Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have both been recognised for their outstanding exploits in the 2023/24 NBA season for the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder, alongside Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks. Meanwhile, Victor Wembanyama could take two individual honours after being included in the Rookie and Defensive Player of the Year categories. Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama were the stand-out names nominated in the 2023-24 end-of-season NBA awards.
Jokic continued his stellar form for the Denver Nuggets after ending the regular season with an average of 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds and 9.0 assists.
The 29-year-old was named MVP in 2021 and 2022, and has been nominated in that category again alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic. Gilgeous-Alexander has enjoyed a fine campaign for the Oklahoma City Thunder with an average of 30.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 2.0 steals to help his side claim the Western Conference’s top seed.
Doncic is also in contention for the main award after averaging 33.9 points, 9.2 rebounds and 9.8 assists for the Dallas Mavericks.
Wembanyama has been nominated in both the Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year after an outstanding debut season with the San Antonio Spurs. The Frenchman set new records, registering an average of 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 3.6 blocks and 1.2 steals.
He is joined in the Rookie category by Chet Holmgren and Brandon Miller, with the former taking an average of 16.5 points and 7.9 rebounds for Oklahoma City in a remarkable recovery from a foot injury.
Meanwhile, Miller has an average of 17.4 points and made 184 3-pointers during this campaign following a slew of fine performances for the Charlotte Hornets.
Wembanyama will be competing for the Defensive Player of the Year award alongside Bam Adebayo and Rudy Gobert of the Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves respectively. Gilgeous-Alexander is also nominated in the Clutch Player of the Year and faces competition from Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors and DeMar DeRozan of the Chicago Bulls.
The Most Improved Player honour will be contested between Philadelphia 76ers’ Tyrese Maxey, alongside Coby White (Chicago Bulls) and Alperen Sengun (Houston Rockets).