Arnold DavisBesides the NBA games, another thing basketball fans wait for is the NBA Awards. The NBA recognizes the top performers in six distinct categories. The award will be given based on performance in the regular season.
Recently, the NBA revealed the finalists for all the categories. The NBA Finals 2021 live stream will start on July 8 with the season’s top two teams. Before that, we will have our award winners. Continue reading to know who got selected and where you can find the results.
Finalists for the NBA Awards
The NBA Awards first started in 2017. Since then, every year NBA is rewarding top performers in partnering with Tuner Sports. However, this year Kia sponsored the NBA Awards.
During the Play-in rounds, the NBA announced the final nominees for all six categories. The list is below:
NBA Most Valuable Player
Every year we see few players perform better than others. This year many players continued to impress the fans. Finally, these three players got nominated for the MVP award:
- Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
- Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
- Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
NBA Most Improved Player
One bad season doesn’t mean the player’s time is over. There’s always scope to improve. So, the NBA rewards those who dare to continue even after falling and becoming successful.
- Jerami Grant, Detroit Pistons
- Michael Porter Jr., Denver Nuggets
- Julius Randle, New York Knicks
NBA Rookie of the Year
Every year we see a lot of new faces in the NBA. We think that they’re just rookies, but few tell us that we shouldn’t underestimate them.
- LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets
- Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
- Tyrese Haliburton, Sacramento Kings
NBA Most Defensive Player of the Year
Besides scoring, it’s also important to defend in basketball games. Not everyone can do that with great ease. However, the following three have shown excellent defensive performances in the 2020-21 season.
- Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz
- Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors
- Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers
NBA Sixth Man
When given a chance, the sixth man gives his best to show his worth. Therefore, the NBA will be rewarding the one-sixth man who took full advantage of the opportunity.
- Jordan Clarkson, Utah Jazz
- Joe Ingles, Utah Jazz
- Derrick Rose, New York Knicks
NBA Coach of the Year
It’s the players who play, but it’s the coach who guides the team. Without a good coach, even great teams lose track. So, one of the following coaches will be awarded for their amazing work for the team.
- Quin Snyder, Utah Jazz
- Tom Thibodeau, New York Knicks
- Monty Williams, Phoenix Suns
Where to Watch the NBA Award Show?
In the first few years, the NBA arranged physical awards shows. But due to the pandemic, they have canceled it from last year. This season, the winner will be announced on TNT during the Play-off rounds. So, tune in to TNT to watch both the play-off and NBA Finals 2021 live stream to know who won the awards.
Final Thoughts
It’s a great initiative by the NBA to recognize the best performers. The awards encourage everyone to do better in their roles. Watch the exciting NBA Finals 2021 live stream to see how your favorite players perform.