On Sunday’s NBA Tip-off on TNT, the finalists for the 2024 NBA awards categories were released. We have debated deserving contenders for the 2024 NBA awards all season, and the NBA has decided upon the three most deserving players or coaches for each category.
2024 NBA Awards: List Of Finalists For Every Category
Coach of the Year
Mark Daigneault, Oklahoma City Thunder
Jamahl Mosley, Orlando Magic
Chris Finch, Minnesota Timberwolves
We have already seen Mark Daigneault take home the Coaches Association’s Coach of the Year award. Now he has a chance to win the official Coach of the Year award. Daigneault lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to the top seed in the Western Conference this year. Heading into the season, he was in charge of the second youngest roster (23.8 years). He is one of three Oklahoma City players/staff to be in award discussions.
Jamahl Mosley led the Magic to a fifth seed and their first playoff appearance since the 2019/20 season. At the start of the season, his team was the fourth youngest in the NBA (24.3 years). He led his team to a 47-35 record with a stingy defensive philosophy. The Magic finished the year as the third-best defense (a defensive rating of 110.8).
Chris Finch led the Timberwolves to a 50+ win season, just the fifth in their 35-year history. Their record of 56-26 is the third-highest in their history, helping them secure a third seed in the ultra-competitive Western Conference. The T-wolves had the top defense in the league, finishing the season with a defensive rating of 108.4
Most Improved Player
Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers
Coby White, Chicago Bulls
Alperen Şengün, Houston Rockets
When James Harden was traded from the 76ers to the Los Angeles Clippers, Daryl Morey did that knowing he had a capable lead guard waiting in the wings to seize the opportunity. Tyrese Maxey excelled in the role. He became an All-Star for the first time, posting season averages of 25.9 points and 6.2 assists on an effective field goal percentage (EFG%) of .524. He had to carry the Sixers offense on many nights as Joel Embiid missed most of the season with a knee injury.
Coby White is a feel-good story of a player stepping up in the absence of injured All-Star talent. As the Bulls dealt with injuries all year, White shined for the Bulls. His stat line of 19.1 points, 5.1 assists, and 4.5 rebounds on an EFG% of .534 were all career highs. He and DeMar DeRozan would drag the injury-riddled Bulls all the way to the final play-in game before succumbing to the Miami Heat.
Alperen Şengün is often referred to as Baby Jokic this year, and for good reason. His season averages of 21.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.2 steals on an EFG% of .537 were all career highs. Unfortunately, injury derailed his season, but with the core the Rockets have and a top coach in Ime Udoka, things are looking up in Houston.
Clutch Player of the Year
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
Stephen Curry recorded an average of 4.4 points in the clutch while maintaining a shooting accuracy of 49.6% from the field, 45.7% from beyond the arc, and 95.1% from the free-throw line during clutch moments. The Warriors achieved a 23-20 record in clutch games.
DeMar DeRozan scored an average of 4.8 points with shooting percentages of 48.7% from the field, 46.7% from 3-point range, and 87.8% from the free-throw line in clutch situations. The Bulls boasted a 24-16 record in such games with DeRozan’s contributions.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored an average of 3.2 points while shooting 58.1% from the field, 35.7% from downtown, and 89.7% from the charity stripe during crucial moments. The Thunder maintained a commendable 23-11 record in clutch games.
Sixth Man of the Year
Malik Monk, Sacramento Kings
Bobby Portis Jr., Milwaukee Bucks
Naz Reid, Minnesota Timberwolves
Malik Monk was huge for the Kings this season, often providing instant offense off the bench for them. He averaged 15.4 points and 5.1 assists on an EFG% of .528. His team struggled in his absence, eventually missing out on the playoffs.
Bobby Portis makes another finalist appearance for this award. His contract remains one of the best per value in the NBA and was a consistent force for the Bucks in an inconsistent year for them. He averaged 13.8 points and 7.4 rebounds while shooting 50.8% from the field and 40.7% on threes.
Naz Reid really blossomed this year, especially when Karl-Anthony Towns was away from the team due to injury. Naz stepped up in his absence and provided consistent offense all year round. He averaged 13.5 points and 5.2 rebounds and shot 47.7% from the field and 41.4% on 3s.
Rookie of the Year
Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder
Brandon Miller, Charlotte Hornets
Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
Chet Holmgren averaged 16.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 2.3 blocks per game, while shooting 53.3% from the field and 37% from beyond the arc. What he did for this team, being a perfect fit along the rest of their core and solving their issues from the year before can’t be overstated.
Brandon Miller recorded averages of 17.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game, with shooting percentages of 44% from the field and 37.3% from 3-point range. He provided a spark in an otherwise forgettable year for the Hornets.
Victor Wembanyama had a rookie year for the ages. He posted impressive averages of 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 3.6 blocks, and 1.2 steals per game. Victor shot 46.5% from the field and 32.5% from beyond the arc. He was a walking highlight reel, regularly doing things we have never seen on a basketball court before.
Defensive Player of the Year
Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat
Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves
Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
Bam Adebayo is probably the most adaptable defender on this list. He was the reason the Heat had the fifth-ranked defense, averaging about one steal and block per game.
Rudy Gobert is gunning for his fourth DPOY award. He averaged about 2.1 blocked shots per game while anchoring the league’s top-ranked defense. He finished the year with the best individual defensive rating (104.2).
Victor Wembanyama led the league with an outstanding average of 3.6 blocked shots per game and also showcased his defensive motor with 1.2 steals per game. The Spurs’ defense ranked among the top five when Wembanyama was on the court.
MVP
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
Luka Dončić, Dallas Mavericks
Nikola Jokić expressed complete control over games with averages of 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, 9.0 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. He maintained an exceptional shooting percentage of 58.3% from the field. He led the league in win shares, box plus/minus, offensive box plus/minus, defensive box plus/minus, and Value over replacement player.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 30.1 points, 6.2 assists, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.0 steals per game, while maintaining a shooting accuracy of 53.5% from the field. He shot 57.6 on 2-point field goals, an insane stat for guards. He had 52 games where he scored 30 points or more.
Luka Dončić won the scoring title with an average of 33.9 points per game, complemented by 9.8 assists and 9.2 rebounds per game. Additionally, he showcased improved shooting accuracy, achieving a career-best 38.2% from beyond the arc.
These are the 2024 NBA awards finalists and they are all deserving in their own right.
