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Deadspin | PWHL attendance to surpass 1 million fans for first time Jan 1, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CANADA; A Toronto fan holds up a sign during the inaugural PWHL ice hockey game against New York at Mattamy Athletic Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images The Professional Women’s Hockey League is approaching an attendance milestone in its third season. Total attendance entering this week was 976,219 through 105 games, just shy of 1 million fans for the first time. The latest boost came with Saturday’s sold-out crowd of 17,850 for the first PWHL game at Boston’s TD Garden. The average of 9,297 fans per game is a nearly 29% increase over last season’s attendance numbers. Only 15 games remain in the 2025-26 regular season as five teams are battling for the fourth and final playoff spot. The 2025-26 PWHL Takeover Tour, which included 16 games at 11 neutral sites, averaged 12,477 fans per game. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #PWHL #attendance #surpass #million #fans #time

Deadspin | PWHL attendance to surpass 1 million fans for first time
Deadspin | PWHL attendance to surpass 1 million fans for first time Jan 1, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CANADA; A Toronto fan holds up a sign during the inaugural PWHL ice hockey game against New York at Mattamy Athletic Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images The Professional Women’s Hockey League is approaching an attendance milestone in its third season. Total attendance entering this week was 976,219 through 105 games, just shy of 1 million fans for the first time. The latest boost came with Saturday’s sold-out crowd of 17,850 for the first PWHL game at Boston’s TD Garden. The average of 9,297 fans per game is a nearly 29% increase over last season’s attendance numbers. Only 15 games remain in the 2025-26 regular season as five teams are battling for the fourth and final playoff spot. The 2025-26 PWHL Takeover Tour, which included 16 games at 11 neutral sites, averaged 12,477 fans per game. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #PWHL #attendance #surpass #million #fans #timeJan 1, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CANADA; A Toronto fan holds up a sign during the inaugural PWHL ice hockey game against New York at Mattamy Athletic Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

The Professional Women’s Hockey League is approaching an attendance milestone in its third season.

Total attendance entering this week was 976,219 through 105 games, just shy of 1 million fans for the first time.

The latest boost came with Saturday’s sold-out crowd of 17,850 for the first PWHL game at Boston’s TD Garden.


The average of 9,297 fans per game is a nearly 29% increase over last season’s attendance numbers.

Only 15 games remain in the 2025-26 regular season as five teams are battling for the fourth and final playoff spot.

The 2025-26 PWHL Takeover Tour, which included 16 games at 11 neutral sites, averaged 12,477 fans per game.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #PWHL #attendance #surpass #million #fans #time

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Jan 1, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CANADA; A Toronto fan holds up a sign during the inaugural PWHL ice hockey game against New York at Mattamy Athletic Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

The Professional Women’s Hockey League is approaching an attendance milestone in its third season.

Total attendance entering this week was 976,219 through 105 games, just shy of 1 million fans for the first time.

The latest boost came with Saturday’s sold-out crowd of 17,850 for the first PWHL game at Boston’s TD Garden.

The average of 9,297 fans per game is a nearly 29% increase over last season’s attendance numbers.

Only 15 games remain in the 2025-26 regular season as five teams are battling for the fourth and final playoff spot.

The 2025-26 PWHL Takeover Tour, which included 16 games at 11 neutral sites, averaged 12,477 fans per game.

