SAN ANTONIO, TX – FEBRUARY 29: Forward Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs drives to the basket against Guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 during a game with the Oklahoma City Thunder at Frost Bank Center on February 29, 2024 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Brien Aho/Getty Images)
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With the NBA season just a few days away, now is the time for predictions on the requisite NBA regular-season awards ahead of the upcoming campaign.
This article will capture the projected favorites for each accolade while also incorporating the dark horses that may have a legitimate chance to claim recognition or obtain the award altogether in 2025-2026.
Below are the candidates for the six major regular-season awards ahead of the upcoming NBA season.
Most Valuable Player
Winner: PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
Darkhorse: PG Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA – MAY 18: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder reacts after scoring during the fourth quarter of a game against the Denver Nuggets in Game Seven of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center on May 18, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images)
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The league’s reigning Finals MVP had a banner 2024-2025 regular-season where he boasted career-highs in points (32.7), assists (6.4), field goals made (11.1) field goals attempted (21.1) and three-point percentage (35.7). He played in all but six of Oklahoma City’s 82 games, and the Thunder won 63 of them to fast-tracked him towards becoming the franchise’s third-ever NBA MVP winner since the team’s relocation from Seattle.
Labeling SGA as the favorite for this year’s award shouldn’t come as a shock. He’s in the midst of his prime at 27 years old, plays for a title contending that’s at least 10 men deep and he’s been durable throughout his pro career. While Gilgeous-Alexander may not need to lead the league in scoring this year, there’s still a very good chance he’ll average 30-plus with crazy efficiency for the fourth straight year to go with potential upticks in assist per game and three-point percentage.
An outside contender for the award that’s not named SGA, Giannis, Jokic, Luka or Ant could be Detroit’s Cade Cunningham. The former 2020 top overall pick broke out this past year as a first-time All Star for the playoff-bound Pistons. He had career-highs in points (26.2) nearly averaged 10 assists (9.1 to be exact) in a season where he played 70 games with his 44-win ball club.
For Cade to truly contend for the award, the Pistons will likely need to win 50-plus games along with Cunningham becoming the league’s first 30-point, 10-assist lead guard this decade not named Trae Young.
Defensive Player Of The Year
Winner: PF/C Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
Darkhorse: SF Toumani Camara, Portland Trailblazers
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 10: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs celebrates after a 131-121 victory against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on February 10, 2025 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
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Before missing the rest of the season following the All-Star break due to blood clots, Victor Wembanyama seemed to be a slam dunk selection for the 2024-2025 Defensive Player of The Year award. He led the league in blocks per game (3.8), total blocks (176) and was third in defensive box plus/minus (2.9) in just 46 games of action.
This season, he’ll be the face of a Spurs’ defense that is still a bit young and features very limited perimeter defenders at its disposal. It’ll be up to the 21-year-old to elevate the team’s defense once again to at least a top-15 unit to be a runaway for DPOY.
While Wemby will likely be the odds-on favorite, a young perimeter talent in Toumani Camara could also have a say in who comes away with the crown as the game’s best defensive player. In his second season with Portland, the 6-foot-8 25-year-old emerged as one of the league’s best young defenders.
Camara was just one of eight players to post 100-plus steals and at least 50 blocks this past season and will be a starter once again for a Portland team that will lean into a defensive-first mentality led by he and veteran Jrue Holiday. While him being a contender for the award has its roadblocks in Wemby, Amen Thompson and even Dyson Daniels, continuous growth as a versatile defender could position himself into DPOTY talks if Portland has a surprisingly successful season.
Rookie Of The Year
Winner: SF/PF Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks
Darkhorse: SG/SF Kon Knuppel, Charlotte Hornets
DALLAS, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 29: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks poses for a portrait during media day at American Airlines Center on September 29, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
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Flagg has been a mainstay in the pre-NBA ranks since his high school days, and so far in the preseason he’s looked the part on both ends of the floor. He’ll likely start his early career years on the wing with Anthony Davis and Derrick Lively manning the paint, but head coach Jason Kidd has sprinkled in the rookie at the lead guard spot prior to the season to promising avail.
Flagg won’t have to average 20 per game to get the ROTY, but a seasonal stat line that showcases versatility in the points, rebounds and assists department would go a long way. He’ll also be playing for a team with legitimate playoff aspirations and for a contributing rookie, such a case helps their campaign when it comes down to these awards.
