It's MVP season in the NBA, and the race is heating up! Will Nikola Jokic clinch his third MVP in four seasons, or will the likes of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Luka Doncic swoop in for the win?
One thing's for sure: for the sixth year running, a non-American player will walk away with the coveted MVP title. The NBA recently revealed the finalists for individual awards, with the winners set to be announced later this year.
Among the standout nominees is Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs. The 20-year-old forward-center has made waves as a finalist for both Rookie of the Year, which he's expected to snag, and Defensive Player of the Year, a tougher competition.
Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors proved his clutch status, averaging 4.4 points with a stellar 49.6% field goal rate, 45.7% from beyond the arc, and a remarkable 95.1% on free throws in clutch moments. His performance helped the Warriors secure a 23-20 record in clutch games.
DeMar DeRozan of the Chicago Bulls also shined in clutch time, averaging 4.8 points with a 48.7% field goal rate, 46.7% on 3-pointers, and 87.8% on free throws. His efforts contributed to the Bulls' 24-16 record in clutch games.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder was no slouch either, averaging 3.2 points with a 58.1% field goal rate, 35.7% on 3-pointers, and 89.7% on free throws in clutch situations. The Thunder boasted a 23-11 record in such games with Gilgeous-Alexander leading the charge.
Other players making waves this season include Tyrese Maxey of the Philadelphia 76ers, Alperen Sengun of the Houston Rockets, and Coby White of the Chicago Bulls, all posting career highs in various stats.
On the coaching front, Mark Daigneault of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Chris Finch of the Minnesota Timberwolves are among the top contenders for Coach of the Year, having steered their teams to impressive records.
In terms of defense, Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat and Rudy Gobert of the Minnesota Timberwolves showcased their prowess, with Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs leading the league with a staggering 3.6 blocks per game.
Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks had a stellar season, averaging a career-high 33.9 points, along with 9.8 assists and 9.2 rebounds per game, while shooting a career-best 38.2% from beyond the arc.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder also impressed, averaging 30.1 points, 6.2 assists, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.0 steals per game, with an impressive 53.5% field goal rate.
Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets put up impressive numbers as well, averaging 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, 9.0 assists, and 1.4 steals per game, with an outstanding 58.3% field goal rate.
It's shaping up to be an exciting finish to the NBA season, with plenty of standout performances and fierce competition for the league's top honors.
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