–Field Level Media

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Deadspin | Jon Rahm leaves field in dust, wins LIV Golf Mexico City Apr 9, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Jon Rahm tees off on the fifth hole during the first round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Katie Goodale-Imagn Images Jon Rahm saved his best round of the week for last, firing a 7-under-par 64 Sunday to pull away to win the LIV Golf Mexico City title on Sunday in Naucalpan, Mexico. Rahm, the tournament’s leader since the second round, finished the week at Club de Golf Chapultepec at 21-under 263, six shots ahead of fellow Spaniard David Puig (66). It was an all-Spanish top three, as Josele Ballester (67) placed third at 14 under. The two-time major winner continued his streak of six straight top-fives to begin the LIV season, including wins in Hong Kong and Mexico City and three second-place finishes. “I think a little bit of it is disbelief,” Rahm said. “I’ve performed poorly down the stretch on this course having a chance to win before, so it’s almost like I don’t let myself believe it. If you would have told me last week on Thursday afternoon that I’d be winning by a six-shot margin this week, I would not have believed you because of how bad I played. Hell of an effort, and just what a Sunday.” Rahm led by two strokes after 54 holes and made sure he was in the driver’s seat early Sunday, going 5 under on a four-hole stretch. Following his first birdie at No. 2, his powerful drive at the 390-yard, par-4 third hole came to rest about 3 feet from the cup for a tap-in eagle. He made a 13-footer for birdie at the par-3 fourth hole and a 20-footer at the par-4 fifth. No one would catch him from there. Rahm finished his round with 11 pars and two back-nine birdies. “You need a lot of fight because even today on the scorecard it might look smooth,” Rahm said, “but the three-putt on 7, had to make a nice 4-footer on 8, the par on 9, the par on 10, that stretch right there could have been very complicated. “It’s true from then on I played very well and never really stressed, but the that was the key moment of the round.” It also marked the first time this season that Rahm’s individual success led to a first-place finish for his team, Legion XIII. Rahm’s team won this event for the third consecutive year. Legion XIII finished 45 under for the week, as two of Rahm’s teammates, Englishman Tyrrell Hatton and Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin, were part of a five-way tie for fifth at 11 under. The fourth team member, Caleb Surratt, was 2 under for the week. Collectively, they finished nine shots better than Sergio Garcia’s Fireballs GC. Puig powered the Fireballs’ score this week, carding four birdies and an eagle on his first 10 holes Sunday before petering out as he shot 5-under 66. “We’re youngsters, but we really are feeling like we really want to win,” Puig said of his teammates and countrymen, Ballester and Luis Masaveu. “We put a lot of hours behind it, and it’s just kind of great to see that it definitely paid off this week. “But yeah, I didn’t really feel at my best (this week). Today was by far the best day, how I hit it.” Bryson DeChambeau, who was 2 over par through three rounds, withdrew before the start of the final round citing a wrist injury. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Jon #Rahm #leaves #field #dust #wins #LIV #Golf #Mexico #CityApr 9, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Jon Rahm tees off on the fifth hole during the first round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Katie Goodale-Imagn Images

Jon Rahm saved his best round of the week for last, firing a 7-under-par 64 Sunday to pull away to win the LIV Golf Mexico City title on Sunday in Naucalpan, Mexico.

Rahm, the tournament’s leader since the second round, finished the week at Club de Golf Chapultepec at 21-under 263, six shots ahead of fellow Spaniard David Puig (66). It was an all-Spanish top three, as Josele Ballester (67) placed third at 14 under.

The two-time major winner continued his streak of six straight top-fives to begin the LIV season, including wins in Hong Kong and Mexico City and three second-place finishes.

“I think a little bit of it is disbelief,” Rahm said. “I’ve performed poorly down the stretch on this course having a chance to win before, so it’s almost like I don’t let myself believe it. If you would have told me last week on Thursday afternoon that I’d be winning by a six-shot margin this week, I would not have believed you because of how bad I played. Hell of an effort, and just what a Sunday.”

Rahm led by two strokes after 54 holes and made sure he was in the driver’s seat early Sunday, going 5 under on a four-hole stretch. Following his first birdie at No. 2, his powerful drive at the 390-yard, par-4 third hole came to rest about 3 feet from the cup for a tap-in eagle.

He made a 13-footer for birdie at the par-3 fourth hole and a 20-footer at the par-4 fifth.

No one would catch him from there. Rahm finished his round with 11 pars and two back-nine birdies.


“You need a lot of fight because even today on the scorecard it might look smooth,” Rahm said, “but the three-putt on 7, had to make a nice 4-footer on 8, the par on 9, the par on 10, that stretch right there could have been very complicated.

“It’s true from then on I played very well and never really stressed, but the that was the key moment of the round.”

It also marked the first time this season that Rahm’s individual success led to a first-place finish for his team, Legion XIII. Rahm’s team won this event for the third consecutive year.

Legion XIII finished 45 under for the week, as two of Rahm’s teammates, Englishman Tyrrell Hatton and Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin, were part of a five-way tie for fifth at 11 under. The fourth team member, Caleb Surratt, was 2 under for the week. Collectively, they finished nine shots better than Sergio Garcia’s Fireballs GC.

Puig powered the Fireballs’ score this week, carding four birdies and an eagle on his first 10 holes Sunday before petering out as he shot 5-under 66.

“We’re youngsters, but we really are feeling like we really want to win,” Puig said of his teammates and countrymen, Ballester and Luis Masaveu. “We put a lot of hours behind it, and it’s just kind of great to see that it definitely paid off this week.

