Finalists announced for 2021-22 NBA awards

NEW YORK – The NBA today announced the finalists for six awards that honor top performers for the 2021-22 regular season: NBA Coach 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 and Kia NBA 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.

Kia NBA Most Valuable Player

WINNER: Nikola Jokic

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

Check out your 2021-22 #KiaMVP finalists…
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Nikola Jokic
Joel Embiid#NBAAwards pic.twitter.com/xxigK4RJBc
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 17, 2022

NBA Coach of the Year

WINNER: Monty Williams

Taylor Jenkins, Memphis Grizzlies
Erik Spoelstra, Miami Heat
Monty Williams, Phoenix Suns

Presenting your 2021-22 NBA Coach of the Year finalists:
Taylor Jenkins
Erik Spoelstra
Monty Williams #NBAAwards pic.twitter.com/2sCGpbZvQP
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 17, 2022

Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year

WINNER: Marcus Smart

Mikal Bridges, Phoenix Suns
Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz
Marcus Smart, Boston Celtics

Here are your 2021-22 #KiaDPOY finalists:
Mikal Bridges
Rudy Gobert
Marcus Smart #NBAAwards pic.twitter.com/PJ2GX4QPYA
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 17, 2022

Kia NBA Most Improved Player

WINNER: Ja Morant

Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers
Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies
Dejounte Murray, San Antonio Spurs

The 2021-22 #KiaMIP finalists are in:
Darius Garland
Ja Morant
Dejounte Murray#NBAAwards pic.twitter.com/8kSusX4Yqx
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 17, 2022

Kia NBA Rookie of the Year

WINNER: Scottie Barnes

Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors
Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers

The 2021-22 #KiaROY finalists:
Scottie Barnes
Cade Cunningham
Evan Mobley #NBAAwards pic.twitter.com/gxrg0aa17j
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 17, 2022

Kia NBA Sixth Man of the Year

WINNER: Tyler Herro

Tyler Herro, Miami Heat
Cam Johnson, Phoenix Suns
Kevin Love, Cleveland Cavaliers

A look at the 2021-22 #KiaSixth finalists:
Tyler Herro
Cam Johnson
Kevin Love#NBAAwards pic.twitter.com/tfAFeB2FaK
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 17, 2022

TNT will announce the winner of each award during its coverage of the 2022 NBA Playoffs presented by Google Pixel. Each voter’s complete ballot for each award will be posted at PR.NBA.com after the announcement of all end-of-season awards.