The 2025-26 NBA season is not even underway yet, but the award conversations are already heating up, and we can’t help but feel excited at this point. From Rookie of the Year sleepers to Defensive Player of the Year anchors, everyone’s making their early cases. But let’s be real, the main topic will be about if Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, last year’s MVP and scoring leader, will win back-to-back trophies next season.
Now, can SGA actually pull off the back-to-back? History says it’s a rare feat, but we can’t put it past him. The competition says it’s even tougher, especially with superstars Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic looking to make an immediate impact.
Obviously, other award races will heat up, including who will be Most Improved and if Evan Mobley can ward off stiff competition from Victor Wembanyama and even Chet Holmgren to capture his second Defensive Player of the Year award. Along with all the other individual awards, let’s provide the very early NBA award predictions.
Most Valuable Player – Nikola Jokic
It almost feels unfair how easily Nikola Jokic dominates MVP conversations at this point. The Nuggets’ big man is already a three-time winner, and yet every year, he somehow looks better and more in control of the game. Last season belonged to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander despite Jokic dropping a triple-double (29.6 PPG, 12.7 RPG, 10.2 APG), but don’t think for a second that Jokic didn’t have a legitimate case.
Now, with Denver retooled and motivated after a disappointing playoff exit, Jokic is primed to remind everyone why he’s the most reliable superstar on Earth. The competition is fierce, obviously. Luka Doncic will put up his usual gaudy stat lines and will be a scoring champion candidate with the Lakers. Giannis Antetokounmpo remains a perennial threat, and SGA isn’t going anywhere as the best point guard in the world.
Even Kevin Durant, if Houston rolls to 57-plus wins, could sneak in. But none of them carry Jokic’s unique blend of production, efficiency, and leadership. MVP voters love storylines, and if Denver bounces back to the top of the West, the narrative will feel familiar: Jokic makes basketball look impossibly simple.
Denver’s improved roster works to his advantage. Jamal Murray is healthy, Cam Johnson, Bruce Brown, and Tim Hardaway Jr. are amazing additions, and the Nuggets’ supporting cast is more than solid. Jokic just needs to keep being Jokic to be the favorite for a historic fourth MVP triumph.
Rookie Of The Year – Cooper Flagg
The hype train for Cooper Flagg is moving forward, and it’s only picking up steam. The No. 1 pick landed in Dallas to replace the departed Luka Doncic, creating one of the most interesting trios with Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis. Flagg has the size, mindset, and skills to impact winning immediately, which is why his Rookie of the Year odds are already separating him from the pack.
The competition will be real; players like Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper will generate plenty of attention. But Flagg’s situation is tailor-made for a rookie award push. He’ll get minutes, touches, and plenty of highlights next to Irving and Davis. A player with his defensive instincts and offensive versatility will produce in ways voters notice quickly.
If the Mavs take a noticeable leap in the standings, Flagg could be the rookie everyone’s chasing for the next decade. Remember, he is only 18 years old, so he has a lot stacked against him, but we trust the big man will perform.
Defensive Player Of The Year – Victor Wembanyama
Victor Wembanyama broke the NBA’s shot-blocking system last year and was on his way to winning the DPOY award rather easily. Unfortunately, blood clots found in his shoulder ended his season prematurely, and the All-Star center missed out on his chance to win his first major individual award.
Next year, the award will be Wemby’s, in all likelihood. There’s always stiff competition. Rudy Gobert still racks up regular-season hardware as the “Stifle Tower”. Anthony Davis, when healthy, is a one-man fortress. Evan Mobley (last season’s winner) and Bam Adebayo both carry All-Defense credentials.
But Wembanyama has something they don’t: generational height and agility packaged with highlight plays that voters remember when ballots are cast. San Antonio’s defense will revolve around him, and that’s the clearest sign yet that Wemby’s DPOY campaign is inevitable.
With talent around him, Wemby can focus even more on what he does best: wreak havoc at the rim while still chasing guards 25 feet from the basket. If voters are looking for the most impactful defender in basketball, they won’t have to look too far.
Sixth Man Of The Year – Anfernee Simons
There’s always a surprise in the Sixth Man race, and in the upcoming year, we think it’s Anfernee Simons. After years of being asked to carry heavy offensive loads in Portland, Simons now gets to play the role of microwave scorer off the bench for the Boston Celtics.
Sometimes, scaling back Simons’ role might unlock his most efficient season yet, especially since the Celtics are interested in starting Payton Pritchard ahead of him. Simons won’t run away with the award, though.
Malik Monk has thrived in Sacramento, Nickeil Alexander-Walker was an excellent pickup by the Hawks, and guys like Tari Eason could emerge depending on their roles. The Sixth Man award often goes to whoever captures momentum as a nightly game-changer, and Simons has the offensive bag to check that box.
Playing off the bench gives Simons freedom: less pressure to be the guy and more room to simply go get buckets. If he can come in and score 17 PPG at least to make up for Jayson Tatum’s absence, Simons could win this award.
Most Improved Player Of The Year – Amen Thompson
The MIP conversation is always tricky, especially since we can’t predict a player’s improvement. In Amen Thompson’s case, it’s both. His second season in the league showed flashes of versatility and elite athleticism, but year two is when everything slows down.
With a full offseason of work and confidence in his shot, Thompson has the blueprint to go from intriguing prospect to bona fide star. The field is deep. Jalen Duren could make a leap in Detroit, and players like Shaedon Sharpe or Jaden Ivey have breakout potential. But Thompson is the type of player voters love to reward: a supreme athlete with a chance to grow exponentially around Kevin Durant.
For the Rockets, this could be the season when everything gels. With Ime Udoka pushing accountability and structure, Houston’s core has playoff aspirations, and Amen could be the difference-maker, especially if his offensive game grows.
Coach Of The Year – Ime Udoka
The Coach of the Year award often goes to the leader who pushes a young team past expectations, and that’s why Ime Udoka is such a strong pick. In just his second season at the helm, Udoka has already reshaped Houston’s culture, and with Kevin Durant on board, the Rockets look like one of the West’s sneakiest playoff teams.
Udoka will have plenty of competition. Erik Spoelstra is always a candidate if Miami overcomes some odds, Mark Daigneault could easily repeat if OKC keeps climbing, and Quin Snyder has the personnel to run up the Hawks’ win total. If the Rockets take the leap everyone expects as a top-two seed in the West, Udoka will be the one hoisting the hardware.
