2025-26 NBA Awards: Finalists for league accolades announced tonight
The finalists for the 7 major regular-season awards will be revealed tonight at 6 p.m. ET on NBC.
www.nba.comHere’s the latest on the 2026 NBA Awards as of now.
Key outcomes and finalists
- MVP finalists: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama were among the leading candidates, with Wembanyama and Gilgeous-Alexander commonly discussed as top contenders by analysts and outlets in April 2026. Final results were widely anticipated to be announced after the regular season and playoffs concluded. [Sources indicate ongoing debate and near-unanimous consideration for the top two spots around late April 2026.][1][3][4]
- Rookie of the Year finalists: early- to mid-April 2026 coverage highlighted Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Deni Avdija, and Jalen Duren as notable contenders on the radar for Most Improved and related honors, with separate ROY discussion centering on Kon Knueppel and Cooper Flagg in some outlets. Final ROY results were a focal point of post-season awards chatter.[4][1]
- Other major awards: Finalists and strong contenders were regularly listed for Defensive Player of the Year, Most Improved Player, Sixth Man of the Year, and Coach of the Year across various outlets, with final announcements typically following the conclusion of the regular season and early playoffs.[3][4]
Recent reporting patterns
- Official announcements: NBA and partner networks often reveal finalists for the seven major regular-season awards in mid-to-late April, with some categories announced during pregame or halftime of key playoff games, and the winners announced shortly after. This pattern appeared in 2026 coverage from NBA.com and ESPN, reflecting the standard cadence of award reveals around playoff time.[8][3]
- Media previews and predictions: A number of outlets released “way-too-early” or mid-season predictions in 2026, emphasizing a high-profile MVP race between Wembanyama and Gilgeous-Alexander, ROY debates, and all-league team considerations. These previews illustrate the context voters used during the season but are not substitutes for the official winners.[2][6][9]
What this means for you
- If you’re tracking the exact winners, the official NBA announcements typically occur in late April or May 2026, with final award lists published by NBA.com and major sports outlets shortly thereafter. Check NBA.com’s awards section and NBC/NBC Sports updates for the most authoritative final results.[3][4][8]
- For quick reference, you’ll often see a compiled list by outlets like Sporting News or ESPN after the formal announcements, summarizing the winners and finalists across all categories.[4][8]
Would you like me to pull the exact final winners and finalists from the latest official announcements and present them in a clean list with links? I can also create a brief table comparing finalists and winners by category. If you prefer, I can focus on a specific award (e.g., MVP or ROY).