The NBA announced the finalists for its regular season awards for the 2023-24 season, including Most Valuable Player, Defensive Player of the Year, and Rookie of the Year. 

The list of finalists for the MVP award includes Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic, Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Doncic, and Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Jokic is looking for his third MVP award, while Doncic and Gilgeous-Alexander are the first-time finalists.

Minnesota Timberwolves’ Rudy Gobert is looking to add another DPOY award to his resume, having claimed the honor three times so far. He will be challenged by Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo and San Antonio Spurs’ rookie Victor Wembanyama.

Wembanyama is also in the running for the ROY award and is the overwhelming favorite to win it. OKC’s Chet Holmgren and Charlotte Hornets’ Brandon Miller are the two other finalists.

OKC’s Mark Daigneault, Timberwolves’ Chris Finch, and Orlando Magic’s Jamahl Mosley are in the running for the Coach of the Year award. Daigneault led his team to a 57-25 record and the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, while Finch and Timberwolves finished just one win behind OKC with a 56-26 record. Mosley, on the other hand, guided the Magic to the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference with a 47-35 record and the first playoff appearance since 2019–20.

The finalists for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award are Malik Monk (Sacramento Kings), Bobby Portis (Milwaukee Bucks), and Naz Reid (Timberwolves). Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia 76ers), Alperen Sengun (Houston Rockets), and Coby White (Chicago Bulls) are in the running for the Most Improved Player award, while the Clutch Player of the Year award will go to either Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors), DeMar DeRozan (Bulls) or Gilgeous-Alexander.

The winners for each award will be announced during the NBA playoffs.

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The wait for Joel Embiid’s first NBA MVP award is over. The Philadelphia 76ers’ star was unveiled as the Most Valuable Player in the league for the 2022-23 season, edging out Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic and Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Although it seemed that this year’s race for the NBA MVP award was going to be close, Embiid ended up getting overwhelming support from the voters. He received 73 first-place votes out of 100 available and finished with 915 points. Jokic was second with 15 first-place votes and 674 points, while Antetokounmpo received 12 first-point votes and a total of 606 points.

Embiid established himself as a perennial MVP candidate in recent years and finished runner-up in the past two seasons. He finally got over the hump this year thanks to a spectacular campaign that saw him average a career-high 33.1 points per game while adding 10.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists. The 29-year-old player also kept his status as one of the best defenders in the league.

“I don’t even know where to start,” Embiid said during his appearance on TNT’s Inside the NBA. “It’s been a long time coming, a lot of hard work. I’ve been through a lot, and I’m not just talking about basketball … I don’t know what to say. It’s amazing.”

After the news was announced, Embiid went on social media to share a post from 2014 in which he ranked predicted himself as the NBA MVP winner.

Joel Embiid becomes the fifth member of the 76ers to win the MVP honors and the first since Allen Iverson (2000-01). The rest of the 76ers’ MVP winners were Julius Erving (1980-81), Moses Malone (1982-83), and Wilt Chamberlain, who won the award three consecutive times between 1966 and 1968.

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The Denver Nuggets star center Nikola Jokic is adding another NBA’s Most Valuable Player award to his resume. According to multiple reports, Jokic was voted the NBA MVP for the 2021-22 season. The 27-year-old player was the MVP last season as well.

Jokic is the 15th player in the NBA to get multiple MVP awards. He beat out the Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid and the Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo, who were the remaining two finalists for the award. The league is expected to officially confirm the news at some point this week. 

Nikola Jokic had a career year in 2021-22 that saw him average 27.1 points, 13.8 rebounds, 7.9 assists, and 1.5 steals. He also became the first player in NBA history to rack up 2,000 points, 1,000 boards, and 500 assists in a single season.

Thanks to his performances, the Nuggets finished as a sixth seed in the Western Conference with a 48-34 record. This was despite the fact that All-Star guard Jamal Murray missed the entire season, and their talented forward Michael Porter Jr. played only nine games. However, Jokic couldn’t do much in the playoffs, where Denver was handed a gentleman’s sweep by the Golden State Warriors in the first round.

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It’s been far too long since we’ve watched an NBA game, and we’re getting itchy for some basketball talk. So what better way to prepare for the upcoming season than to discuss who may be this year’s Most Valuable Player? Last year’s winner, Nikola Jokic, was an unconventional selection, but no less deserving because of it. Will this year’s winner come out of left field as well? Here are our top candidates to win it in 2021-2022.

Nikola Jokic

Considering the fact that Jokic won the award last year, we have to do him the service of putting him on this list. The guy’s an absolute basketball genius and a point guard in a center’s body, and he certainly has a shot to repeat.

