Shai, Nikola and Giannis MVP finalists

It's now reasonable to think that Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo finished third in this season's balloting for the NBA MVP award.

The NBA released the three finalists for its major trophies on Sunday night, with Antetokounmpo on the MVP list alongside Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Denver's Nikola Jokic, the runaway front-runners for the honor.

Jokic was last season's MVP, and is bidding to be named as such for a fourth time in five years. Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA's scoring champion this season, and the leader of a Thunder team that won 68 games while setting a league record scoring margin, is seeking his first MVP trophy.

They were considered such big favorites that BetMGM Sportsbook didn't even offer realistic odds toward the end of the regular season on anyone else winning. Gilgeous-Alexander was the favorite, Jokic was the second choice, and nobody else had odds shorter than 500-1.

Given that All-NBA voting now essentially mirrors MVP voting, being an MVP finalist basically guarantees an All-NBA first-team nod. It'll be the ninth appearance on that team for Antetokounmpo, the seventh for Jokic and the third for Gilgeous-Alexander.

Last year's finalists were Jokic, Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic.

Coach of the year

Finalists: Kenny Atkinson, Cleveland; J.B. Bickerstaff, Detroit; Ime Udoka, Houston.

Rookie of the year

Finalists: Stephon Castle, San Antonio; Zaccharie Risacher, Atlanta; Jaylen Wells, Memphis.

Sixth man of the year

Finalists: Malik Beasley, Detroit; Ty Jerome, Cleveland; Payton Pritchard, Boston.

Most improved player

Finalists: Cade Cunningham, Detroit; Dyson Daniels, Atlanta; Ivica Zubac, Los Angeles Clippers.

Defensive player of year

Finalists: Dyson Daniels, Atlanta; Draymond Green, Golden State; Evan Mobley, Cleveland.

Clutch player of the year

Finalists: Jalen Brunson, New York; Anthony Edwards, Minnesota; Nikola Jokic, Denver.

Agencies via Xinhua