The NBA has announced the 2021/22 season award finalists for the league’s six major awards: Most Valuable Player, Rookie of the Year, Sixth Man of the Year, Coach of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Most Improved Player.
[RELATED: Hoops Rumors’ 2022 NBA Award Picks]
The awards were voted on by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. The three top vote-getters for each award are the finalists. They are as follows:
Most Valuable Player:
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)
- Joel Embiid (Sixers)
- Nikola Jokic (Nuggets)
Rookie of the Year:
- Scottie Barnes (Raptors)
- Cade Cunningham (Pistons)
- Evan Mobley (Cavaliers)
Sixth Man of the Year:
- Tyler Herro (Heat)
- Cameron Johnson (Suns)
- Kevin Love (Cavaliers)
Coach of the Year:
- Taylor Jenkins (Grizzlies)
- Erik Spoelstra (Heat)
- Monty Williams (Suns)
Defensive Player of the Year:
- Mikal Bridges (Suns)
- Rudy Gobert (Jazz)
- Marcus Smart (Celtics)
Most Improved Player:
- Darius Garland (Cavaliers)
- Ja Morant (Grizzlies)
- Dejounte Murray (Spurs)
Winners will be announced during TNT’s coverage of the NBA playoffs, according to the league.
Jokic,Mobley,Herro,Jenkins,Smart,Morant
Giannis,Cade,Herro,Jenkins,Bridges,Morant
Poole of the Warriors hands down winner of Most Improved……
Absolutely correct.
And, with Murray, it’s not so much that he improved, but more that he underachieved before.
“And, with Murray, it’s not so much that he improved, but more that he underachieved before.”
1. You can argue Poole similarly underachieved from the outset. I understand he was a bottom first rounder, but he was pitiful as a rookie. Furthermore, Murray was the 29th pick
2. Murray didn’t “underachieve.” He was a bottom first rounder with good defensive instincts and passing skills that needed to improve his shooting and did. He also had to a battle back from a debilitating injury three years back and made a successful recovery. Now he’s a borderline all-star, posting a PER of 22.3, which is quite good for a guard. Sure, the Spurs aren’t all that great, but that’s more due to inexperience and lack of talent than Murray’s abilities
except he isn’t nominated
Jokic, Barnes, Johnson, Jenkins, Gobert, Garland.
Wow C’s got screwed on a lot of these R. Williams should be in the top 3 of most improved Udoka should be part of the top 3 also
Its unbelievable that Maxey is not in the running for most improved
Guess they had to pick three but yeah Maxey and Bane should get some consideration but the 3 they picked are deserving as well.
How is Morant more improved? He has always been awesome. So dumb
Yeah I don’t get it as well.
8.1 more ppg with more efficient shooting combined team success.
These awards are just publicity stunts.
Morant is the same guy he was. Maybe recognition was lacking previously. Sometimes for smaller-scale teams, getting most improved just means the coach stopped ignoring you. The same players tend to be candidates yearly.
Bane is right next to him for comparison.
Garland, Maxey
What a draft last year!
Super impressed w Mobleys passing ability, ultra lite on his feet w quick spring. You couldn’t have drawn up a better modern big in a lab
Redraft Im taking Mobs 1 Barnes 2 …the stats won’t bear out career wise but I think these 2 are the best {modern} day NBA players of last year’s draft
The lab is known as Southern Cal, aka Big Man U
Gainnnis, Mobley, Herro, Williams, Gobert, and Morant would be my choices to win the awards. Mobley played like I expected and why I wished Rockets would have drafted him. But Cavs have a team and what they do now, is interesting storyline to follow.
Jokic, Scottie Barnes, Herro, Jenkins, Gobert, Garland
Stoked for Vegas summer league July
Joker Mobley Herro Jenkins Smart Garland
For everyone complaining about the nominees for most improved, please realize that there were only 3 spots and about 15 worthy candidates. That’s just how the dice roll sometimes. It is not, by any means, meant to discount their efforts
Don’t care about the rest, Monty is coach of the year…
Morant was already good last year. They could have nominated Desmond instead (although Garland should win it). It’s cray that there’s no Jordan Poole in the list.
Jojo,mobley,cam johnson,monty,bridges,morrant
Jokic had nice #s but his dirty hit on Morris and Morris being out of game for 4 months really bothers me. IMO MVP should be about more than just the #s.
Defending yourself is a good quality in theory. Of course that can go back’n’forth.
That was one of the best moments of the season, everyone loved when Jokic defended himself against that scum bag also known as Markieff Morris, right?
Morant for MIP is cheating. Routing for Murray but I think Garland wins it
Jokic, Barnes, Herro, Monty Williams, Gobert, Morant