.
yeah i don’t get it either, same as last year with the Clippers, lou Williams and Mo Harrell… im thinking more like whipmaster.
6th man is a general reference to “best bench player” not literally the 6th best player on the team.
Lou Williams was also teammates with Eric Gordon when both of them were finalists for the 6th man award, it’s not that uncommon.
It might not be uncommon, but that doesn’t make it any more logical. Change the name of the award to Best Bench Player or limit it to one player per team.
I think most people know the reference
gosh, I sure am looking forward to the idiotic debate over whether one team can have two players nominated for sixth man of the year. It’s super relevant and interesting, boy howdy.
Its as interesting as the 6 man of the year award itself
Jokic, Simmons, Ball, Porter, Rose, Thibs. Randall will probably win MIP but he’s been a good player for a few years. Especially his season in NO. I’m disappointed Capela wasn’t a finalist for DPOY, he’s been incredible.
Embiid Simmons Ball Randle Clarkson Thibodeau
My opinions,
Most Valuable- Steph Curry
Defensive Player of Year- Rudy Gobert
Rookie of the Year- LaMelo Ball
Most Improved Player- Julius Randle
6th Man of the Year- Jordan Clarkson
Coach of the Year- Tom Thibodeau
As a Lakers fan, the Clippers and the Jazz look tough to me. Some ex-Lakers look good for these end of season awards. Yes, Randle was good before, but not like this.
Have a happy playoffs everyone!
lol no idea how u can havs curry over jokic. jokic won the award a month ago
Jokic isn’t as valuable to Denver as Curry is to GSW, period.
This seasons Denver makes the playoffs easily without Joker, this seasons GSW is one of the worst teams in history without Steph.
There’s levels, and you can’t see them.
MVP is most valuable to your team……Curry wins hands down…..the others have a supporting cast
Bam and Jimmy Butler and the Heat still being disrespected every year? That’s fine by them. We’ll see what they think about that soon enough
miami are pretenders. weakest finals team ever next to 07 cavs
Jimmy Is the REAL MVP.
Heat without him don’t exist
Clint Capela should been in the running for DOPY he had 10 blocks in one game and key defensive stops this a popularity contest
Capela is one of the most underrated players in the game, I agree he’s better than Simmons on D.
And what about finalists for the other awards?
NBA LEAST Valuable Player
NBA DEFENSELESS Player of the Year
NBA MOST Worthless Rookie
NBA MOST Un-Improved Player
NBA BIGGEST WASTE of a Roster Spot
NBA Coach Who Shouldn’t Have a Job
NBA “Tin Man” = Most Often Injured Player
Just pull up the Rockets roster, they’ve got these awards locked down
I don’t understand how one team could have 2 6-man nominees but im probably just clueless on this award
It’s just a euphemism for best bench player.
Numbers can be names. Like 5-21-21.
My homer picks are Randle for Most Improved and Rose for 6th man but I think Williams should win the Coach of the Year over Thibs.
Surprised to not see McMillan nominated as he went 27-11 (roughly translates to 51-21 over the full 72 game season) with the same roster that Lloyd Pierce went 14-20 with. Unless they felt that’s not enough games for McMillan or that Pierce was just that bad of a coach.
Steph should have won 6 MVPs by now.
Dray deserves DPOY because his defense works in the playoffs, Rudy’s does not.
No one respects your opinion here because you are a biased homer for the Warriors in every single comment you make.
Jokic / Simmons / LaMelo / MPJ / D-Rose / Williams