Giannis Antetokounmpo

The Greek Freak won back-to-back MVPs in the years that preceded last season, and we wouldn’t be surprised if he comes back for more. This dude’s an absolute monster and after a strong championship season, look for Giannis to only get better.

Kevin Durant

The Brooklyn forward is hungry for another title, and with enough distance from his injury, we wouldn’t be surprised if he has one of his best seasons yet.

LeBron James

Does LeBron have enough strength in him for another MVP season? Some would argue that he was on par for the hardware before he got injured last season. With a chip on his shoulder and a vengeance to prove that he’s not washed, it’s never smart to count him out.

The post Who Will Win MVP in the Upcoming NBA Season? appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic is this year’s recipient of the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award. Jokic became just the sixth international player to get this honor and the first center to do it since Shaquille O’Neal in 2000.

Jokic blew out the competition, receiving 91 first-place votes out of 101 possible and a total of 971 points. Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid finished second in the voting, totaling 586 points but just one first-place vote. Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors rounds up the top three with five first-place votes and 453 points. 

“It’s a big accomplishment,” said Jokic about the award. “But it’s something that, like I said to the guys, it’s not just me. I couldn’t do it by myself. It’s something that it is an individual award, but it’s the effort of everybody who is part of the Denver Nuggets organization.”

Nikola Jokic was drafted by the Denver Nuggets in 2014 with the 41st overall pick. After adjusting to the league in his rookie season, Jokic quickly emerged as the franchise cornerstone for the Nuggets. He has been an All-Star each year since 2019 while managing to make two All-NBA teams.

In 2020-21, Jokic had his best statistical outing while leading Denver to the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. During the regular season, the 26-year-old Serbian averaged 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 8.4 assists per game.

Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks) and Chris Paul (Phoenix Suns) were the remaining players to receive first-place votes by the media. The New York Knicks’ Derrick Rose also received one, thanks to the fan vote.

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, who was the favorite for the MVP award before injuries limited his appearances in the regular season, made it to just one ballot. This meant that James has received an MVP vote for 18 consecutive seasons, or every year since entering the NBA.

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The NBA announced the finalists for its regular season awards for the 2023-24 season, including Most Valuable Player, Defensive Player of the Year, and Rookie of the Year. 

The list of finalists for the MVP award includes Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic, Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Doncic, and Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Jokic is looking for his third MVP award, while Doncic and Gilgeous-Alexander are the first-time finalists.

Minnesota Timberwolves’ Rudy Gobert is looking to add another DPOY award to his resume, having claimed the honor three times so far. He will be challenged by Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo and San Antonio Spurs’ rookie Victor Wembanyama.

Wembanyama is also in the running for the ROY award and is the overwhelming favorite to win it. OKC’s Chet Holmgren and Charlotte Hornets’ Brandon Miller are the two other finalists.

OKC’s Mark Daigneault, Timberwolves’ Chris Finch, and Orlando Magic’s Jamahl Mosley are in the running for the Coach of the Year award. Daigneault led his team to a 57-25 record and the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, while Finch and Timberwolves finished just one win behind OKC with a 56-26 record. Mosley, on the other hand, guided the Magic to the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference with a 47-35 record and the first playoff appearance since 2019–20.

The finalists for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award are Malik Monk (Sacramento Kings), Bobby Portis (Milwaukee Bucks), and Naz Reid (Timberwolves). Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia 76ers), Alperen Sengun (Houston Rockets), and Coby White (Chicago Bulls) are in the running for the Most Improved Player award, while the Clutch Player of the Year award will go to either Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors), DeMar DeRozan (Bulls) or Gilgeous-Alexander.

The winners for each award will be announced during the NBA playoffs.

The post NBA Announces Finalists for 2023-24 Regular Season Awards, Including MVP and DPOY appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The wait for Joel Embiid’s first NBA MVP award is over. The Philadelphia 76ers’ star was unveiled as the Most Valuable Player in the league for the 2022-23 season, edging out Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic and Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Although it seemed that this year’s race for the NBA MVP award was going to be close, Embiid ended up getting overwhelming support from the voters. He received 73 first-place votes out of 100 available and finished with 915 points. Jokic was second with 15 first-place votes and 674 points, while Antetokounmpo received 12 first-point votes and a total of 606 points.

Embiid established himself as a perennial MVP candidate in recent years and finished runner-up in the past two seasons. He finally got over the hump this year thanks to a spectacular campaign that saw him average a career-high 33.1 points per game while adding 10.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists. The 29-year-old player also kept his status as one of the best defenders in the league.

