Doncic, Gilgeous-Alexander, Jokic become top 3 for this season's NBA MVP award

By Can Erozden

The Dallas Mavericks' forward-guard Luka Doncic, Oklahoma City Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and the Denver Nuggets' center Nikola Jokic have been named finalists for the 2023-24 NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.

In a statement on Sunday, the NBA named all finalists for the seven major performance awards, including this season's MVP honor.

The Mavericks' Slovenian superstar Doncic, 25, who has five years of NBA experience, averaged 33.9 points to lead the regular season standings in points.

The former Real Madrid regular played with 9.8 assists per game for Dallas to be second in this field.

Canadian guard Gilgeous-Alexander, 25, played with a 30.1-point average for the OKC during the 2023-24 campaign to be another finalist for the MVP honor.

Jokic, a Nuggets player since 2015, averaged 26.4 points this season to secure candidacy for the MVP award.

The 29-year-old Serbian superstar is among the league's best rebound takers, as he averaged 12.4 rebounds per game for Denver.

In addition to his defensive dominance, Jokic made 9 assists per game to come after Doncic.

Jokic, who helped Denver win the 2023 NBA title, previously won back-to-back NBA MVP awards in 2021 and 2022.

The NBA playoffs have begun, so each winner of the seven individual awards are expected to be named soon.

In May 2023, the Philadelphia 76ers' seven-time All-Star center Joel Embiid, 30, won last season's MVP award.

The Houston Rockets' Turkish center Alperen Sengun is among the NBA Most Improved Player finalists.

Sengun, 21, averaged 21.1 points, 9.3 rebounds and 5 assists for the Rockets this season.

He has been playing in the NBA since 2021.

All finalists of the seven NBA awards are as follows.

- Kia NBA Most Valuable Player

Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder)

Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets)

- Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year

Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat)

Rudy Gobert (Minnesota Timberwolves)

Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs)

- Kia NBA Most Improved Player

Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia 76ers)

Alperen Sengun (Houston Rockets)

Coby White (Chicago Bulls)

- Kia NBA Rookie of the Year

Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City Thunder)

Brandon Miller (Charlotte Hornets)

Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs)

- Kia NBA Sixth Man of the Year

Malik Monk (Sacramento Kings)

Bobby Portis (Milwaukee Bucks)

Naz Reid (Minnesota Timberwolves)

- Kia NBA Clutch Player of the Year

Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)

DeMar DeRozan (Chicago Bulls)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder)

- NBA Coach of the Year

Mark Daigneault (Oklahoma City Thunder)

Chris Finch (Minnesota Timberwolves)

Jamahl Mosley (Orlando Magic)