Full List of 2026 NBA Awards Finalists for MVP, DPOY, ROY, 6th Man of Year, COY, MIP

Key Points:

• The NBA announced the finalists for the 2025-26 individual awards, with the MVP race featuring Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokić, and Victor Wembanyama, as Gilgeous-Alexander aims for a second consecutive MVP title.
• The Rookie of the Year race is highly competitive, spotlighting former college teammates Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel as the leading contenders, with Flagg making history as the youngest player to score 40 and 50 points in games.
• Other award finalists include Chet Holmgren, Victor Wembanyama, and Ausar Thompson for Defensive Player of the Year, and Tim Hardaway Jr., Keldon Johnson, and Jaime Jaquez Jr. for Sixth Man of the Year.
• The NBA allowed Luka Dončić and Cade Cunningham to be eligible for awards despite not meeting the 65-game minimum, though this is unlikely to affect the MVP outcome, where Gilgeous-Alexander remains the clear favorite.
• The Charlotte Hornets' strong performance this season, led by Knueppel, has boosted his Rookie of the Year candidacy, as the team achieved its best record since 2015-16 despite an early playoff exit.