“I don’t even know where to start,” Embiid said during his appearance on TNT’s Inside the NBA. “It’s been a long time coming, a lot of hard work. I’ve been through a lot, and I’m not just talking about basketball … I don’t know what to say. It’s amazing.”

After the news was announced, Embiid went on social media to share a post from 2014 in which he ranked predicted himself as the NBA MVP winner.

Joel Embiid becomes the fifth member of the 76ers to win the MVP honors and the first since Allen Iverson (2000-01). The rest of the 76ers’ MVP winners were Julius Erving (1980-81), Moses Malone (1982-83), and Wilt Chamberlain, who won the award three consecutive times between 1966 and 1968.

The post 76ers’ Joel Embiid Wins NBA MVP Award for 2022-23 Season appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Denver Nuggets star center Nikola Jokic is adding another NBA’s Most Valuable Player award to his resume. According to multiple reports, Jokic was voted the NBA MVP for the 2021-22 season. The 27-year-old player was the MVP last season as well.

Jokic is the 15th player in the NBA to get multiple MVP awards. He beat out the Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid and the Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo, who were the remaining two finalists for the award. The league is expected to officially confirm the news at some point this week. 

Nikola Jokic had a career year in 2021-22 that saw him average 27.1 points, 13.8 rebounds, 7.9 assists, and 1.5 steals. He also became the first player in NBA history to rack up 2,000 points, 1,000 boards, and 500 assists in a single season.

Thanks to his performances, the Nuggets finished as a sixth seed in the Western Conference with a 48-34 record. This was despite the fact that All-Star guard Jamal Murray missed the entire season, and their talented forward Michael Porter Jr. played only nine games. However, Jokic couldn’t do much in the playoffs, where Denver was handed a gentleman’s sweep by the Golden State Warriors in the first round.

The post Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic Named NBA MVP for the Second Straight Season appeared first on SportzBonanza.

It’s been far too long since we’ve watched an NBA game, and we’re getting itchy for some basketball talk. So what better way to prepare for the upcoming season than to discuss who may be this year’s Most Valuable Player? Last year’s winner, Nikola Jokic, was an unconventional selection, but no less deserving because of it. Will this year’s winner come out of left field as well? Here are our top candidates to win it in 2021-2022.

Nikola Jokic

Considering the fact that Jokic won the award last year, we have to do him the service of putting him on this list. The guy’s an absolute basketball genius and a point guard in a center’s body, and he certainly has a shot to repeat.

Giannis Antetokounmpo

The Greek Freak won back-to-back MVPs in the years that preceded last season, and we wouldn’t be surprised if he comes back for more. This dude’s an absolute monster and after a strong championship season, look for Giannis to only get better.

Kevin Durant

The Brooklyn forward is hungry for another title, and with enough distance from his injury, we wouldn’t be surprised if he has one of his best seasons yet.

LeBron James

Does LeBron have enough strength in him for another MVP season? Some would argue that he was on par for the hardware before he got injured last season. With a chip on his shoulder and a vengeance to prove that he’s not washed, it’s never smart to count him out.

The post Who Will Win MVP in the Upcoming NBA Season? appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic is this year’s recipient of the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award. Jokic became just the sixth international player to get this honor and the first center to do it since Shaquille O’Neal in 2000.

Jokic blew out the competition, receiving 91 first-place votes out of 101 possible and a total of 971 points. Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid finished second in the voting, totaling 586 points but just one first-place vote. Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors rounds up the top three with five first-place votes and 453 points. 

“It’s a big accomplishment,” said Jokic about the award. “But it’s something that, like I said to the guys, it’s not just me. I couldn’t do it by myself. It’s something that it is an individual award, but it’s the effort of everybody who is part of the Denver Nuggets organization.”

Nikola Jokic was drafted by the Denver Nuggets in 2014 with the 41st overall pick. After adjusting to the league in his rookie season, Jokic quickly emerged as the franchise cornerstone for the Nuggets. He has been an All-Star each year since 2019 while managing to make two All-NBA teams.

In 2020-21, Jokic had his best statistical outing while leading Denver to the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. During the regular season, the 26-year-old Serbian averaged 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 8.4 assists per game.

Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks) and Chris Paul (Phoenix Suns) were the remaining players to receive first-place votes by the media. The New York Knicks’ Derrick Rose also received one, thanks to the fan vote.

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, who was the favorite for the MVP award before injuries limited his appearances in the regular season, made it to just one ballot. This meant that James has received an MVP vote for 18 consecutive seasons, or every year since entering the NBA.

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