The 2025-26 NBA regular season awards are here. With Victor Wembanyama making history as the first-ever unanimous Defensive Player of the Year and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander securing the Clutch Player trophy, the race for the remaining honors is heating up.
Here is the updated list of every winner revealed and the finalists for the upcoming major awards.
2026 NBA Awards at a Glance
| Award | Winner | Finalists |
| MVP | TBD | SGA, Jokic, Wembanyama |
| DPOY | Victor Wembanyama | Holmgren, A. Thompson |
| ROY | TBD | Flagg, Knueppel, Edgecombe |
| 6th Man | Keldon Johnson | Jaquez Jr., Hardaway Jr. |
| Clutch | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Edwards, J. Murray |
| MIP | Nickeil Alexander-Walker | Avdija, Jalen Duren |
| Coach | TBD | Bickerstaff, M. Johnson, Mazzulla |
Confirmed Winners: The 2026 Trophy Room
Defensive Player of the Year: Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs)
In a historic landslide, Victor Wembanyama became the first player in NBA history to win the DPOY award by unanimous selection. At just 22 years old, “Wemby” led the league with 3.1 blocks per game and anchored a Spurs defense that ranked third in the NBA.
- Key Stat: 25.0 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 3.1 BPG.
Clutch Player of the Year: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder)
SGA was the undisputed king of the fourth quarter. Receiving 96 out of 100 first-place votes, he led the NBA in clutch scoring while shooting over 51% from the field in high-pressure situations, leading the Thunder to a league-best scoring margin in close games.
- Key Stat: 31.1 PPG, 6.6 APG, .553 FG%.
Sixth Man of the Year: Keldon Johnson (San Antonio Spurs)
Keldon Johnson provided the spark the Spurs needed off the bench, becoming the first player in franchise history to score 1,000 bench points in a single season. He secured 63 first-place votes to beat out Miami’s Jaime Jaquez Jr.
- Key Stat: 13.2 PPG, 5.4 RPG, .519 FG%.
Most Improved Player: Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Atlanta Hawks)
Stepping up in Atlanta’s backcourt, NAW transformed into an elite offensive threat. He posted a career-high 20.8 points per game, showcasing a massive leap in efficiency and playmaking.
- Key Stat: 20.8 PPG, 3.7 APG, 1.3 SPG.
NBA Sportsmanship Award: Derrick White (Boston Celtics)
Recognized for his professionalism and ethical play, Derrick White joins an elite list of Celtics to receive this honor.
The Finalists: Who Will Win Next?
While half the hardware has been handed out, the “Big Three” awards—MVP, Rookie of the Year, and Coach of the Year—are still up for grabs.
Most Valuable Player (MVP)
This is a three-man race between established legends and the new guard:
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder): Seeking his second straight MVP after leading OKC to the West’s #1 seed (64-18).
- Nikola Jokic (Nuggets): Averaged a historic triple-double (27.7 PPG, 12.9 RPG, 10.7 APG).
- Victor Wembanyama (Spurs): Could become the youngest MVP in history following his DPOY win.
Rookie of the Year (ROY)
Expected to be the closest vote of the year, the battle for top freshman comes down to:
- Cooper Flagg (Mavericks): 21.0 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 4.5 APG.
- Kon Knueppel (Hornets): 18.5 PPG and elite perimeter scoring.
- V.J. Edgecombe (76ers): 16.0 PPG and high-flying athleticism.
Coach of the Year
- J.B. Bickerstaff (Pistons): Led Detroit to a staggering 60 wins and the #1 seed in the East.
- Mitch Johnson (Spurs): Orchestrated San Antonio’s rise to the #2 seed in the West.
- Joe Mazzulla (Celtics): Kept Boston at the top of the contender list with 56 wins despite injuries.