“But yeah, I didn’t really feel at my best (this week). Today was by far the best day, how I hit it.”

Bryson DeChambeau, who was 2 over par through three rounds, withdrew before the start of the final round citing a wrist injury.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Jon #Rahm #leaves #field #dust #wins #LIV #Golf #Mexico #City">Deadspin | Jon Rahm leaves field in dust, wins LIV Golf Mexico City Apr 9, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Jon Rahm tees off on the fifth hole during the first round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Katie Goodale-Imagn Images Jon Rahm saved his best round of the week for last, firing a 7-under-par 64 Sunday to pull away to win the LIV Golf Mexico City title on Sunday in Naucalpan, Mexico. Rahm, the tournament’s leader since the second round, finished the week at Club de Golf Chapultepec at 21-under 263, six shots ahead of fellow Spaniard David Puig (66). It was an all-Spanish top three, as Josele Ballester (67) placed third at 14 under. The two-time major winner continued his streak of six straight top-fives to begin the LIV season, including wins in Hong Kong and Mexico City and three second-place finishes. “I think a little bit of it is disbelief,” Rahm said. “I’ve performed poorly down the stretch on this course having a chance to win before, so it’s almost like I don’t let myself believe it. If you would have told me last week on Thursday afternoon that I’d be winning by a six-shot margin this week, I would not have believed you because of how bad I played. Hell of an effort, and just what a Sunday.” Rahm led by two strokes after 54 holes and made sure he was in the driver’s seat early Sunday, going 5 under on a four-hole stretch. Following his first birdie at No. 2, his powerful drive at the 390-yard, par-4 third hole came to rest about 3 feet from the cup for a tap-in eagle. He made a 13-footer for birdie at the par-3 fourth hole and a 20-footer at the par-4 fifth. No one would catch him from there. Rahm finished his round with 11 pars and two back-nine birdies. “You need a lot of fight because even today on the scorecard it might look smooth,” Rahm said, “but the three-putt on 7, had to make a nice 4-footer on 8, the par on 9, the par on 10, that stretch right there could have been very complicated. “It’s true from then on I played very well and never really stressed, but the that was the key moment of the round.” It also marked the first time this season that Rahm’s individual success led to a first-place finish for his team, Legion XIII. Rahm’s team won this event for the third consecutive year. Legion XIII finished 45 under for the week, as two of Rahm’s teammates, Englishman Tyrrell Hatton and Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin, were part of a five-way tie for fifth at 11 under. The fourth team member, Caleb Surratt, was 2 under for the week. Collectively, they finished nine shots better than Sergio Garcia’s Fireballs GC. Puig powered the Fireballs’ score this week, carding four birdies and an eagle on his first 10 holes Sunday before petering out as he shot 5-under 66. “We’re youngsters, but we really are feeling like we really want to win,” Puig said of his teammates and countrymen, Ballester and Luis Masaveu. “We put a lot of hours behind it, and it’s just kind of great to see that it definitely paid off this week. “But yeah, I didn’t really feel at my best (this week). Today was by far the best day, how I hit it.” Bryson DeChambeau, who was 2 over par through three rounds, withdrew before the start of the final round citing a wrist injury. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Jon #Rahm #leaves #field #dust #wins #LIV #Golf #Mexico #City

No player transfer in the Indian Premier League has generated as much drama as Hardik Pandya’s move from Gujarat Titans to Mumbai Indians.

The Indian all-rounder switched allegiance in 2024 in an all-cash trade and immediately assumed the Mumbai Indians captaincy.

Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar believes the move may have been driven by factors beyond pure cricketing logic.

“Hardik Pandya [to MI] was a very interesting decision. I think sometimes the franchises make decisions that will be newsworthy and get the franchise in the spotlight because ultimately it’s a commercial brand. You can see the kind of valuations franchises are getting. So it may not even be a sound cricketing call,” said Manjrekar on Sportstar’s Insight Edge podcast.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58JRdBRAbIk[/embed]

Pandya had enjoyed tremendous success with Gujarat Titans, leading the side to the IPL title in 2022 and a runner-up finish in 2023.

Manjrekar, however, suggested that the Titans’ golden run owed significantly to head coach Ashish Nehra.