Knueppel as a darkhorse candidate shouldn’t be the case, but he wasn’t the most heralded lottery prospect coming out during the pre-draft process. The former Blue Devil is also on a bad Hornets team that features three potential 18=20 point per game scorers in Lamelo Ball, Miles Bridges and Brandon Miller who could tank his shot opportunities depending on the night.
However, Knueppel is a fine three-point shooter who has shown flashes in college and the NBA preseason as a willing driver and a primary/secondary playmaker. If he comes into the league and becomes a plus-side knock down shooter, that’s half the battle as it pertains to morphing into an All-Rookie caliber talent.
Sixth Man of The Year
Winner: Bradley Beal, Los Angeles Clippers
Darkhorse: Russell Westbrook, Sacramento Kings
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – JANUARY 06: Bradley Beal #3 of the Phoenix Suns smiles during the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on January 06, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
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Beal will have a change of scenery in Los Angeles as he embarks on the back half of his career as a second-unit scoring sparkplug. In the times where he briefly played for the Suns a season ago, he averaged 17.o points per game on nearly 50 percent shooting as the third scoring option opposite Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.
On the Clippers, Beal will be operating alongside two of the game’s best active playmakers in James Harden and Chris Paul. Each will provide him the spacing and shot opportunities needed for Beal to operate at an efficient level albeit in a potentially reduced role.
In the same state, Russell Westbrook will embark on his eighteenth season as a member of the Sacramento Kings. He’ll be coming off the bench behind NBA journeyman Dennis Schroeder but still will be given at least 20 minutes per game to leave an impact on the floor.
In his prior stint with the Denver Nuggets, Westbrook averaged nearly 13/6/5 on 28 minutes per game as the team’s backup PG. In an offense where primary ball handling and decision making will be needed alongside big man Domantas Sabonis, Westbrook’s play is important in helping Sacramento emerge as a fringe playoff team out west.
Most Improved Player
Winner: SG/SF Jaylen Wells, Memphis Grizzlies
Darkhorse: PF/C Jabari Smith Jr, Houston Rockets
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – APRIL 08: Jaylen Wells #0 of the Memphis Grizzlies watches his shot during the first half of a basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center on April 08, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
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Memphis will be entering the upcoming season compromised due to offseason/preseason injuries. Zack Edey, Scottie Pippen Jr., Brandon Clarke and Ty Jerome are all expected to miss substantial time to begin the year leaving the Grizzlies in desperate need of a third scoring option alongside All-Stars Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr.
Enter Jaylen Wells who last season as a second-round rookie averaged double-digits in scoring (10.4) on less than nine shots per game. He’ll be tasked to be the team’s third-leading scorer from the opening tip this year on an enhanced shot diet due to the trade of former shooting guard Desmond Bane during the offseason.
In Houston, Jabari Smith Jr. was given a max rookie extension as a building piece around Alpern Sengun, Amen Thompson and Kevin Durant during the Rockets’ title push. Over the years, he’s averaged 13 points and 7 rebounds per game on middling efficiency from the field (43%).
In arguably a reduced role as a complementary starting frontcourt piece, Smith will likely be given high quality looks from deep and around the basket. He’s also been fine tuning his jump shooting skillset as he’s taken to being under Durant’s wing.
Both presents signs of a potential breakout season for Smith Jr. in an environment that’s maximizing his efficiency as a mid-range/three-point jump shooter.
Coach of The Year
Winner: JB Bickerstaff, Detroit Pistons
Darkhorse: Chauncey Billups, Portland Trail Blazers
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – FEBRUARY 05: Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff of the Detroit Pistons looks on during the second quarter of a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Little Caesars Arena on February 05, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)
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After helping the Pistons break into the playoffs for the first time this decade, JB Bickerstaff returns much of the key pieces from last season’s postseason run. Headlined by All-NBA talent Cade Cunningham and an array of young high-upside pieces, the pathway is open for the Pistons to make a push towards being a top-three seed in the Eastern Conference.
Out west, Chauncey Billups may finally have the proper combination of veterans and young talent needed to elevate his roster to playoff caliber basketball. A starting five that will likely feature the likes of Jrue Holiday and Deni Avdija alongside Shaedon Sharpe, Toumani Camara and Donovan Clingan has genuine upside to be a play-in team. If they get off to a promising start by the month of January, talks could rumble around him being in the Coach of the Year discussions.
