The NBA’s 65-game rule is wreaking havoc on the awards panorama to finish the 2025-26 season. Luka Doncic gained’t be eligible for MVP, Cade Cunningham doesn’t qualify for the First-Workforce All-NBA honors he deserves, and Anthony Edwards didn’t play sufficient video games for an All-NBA nod, both.
This 12 months will likely be remembered for one other shut MVP race between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic — solely this time, Victor Wembanyama made it a 3 man selection. Wembanyama’s ascension is the largest story of the season, even when it isn’t shocking for a participant getting in comparison with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar a 12 months earlier than he was drafted. Wembanyama would be the favourite to win MVP subsequent season, and he’ll virtually definitely win the league’s prime particular person honor at the very least a number of instances in his profession, however he’s not fairly there but.
With the common season now over, right here’s our picks for each NBA award this season.
MVP: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Nikola Jokic has been one of the best participant on this planet for the final 5 years, however that is the season Gilgeous-Alexander stole that title away from him. It’s excruciating to not give Jokic his fourth MVP after a season the place he led the league in each rebounds and assists whereas scoring nearly in addition to ever, however it’s a testomony to SGA’s degree that he’s nonetheless in the end most deserving of the consideration. Don’t consider the narrative that Gilgeous-Alexander is just a free throw service provider (Austin Reaves had the next free throw price this 12 months) or that OKC’s success is just about its protection. Change SGA with even one other offensive star like Jalen Brunson, and there could be so many extra holes to choose within the Thunder. He was already one of the best guard alive even earlier than he unleashed a lethal step-back three-pointer this 12 months, which he used to win a number of video games on the buzzer. Gilgeous-Alexander placing up 45.3 factors per 100 possession on 66.5 % true taking pictures is just absurd stuff for a 6’6 man. He’s legitimately among the best guards the league has seen post-Michael Jordan, and Steph Curry is basically the one guard I really feel snug saying had an objectively increased peak within the time since. Wemby is coming for the Finest within the World title subsequent season, however SGA has it for now, together with what needs to be his second MVP.
Defensive Participant of the 12 months: Victor Wembanyama
There’s no have to spend a lot time on this one. Apologies to Invoice Russell, however Wembanyama is already perhaps one of the best defensive participant in league historical past at age-22. With an 8-foot wingspan, unimaginable pace, and a excessive motor, he’s going to win this award yearly for the foreseeable future so long as he performs sufficient video games. If Wembanyama weren’t eligible this season, I’d go along with Chet Holmgren as a distance second selection.
Rookie of the 12 months: Kon Knueppel
I went longer on this 12 months’s Rookie of the 12 months final week, however Knueppel deserves the award over his school teammate Cooper Flagg as a result of he was merely a greater and extra impactful participant this season. Knueppel’s taking pictures and screening have been elite traits from day one. I’d say he’s been a top-50 participant in your entire league as a rookie. Flagg would nonetheless go No. 1 in a redraft, however Knueppel has been the NBA’s finest rookie this season, and I truthfully don’t suppose it’s all that shut.
Sixth Man of the 12 months: Keldon Johnson
I agree with Mat Issa’s evaluation of the Sixth Man of the 12 months race: that is Keldon Johnson vs. Jaime Jaquez, and Johnson has a slight edge for being slightly bit extra impactful.
Coach of the 12 months: JB Bickerstaff
I thought of Joe Mazzula, Jordan Ott, and Charles Lee for this honor, however in the end Bickerstaff deserves the nod for getting this Pistons group from 14 wins to 44 wins to 60 wins. I felt like Detroit downgraded over the offseason by shedding Dennis Schroder and Malik Beasley amongst others, however Bickerstaff bought probably the most out of the protection, developed two-way guard Daniss Jenkins right into a key contributor, and located methods to prioritize Jalen Duren offensively as he made an enormous leap. Bickerstaff deserves plenty of credit score for Detroit going 13-5 report with out Cade Cunningham this season, and he’s the brains behind the league’s No. 2 total protection. The Pistons’ preseason over/beneath was solely 46.5 wins. Nobody thought this is able to be one of the best group within the East this season, and Bickerstaff’s fingerprints are throughout their success. The Monty Williams period appears so way back at this level, and that may be Bickerstaff’s greatest accomplishment but.
Clutch Participant of the 12 months: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Gilgeous-Alexnader led the league with 175 factors within the clutch this season. Jamal Murray (166) and Nikola Jokic (155) have been second and third in that class, however in contrast to Denver’s star duo, SGA didn’t actually have anybody else to take the strain off him in late-game conditions. Chet Holmgren was the one different Thunder participant to complete top-100 in clutch factors this 12 months by checking in at No. 49. The event of his step-back, just like the game-winner towards Denver above, goes to make him a lot more durable to protect within the playoffs.
Most Improved Participant: Jalen Duren
There are many worthy candidates for this award, however it nonetheless feels prefer it’s going to come back right down to Nickeil Alexander-Walker vs. Duren. I’m going with the Pistons middle as a result of I really feel just like the leap he made this season — going from a fairly good starter to a possible All-NBA nod — is harder than the one NAW made. I had Duren at No. 5 on my 2022 draft board, so I all the time believed he had such a improvement in him popping out of Memphis. Duren was the NBA’s youngest participant as a rookie, and he was the primary man to enter the league who was born after LeBron’s debut. It’s wild to suppose he’s nonetheless solely 22 years previous, and he’s youthful than a number of projected first-round picks within the 2026 draft, together with Bennett Stirtz, Thomas Haugh, and naturally Yaxel Lendeborg. His means to assault off the dribble simply exploded this 12 months, and he additionally turned extra environment friendly from quick mid-range, whereas persevering with to crush the glass at each ends. Detroit’s offense scored 122 factors per 100 possessions with Duren on the ground this 12 months for greater than 1,800 minutes — which might have led the league. When he was off, the group solely scored 114.7 factors per 100. His free throw enchancment from 66.9 % final 12 months to 74.7 % this 12 months can also be a part of the story. Duren’s protection can nonetheless get higher, and he’s bought loads of time for that. He’s among the best facilities within the league proper now, and I don’t suppose anybody noticed that coming earlier than this season began.
NBA All-Defensive Workforce picks
First group: Victor Wembanyama, Chet Holmgren, Bam Adebayo, Derrick White, Rudy Gobert
Second group: Scottie Barnes, Amen Thompson, Ausar Thompson, OG Anunoby, Cason Wallace
First group: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama, Kawhi Leonard, Donovan Mitchell
Second group: Jaylen Brown, Chet Holmgren, Jamal Murray, Jalen Duren, LaMelo Ball
Third group: Tyrese Maxey, Kevin Durant, Derrick White, Jalen Brunson, Scottie Barnes