“Hardik Pandya had success with the Gujarat Titans, and that had a lot to do with somebody named Ashish Nehra. So maybe if you wanted Hardik Pandya, you could have also got Ashish Nehra with him,” said Manjrekar.

“Hardik Pandya, I believe, was brilliant because there was somebody next to him constantly with almost every move that he made on the field,” he added.

Pandya’s return to Mumbai Indians was also marked by controversy, with sections of fans turning against him after he replaced Rohit Sharma as captain.

Manjrekar suspects the move may have been influenced by a desire to create impact beyond the field.

“So it’s really not so much about Hardik Pandya, but the decision, whether it was a sensible decision or it was just somebody wanting to think out-of-the-box a little bit and doing something a little sensational.”

Published on Apr 20, 2026

#Mumbai #Indians #Ashish #Nehra #Hardik #Pandya #Sanjay #Manjrekar">Maybe Mumbai Indians should have gotten Ashish Nehra along with Hardik Pandya: Sanjay Manjrekar No player transfer in the Indian Premier League has generated as much drama as Hardik Pandya’s move from Gujarat Titans to Mumbai Indians.The Indian all-rounder switched allegiance in 2024 in an all-cash trade and immediately assumed the Mumbai Indians captaincy.Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar believes the move may have been driven by factors beyond pure cricketing logic.“Hardik Pandya [to MI] was a very interesting decision. I think sometimes the franchises make decisions that will be newsworthy and get the franchise in the spotlight because ultimately it’s a commercial brand. You can see the kind of valuations franchises are getting. So it may not even be a sound cricketing call,” said Manjrekar on Sportstar’s Insight Edge podcast.[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58JRdBRAbIk[/embed]Pandya had enjoyed tremendous success with Gujarat Titans, leading the side to the IPL title in 2022 and a runner-up finish in 2023.Manjrekar, however, suggested that the Titans’ golden run owed significantly to head coach Ashish Nehra.“Hardik Pandya had success with the Gujarat Titans, and that had a lot to do with somebody named Ashish Nehra. So maybe if you wanted Hardik Pandya, you could have also got Ashish Nehra with him,” said Manjrekar.“Hardik Pandya, I believe, was brilliant because there was somebody next to him constantly with almost every move that he made on the field,” he added.Pandya’s return to Mumbai Indians was also marked by controversy, with sections of fans turning against him after he replaced Rohit Sharma as captain.Manjrekar suspects the move may have been influenced by a desire to create impact beyond the field.“So it’s really not so much about Hardik Pandya, but the decision, whether it was a sensible decision or it was just somebody wanting to think out-of-the-box a little bit and doing something a little sensational.”Published on Apr 20, 2026 #Mumbai #Indians #Ashish #Nehra #Hardik #Pandya #Sanjay #Manjrekar

