NBA

NBA award finalists unveiled: LeBron James not up for MVP

AJ Neuharth-Keusch

USA TODAY Sports

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) reacts during the first half against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center.

Surprise: Russell Westbrook and James Harden are among the finalists for the NBA's 2016-17 Most Valuable Player award.

The three-player list, which was unveiled on TNT Friday night prior to Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics, also includes Kawhi Leonard. Four-time MVP LeBron James, who put together his best statistical season since rejoining the Cavs in 2014, was left off.

The award finalists, and winners, are determined by a panel of NBA media members. Ballots were submitted before the start of the playoffs.

Westbrook, of course, became just the second player in NBA history to average a triple-double for an entire season, while Harden led the high-octane Houston Rockets to 55 wins behind 29.1-point, 11.2-assist, 8.1-rebound averages. They were widely considered to be neck-and-neck at the top of the MVP race for the majority of the season.

LATEST NBA:

Celtics' Isaiah Thomas: 'I'd be the best player ever' if taller

Pacers' Paul George gets little clarity on future after All-NBA snub

Celtics' conundrum: How to defend Cavaliers' LeBron James

Leonard posted 25.5-point, 5.8-rebound, 3.5-assist averages for the 61-win San Antonio Spurs and strengthened his case as the best two-way player in the league.

James averaged 26.4 points, 8.7 assists, 8.6 rebounds and shot 54.8% from the field, but the Cavaliers struggled at times throughout the season, particularly defensively, and finished as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. This is the first time James has been outside of the top three in MVP voting since 2007-08, when he finished fourth.

"My only job is to try to be the MVP for this team every night, put our teammates, put my teammates, put our franchise in a position to be successful and ultimately compete for a championship," James said after Cleveland's dominant Game 2 win, noting that he wasn't aware he was left off the list. "I know what I bring to the table, this league knows what I bring to the table."

Finalists for the league's other regular season awards, which are listed below, were also announced during TNT's 90-minute segment.

Rookie of the Year

Joel Embiid (center, Philadelphia 76ers)
Malcolm Brogdon (guard, Milwaukee Bucks)
Dario Saric (forward, Philadelphia 76ers)

Defensive Player of the Year

Kawhi Leonard (forward, San Antonio Spurs)
Rudy Gobert (center, Utah Jazz)
Draymond Green (forward, Golden State Warriors)

Sixth Man of the Year

Eric Gordon (guard, Houston Rockets)
Andre Iguodala (forward, Golden State Warriors)
Lou Williams (guard, Los Angeles Lakers/Houston Rockets)

Most Improved Player

Rudy Gobert (center, Utah Jazz)
Giannis Antetokounmpo (forward, Milwaukee Bucks)
Nikola Jokic (center, Denver Nuggets)

Coach of the Year

Erik Spoelstra (Miami Heat)
Gregg Popovich (San Antonio Spurs)
Mike D'Antoni (Houston Rockets)

The award winners will be announced during the inaugural NBA Awards show, which will air live from New York's Basketball City on June 26 on TNT after the conclusion of the NBA Finals.

Follow USA TODAY Sports' AJ Neuharth-Keusch on Twitter @tweetAJNK