PHOENIX SUNS

Phoenix Suns’ Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson named NBA awards finalists

Apr 17, 2022, 3:52 PM | Updated: 4:47 pm

Mikal Bridges #25 of the Phoenix Suns looks on during the second half of the NBA game against the T...

Mikal Bridges #25 of the Phoenix Suns looks on during the second half of the NBA game against the Toronto Raptors at Footprint Center on March 11, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Kelsey Grant/Getty Images)

(Photo by Kelsey Grant/Getty Images)

Two Phoenix Suns players and head coach Monty Williams were named finalists for NBA awards on Sunday.

Wing Mikal Bridges is one of three finalists for the Defensive Player of the Year award, forward Cam Johnson is in the running for Sixth Man of the Year and Williams for Coach of the Year.

Both players are finalists for the first time in their respective careers.

Suns guard Devin Booker was not named a finalist for Most Valuable Player, getting beat out by Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid and Denver Nuggets big Nikola Jokic.

Booker was listed fourth on NBA.com’s most recent MVP ladder.

Bridges started every game during the regular season and continued his ascension as one of the league’s prime wing defenders. The other two finalists for DPOY are Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert and Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart.

No Suns player has ever won the award.

Johnson scored a career-high 12.5 points per game on 42.5% three-point shooting this season off the bench. He is competing with Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro and Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love for the award.

The most recent Suns player to win Sixth Man of the Year was Leandro Barbosa in 2007.

Williams was named the National Basketball Coaches Association’s Coach of the Year for a second consecutive season last week. He was a finalist for Coach of the Year in 2020-21, but Tom Thibodeau of the New York Knicks won.

Williams is in his third season coaching the Suns, and he helped the franchise win 64 games for the first time to earn the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. Phoenix finished the regular season fifth in scoring and eighth in points allowed.

Phoenix Suns

Jusuf Nurkic #20 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball during the second half of the NBA game agains...

Arizona Sports

Suns trade Jusuf Nurkic to Hornets for Cody Martin, Vasilije Micic

The Phoenix Suns have agreed to trade center Jusuf Nurkic to the Charlotte Hornets, ESPN's Shams Charania reported on Thursday ahead of the 1 p.m. deadline.

2 hours ago

Suns...

Alex Weiner

After Kevin Durant blockbuster falls through, what’s left for Suns on deadline day?

A big Phoenix Suns trade is now unlikely, according to Arizona Sports' John Gambadoro. The trade deadline is Thursday at 1 p.m. 

3 hours ago

Suns...

Kellan Olson

Suns walloped by Thunder in latest reminder of current status

The Suns are in no position to be swinging big anymore to revive their chances at contending, as further evidenced by Wednesday's loss to the Thunder.

15 hours ago

Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns drives against Anfernee Simons #1 of the Portland Trail Blazer...

Bailey Leasure

All signs indicate Suns F Kevin Durant remaining in Phoenix ahead of deadline, per report

ESPN's Shams Charania reported on Wednesday that all signs indicate Suns forward Kevin Durant remaining with the team ahead of the NBA trade deadline.

17 hours ago

Jimmy Butler plays during the Reserve Cup Miami 2025 on January 25, 2025 in Miami, Florida....

Kevin Zimmerman

Jimmy Butler traded to Warriors, Suns move forward without him

Miami Heat forward and Suns trade target Jimmy Butler is headed to the Golden State Warriors as part of a multi-team trade, per reports.

19 hours ago

Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns shoots over Keyonte George #3 of the Utah Jazz during the secon...

David Veenstra

Suns-Jazz flexed out of ESPN Friday slot for Luka’s Lakers debut

The Phoenix Suns' game against the Utah Jazz on Friday will no longer be nationally televised on ESPN.

20 hours ago

Phoenix Suns’ Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson named NBA awards finalists