Deadspin | Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama named 1st-time MVP finalist Apr 10, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the first half against the Dallas Mavericks at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images Third-year San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama is a first-time NBA Most Valuable Player candidate along with Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder, the league announced Sunday. The league announced the MVP finalists, along with the finalists for the rest of its 2025-26 season awards, during the broadcast of the opening game of the Orlando Magic versus Detroit Pistons playoff series on NBC. Wembanyama, who is also a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year, averaged a career-best 25.0 points and 11.5 rebounds and led the league with 3.1 blocks per game. He would be the youngest MVP in league history at 22 years old, a few months younger than Derrick Rose was in 2010-11. To do so, he’ll have to beat out the last two league MVPs in Gilgeous-Alexander (31.1 ppg, 6.6 assists per game, 4.3 rpg), who won his first MVP last season, and Jokic (27.7 ppg, 12.9 rpg, 10.7 apg), who won his third in 2023-24. Detroit’s Ausar Thompson and Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren are the other two finalists for DPOY, which Wembanyama is heavily favored to win. Three of the first four picks in last year’s draft are the finalists for Rookie of the Year. No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg of Dallas (21.0 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 4.5 apg, 1.2 steals per game), No. 3 pick VJ Edgecombe of Philadelphia (16.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 4.2 apg, 1.4 spg) and No. 4 pick Kon Knueppel of Charlotte (18.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.4 apg, league-high 273 made 3-pointers) earned the recognition. Atlanta’s Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Portland’s Deni Avdija and Detroit’s Jalen Duren are the three finalists for Most Improved Player. In his first season in Atlanta, Alexander-Walker averaged 20.8 points — 9.8 more than in any of his first six seasons. Avdija averaged a career-high 24.2 points, and Duren — like Avdija a first-time All-Star — averaged 19.5 points, far exceeding the 11.8 he averaged last season. The Nuggets’ Tim Hardaway Jr., Miami’s Jaime Jaquez Jr. and San Antonio’s Keldon Johnson are the finalists for Sixth Man of the Year. Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards, Denver’s Jamal Murray and Gilgeous-Alexander are finalists for Clutch Player of the Year. Any of them would be a first-time winner of the award, which will be given out for the fourth time this year. Three coaches of top-two seeded teams were named finalists for Coach of the Year in Detroit’s J.B. Bickerstaff, San Antonio’s Mitch Johnson and Boston’s Joe Mazzulla. Whoever wins will be a first-time COTY. The award winners will start being announced this coming week during playoff broadcasts, starting Monday with Defensive Player of the Year, Clutch Player on Tuesday, Sixth Man on Wednesday and Most Improved Player on Friday. NBA award finalists Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City) Nikola Jokic (Denver) Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio) Rookie of the Year VJ Edgecombe (Philadelphia) Cooper Flagg (Dallas) Kon Knueppel (Charlotte) Defensive Player of the Year Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City) Ausar Thompson (Detroit) Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio) Most Improved Player Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Atlanta) Deni Avdija (Portland) Jalen Duren (Detroit) Sixth Man of the Year Tim Hardaway Jr. (Denver) Jaime Jaquez Jr. (Miami) Keldon Johnson (San Antonio) Clutch Player of the Year Anthony Edwards (Minnesota) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City) Jamal Murray (Denver) Coach of the Year J.B. Bickerstaff (Detroit) Mitch Johnson (San Antonio) Joe Mazzulla (Boston) –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Spurs #Victor #Wembanyama #named #1sttime #MVP #finalistApr 10, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the first half against the Dallas Mavericks at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

Third-year San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama is a first-time NBA Most Valuable Player candidate along with Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder, the league announced Sunday.

The league announced the MVP finalists, along with the finalists for the rest of its 2025-26 season awards, during the broadcast of the opening game of the Orlando Magic versus Detroit Pistons playoff series on NBC.

Wembanyama, who is also a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year, averaged a career-best 25.0 points and 11.5 rebounds and led the league with 3.1 blocks per game. He would be the youngest MVP in league history at 22 years old, a few months younger than Derrick Rose was in 2010-11.

To do so, he’ll have to beat out the last two league MVPs in Gilgeous-Alexander (31.1 ppg, 6.6 assists per game, 4.3 rpg), who won his first MVP last season, and Jokic (27.7 ppg, 12.9 rpg, 10.7 apg), who won his third in 2023-24.

Detroit’s Ausar Thompson and Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren are the other two finalists for DPOY, which Wembanyama is heavily favored to win.

Three of the first four picks in last year’s draft are the finalists for Rookie of the Year. No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg of Dallas (21.0 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 4.5 apg, 1.2 steals per game), No. 3 pick VJ Edgecombe of Philadelphia (16.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 4.2 apg, 1.4 spg) and No. 4 pick Kon Knueppel of Charlotte (18.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.4 apg, league-high 273 made 3-pointers) earned the recognition.

Atlanta’s Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Portland’s Deni Avdija and Detroit’s Jalen Duren are the three finalists for Most Improved Player. In his first season in Atlanta, Alexander-Walker averaged 20.8 points — 9.8 more than in any of his first six seasons. Avdija averaged a career-high 24.2 points, and Duren — like Avdija a first-time All-Star — averaged 19.5 points, far exceeding the 11.8 he averaged last season.

The Nuggets’ Tim Hardaway Jr., Miami’s Jaime Jaquez Jr. and San Antonio’s Keldon Johnson are the finalists for Sixth Man of the Year.

Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards, Denver’s Jamal Murray and Gilgeous-Alexander are finalists for Clutch Player of the Year. Any of them would be a first-time winner of the award, which will be given out for the fourth time this year.

Three coaches of top-two seeded teams were named finalists for Coach of the Year in Detroit’s J.B. Bickerstaff, San Antonio’s Mitch Johnson and Boston’s Joe Mazzulla. Whoever wins will be a first-time COTY.

The award winners will start being announced this coming week during playoff broadcasts, starting Monday with Defensive Player of the Year, Clutch Player on Tuesday, Sixth Man on Wednesday and Most Improved Player on Friday.

