The 2024-25 NBA season was one for the history books. With one of the tightest MVP races in recent memory, three teams tallying 60+ wins, and a wide-open base for the Larry O’Brien Trophy, it was an exciting year to be a basketball fan.
But amid the pomp and circumstance, it was also a chance for players to add a major notch to their legacies. While records were made and broken throughout the course of the year, a huge legacy boost comes in the form of accolades. And these are the people who have the best shot at severely impacting their standing.
2024-25 NBA Awards Finalists Announced
Complete list of awards finalists for the 2024-25 NBA regular season ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/4bgbfQpohT
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 20, 2025
NBA Coach of the Year
- Kenny Atkinson, Cleveland Cavaliers: Taking over after repeated playoff failures, Atkinson turned the Cavaliers into an instant juggernaut by preaching a team-ball mindset. A 64-win season paves the way for a deserving spot among the finalists.
- J.B. Bickerstaff, Detroit Pistons: The former head coach of the Cavaliers joined Detroit and instantly turned the team with the most consecutive losses in NBA history into a playoff team. Unlocking the full potential of Cade Cunningham while making them one of the best offensive units in the league lands Bickerstaff on this list.
- Ime Udoka, Houston Rockets: Without a true star in the wild, wild west, Udoka once again proved his mettle by taking the Houston Rockets to the second seed, with excellent play on both ends of the floor.
NBA Sixth Man of the Year
- Malik Beasley, Detroit Pistons: Arguably the second-best player on Detroit’s roster, Beasley came in second in total 3-pointers made this year while providing some of the best defense of his career, turning the Pistons into a legitimate playoff team.
- Ty Jerome, Cleveland Cavaliers: Handling responsibilities on one of the biggest holes on the Cleveland roster, Jerome was a big part of the reason the Cavaliers jumped into a 64-win juggernaut with his excellent play off the bench.
- Payton Pritchard, Boston Celtics: With the regression from Derrick White and Jrue Holiday, and Kristaps Porziņģis missing time throughout the year, Pritchard was arguably the third-best player on a 61-win Celtics team that appears as the clear favorite to repeat as NBA champions.
NBA Rookie of the Year
- Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs: Averaging nearly 15 points a game while adding nearly four rebounds and assists apiece, along with his brand of athleticism and excellent defense, has led Castle to become the long-term partner in crime for French standout Victor Wembanyama on the Spurs.
- Zaccharie Risacher, Atlanta Hawks: Becoming the running mate for superstar Trae Young, Risacher became a valuable contributor with nearly 13 points and four rebounds, with some brilliant efficiency from a rookie at almost 46/36 shooting splits.
- Jaylen Wells, Memphis Grizzlies: With the wing position a major question mark for the Grizzlies, Wells became a stabilizing force throughout the year, averaging over 10 points a game, while adding a solid defensive presence as well.
NBA Clutch Player of the Year
- Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks: Averaging 5.6 points in the clutch while shooting over 51% from the field, Brunson’s exploits late in games were a big reason for the Knicks taking home the third seed with 51 wins.
- Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves: Edwards was good for 3.7 points in the clutch, allowing Minnesota to battle through a Julius Randle injury and secure a playoff spot in the loaded Western Conference.
- Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets: The supernova of the NBA, Jokić averaged 4.2 points in the clutch, while shooting an absurd 56.2% from the field and 42.9% from 3, paving the way for a fourth-place finish in the standings and getting Denver home-court advantage in the first round.
NBA Most Improved Player
- Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons: From a non-All-Star to a potential first-team All-NBA candidate, Cunningham took an almighty jump this season, with career highs of 26.1 points and 9.1 assists while leading Detroit to the playoffs.
- Dyson Daniels, Atlanta Hawks: On the verge of being labelled a bust, Daniels enjoyed a remarkable career transformation with the Hawks, becoming a bona fide DPOY candidate while going from nearly six to 14 points a game and averaging a mind-boggling three steals per game.
- Ivica Zubac, Los Angeles Clippers: A role player for most of his career, Zubac was unquestionably one of the best centers in basketball this season. Averaging a career-high 16.8 ppg and 12.6 rebounds, he was the most stable Clipper for the entire year.
NBA Defensive Player of the Year
- Dyson Daniels, Atlanta Hawks: The first guard since Marcus Smart to earn genuine consideration, Daniels’ three steals per game were the highest since the days of Michael Jordan and Gary Payton running around the league as he became one of the best and most disruptive guards in all of basketball.
- Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors: A late-season surge into the playoffs was led by their defensive unit, where Green was the centerpiece of their entire scheme.
- Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers: The centerpiece of one of the five best defenses in basketball, Mobley continued his excellent work on the less glamorous end while becoming the lynchpin for a 64-win juggernaut in the Eastern Conference.
Most Valuable Player
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks: Nearly 30-12-6.5 while shooting over 60% from the field and being one of the five best defenders on the planet, Antetokounmpo was Shaquille O’Neal-esque this season while leading the Bucks to a fifth-seed in the East.
- Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets: The third player ever and the only center in league history to average a triple-double for the entire season, Jokić was a one-man wrecking crew as the Nuggets finished as the fourth seed in a loaded Western Conference.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder: Leading the league in scoring with 32.7 points per game on the best team with 68 wins, Gilgeous-Alexander had no help without a single All-Star or All-NBA player on his squad.