Finalists announced for 2022-23 Kia NBA awards

NBA Awards finalists announced

Inside the NBA reveals the finalists for the 2022-23 NBA Awards.

NEW YORK – The NBA today announced the finalists for seven awards that honor top performers for the 2022-23 regular season: Kia NBA Clutch Player of the Year, Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Kia NBA Most Improved Player, Kia NBA Most Valuable Player, Kia NBA Rookie of the Year, Kia NBA Sixth Man of the Year and NBA Coach of the Year.

TNT will reveal the winner of each award during its coverage of the 2023 NBA Playoffs presented by Google Pixel, beginning April 17:

  • April 17 – Kia Defensive Player of the Year
  • April 18 – Kia Clutch Player of the Year
  • April 19 – NBA Coach of the Year
  • April 20 – Kia Sixth Man of the Year

The three finalists for each annual award, based on voting results from a global panel of sportswriters and broadcasters, are listed in alphabetical order below.  Each voter’s complete ballot for each award will be posted at PR.NBA.com after the announcement of all end-of-season awards.


2022-23 NBA Awards: Finalists

Kia NBA Most Valuable Player

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
  • Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
  • Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets

Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year
Winner:
Jaren Jackson Jr.

  • Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies 
  • Brook Lopez, Milwaukee Bucks 
  • Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers

Kia NBA Most Improved Player

  • Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
  • Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz

Kia NBA Rookie of the Year

  • Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic
  • Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz
  • Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder 

Kia NBA Sixth Man of the Year

  • Malcolm Brogdon, Boston Celtics
  • Bobby Portis, Milwaukee Bucks
  • Immanuel Quickley, New York Knicks 

Kia NBA Clutch Player of the Year
Winner:
De’Aaron Fox

  • Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat
  • DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls
  • De’Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings

NBA Coach of the Year

  • Mike Brown, Sacramento Kings
  • Mark Daigneault, Oklahoma City Thunder
  • Joe Mazzulla, Boston Celtics