NBA award finalists

Most Valuable Player

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City)

Nikola Jokic (Denver)

Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio)

Rookie of the Year

VJ Edgecombe (Philadelphia)

Cooper Flagg (Dallas)

Kon Knueppel (Charlotte)


Defensive Player of the Year

Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City)

Ausar Thompson (Detroit)

Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio)

Most Improved Player

Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Atlanta)

Deni Avdija (Portland)

Jalen Duren (Detroit)

Sixth Man of the Year

Tim Hardaway Jr. (Denver)

Jaime Jaquez Jr. (Miami)

Keldon Johnson (San Antonio)

Clutch Player of the Year

Anthony Edwards (Minnesota)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City)

Jamal Murray (Denver)

Coach of the Year

J.B. Bickerstaff (Detroit)

Mitch Johnson (San Antonio)

Joe Mazzulla (Boston)

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Spurs #Victor #Wembanyama #named #1sttime #MVP #finalist">Deadspin | Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama named 1st-time MVP finalist Apr 10, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the first half against the Dallas Mavericks at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images Third-year San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama is a first-time NBA Most Valuable Player candidate along with Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder, the league announced Sunday. The league announced the MVP finalists, along with the finalists for the rest of its 2025-26 season awards, during the broadcast of the opening game of the Orlando Magic versus Detroit Pistons playoff series on NBC. Wembanyama, who is also a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year, averaged a career-best 25.0 points and 11.5 rebounds and led the league with 3.1 blocks per game. He would be the youngest MVP in league history at 22 years old, a few months younger than Derrick Rose was in 2010-11. To do so, he’ll have to beat out the last two league MVPs in Gilgeous-Alexander (31.1 ppg, 6.6 assists per game, 4.3 rpg), who won his first MVP last season, and Jokic (27.7 ppg, 12.9 rpg, 10.7 apg), who won his third in 2023-24. Detroit’s Ausar Thompson and Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren are the other two finalists for DPOY, which Wembanyama is heavily favored to win. Three of the first four picks in last year’s draft are the finalists for Rookie of the Year. No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg of Dallas (21.0 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 4.5 apg, 1.2 steals per game), No. 3 pick VJ Edgecombe of Philadelphia (16.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 4.2 apg, 1.4 spg) and No. 4 pick Kon Knueppel of Charlotte (18.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.4 apg, league-high 273 made 3-pointers) earned the recognition. Atlanta’s Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Portland’s Deni Avdija and Detroit’s Jalen Duren are the three finalists for Most Improved Player. In his first season in Atlanta, Alexander-Walker averaged 20.8 points — 9.8 more than in any of his first six seasons. Avdija averaged a career-high 24.2 points, and Duren — like Avdija a first-time All-Star — averaged 19.5 points, far exceeding the 11.8 he averaged last season. The Nuggets’ Tim Hardaway Jr., Miami’s Jaime Jaquez Jr. and San Antonio’s Keldon Johnson are the finalists for Sixth Man of the Year. Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards, Denver’s Jamal Murray and Gilgeous-Alexander are finalists for Clutch Player of the Year. Any of them would be a first-time winner of the award, which will be given out for the fourth time this year. Three coaches of top-two seeded teams were named finalists for Coach of the Year in Detroit’s J.B. Bickerstaff, San Antonio’s Mitch Johnson and Boston’s Joe Mazzulla. Whoever wins will be a first-time COTY. The award winners will start being announced this coming week during playoff broadcasts, starting Monday with Defensive Player of the Year, Clutch Player on Tuesday, Sixth Man on Wednesday and Most Improved Player on Friday. NBA award finalists Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City) Nikola Jokic (Denver) Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio) Rookie of the Year VJ Edgecombe (Philadelphia) Cooper Flagg (Dallas) Kon Knueppel (Charlotte) Defensive Player of the Year Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City) Ausar Thompson (Detroit) Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio) Most Improved Player Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Atlanta) Deni Avdija (Portland) Jalen Duren (Detroit) Sixth Man of the Year Tim Hardaway Jr. (Denver) Jaime Jaquez Jr. (Miami) Keldon Johnson (San Antonio) Clutch Player of the Year Anthony Edwards (Minnesota) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City) Jamal Murray (Denver) Coach of the Year J.B. Bickerstaff (Detroit) Mitch Johnson (San Antonio) Joe Mazzulla (Boston) –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Spurs #Victor #Wembanyama #named #1sttime #MVP #finalist

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