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Giannis Antetokounmpo, James Harden, Paul George named finalists for NBA MVP

By Connor Grott
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (R) led the Bucks to a league-best 60 wins in the regular season. File Photo by Tannen Maury/EPA-EFE
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (R) led the Bucks to a league-best 60 wins in the regular season. File Photo by Tannen Maury/EPA-EFE

May 17 (UPI) -- Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, Houston Rockets guard James Harden and Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George were named finalists for the NBA's Most Valuable Player Award, the league announced Friday.

Harden, who is the league's reigning MVP, led the league in scoring with 36.1 points per game this season. Antetokounmpo, the only player out of the three finalists whose team remains in the postseason, led the Bucks to a league-best 60 wins in the regular season and ranked third in the NBA in points (27.1), sixth in rebounds (12.5) and 10th in blocks (1.5) per game.

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George paced the NBA with 2.2 steals per game and put up career highs in points (28.0), rebounds (8.2) and assists (4.1) per contest. He is also a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year, along with Antetokounmpo and Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert. The Jazz big man won the award last year.

The 2019 NBA Awards are June 24 in Los Angeles. Below are the rest of the awards finalists:

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Rookie of the Year

Deandre Ayton, Phoenix Suns

Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks

Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks

Sixth Man Award

Montrezl Harrell, Los Angeles Clippers

Domantas Sabonis, Indiana Pacers

Lou Williams, Los Angeles Clippers

Most Improved Player

De'Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings

D'Angelo Russell, Brooklyn Nets

Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors

Coach of the Year

Mike Budenholzer, Milwaukee Bucks

Michael Malone, Denver Nuggets

Doc Rivers, Los Angeles Clippers

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