NBA award finalists: Jokic, Embiid, Antetokounmpo competing for MVP

NEW YORK(AP) — Nikola Jokic is a finalist to win a third straight NBA MVPaward, with Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo the players whocan stop him.

The threeleading vote-getters for the league’s individual awards wereannounced Friday and the marquee category featured familiarnames.

Jokicrepeated as MVP last year, with Embiid the runner-up andAntetokounmpo third. The Denver Nuggets center could now become thefirst player to win three straight MVP awards since Hall of FamerLarry Bird from 1984-86.

Antetokounmpo has also won consecutive MVP awards, in 2019 and2020, along with an NBA Finals MVP when the Milwaukee Buckscaptured the 2021 title. Embiid, the Philadelphia 76ers center whowon his second straight scoring title, has never won.

The winnerswill be announced beginning next week.

Thefinalists for the other categories:

COACH OFTHE YEAR

Mike Brown,Sacramento; Mark Daigneault, Oklahoma City; Joe Mazzulla,Boston.

ROOKIE OFTHE YEAR

PaoloBanchero, Orlando; Walker Kessler, Utah; Jalen Williams, OklahomaCity

MOSTIMPROVED PLAYER

JalenBrunson, New York; Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City; LauriMarkkanen, Utah.

DEFENSIVEPLAYER OF THE YEAR

JarenJackson Jr., Memphis; Brook Lopez, Milwaukee; Evan Mobley,Cleveland.

SIXTH MANOF THE YEAR

MalcolmBrogdon, Boston; Bobby Portis, Milwaukee; Immanuel Quickley, NewYork.

CLUTCHPLAYER OF THE YEAR

JimmyButler, Miami; DeMar DeRozan, Chicago; De’Aaron Fox,Sacramento.