Looking ahead to the 2025 NBA playoffs, it`s time to reflect on the regular season and recognize the most deserving players with awards for their performance over the past six months. Typically, the NBA season might feature a few clear-cut award races by April, but this year is different. Often, frontrunners emerge as the 82-game season progresses, becoming clear favorites. Last season, for example, MVP (Nikola Jokić), Rookie of the Year (Victor Wembanyama), Defensive Player of the Year (Rudy Gobert), and Coach of the Year (Mark Daigneault) all secured a significant majority of first-place votes. The closest contests were for Sixth Man, Most Improved Player, and Clutch Player of the Year.
However, this season presents a different landscape. Definite picks are scarce. The MVP race, particularly between Jokić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, has been exceptionally tight and exciting throughout the year, with Gilgeous-Alexander ultimately becoming the favored choice in betting circles.
Wembanyama`s absence opened up the Defensive Player of the Year award, creating perhaps the most competitive race in recent memory. Similarly, the Rookie of the Year award lacks a dominant, Wembanyama-level prospect, making it a more open competition. Even the Coach of the Year award has numerous viable candidates across the league.
This year, no award seems to be a foregone conclusion. Every category remained competitive until the end of the regular season. The NBA will announce the winners as the playoffs unfold. For now, the CBS Sports NBA staff has cast their votes for this year`s awards. Given the close nature of these races, these predictions are not definitive, and surprises are expected. While championship contention will dominate NBA headlines over the next couple of months, the individual award races will also provide significant intrigue.
MVP
| Award | Brad Botkin | James Herbert | Jack Maloney | Sam Quinn | Bill Reiter | Colin Ward-Henninger | Jasmyn Wimbish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MVP | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Nikola Jokić | Nikola Jokić | Nikola Jokić | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander |
The MVP votes are split, with four for SGA and three for Jokić, reflecting the tight race. It`s a tough choice, as Gilgeous-Alexander led the league`s top team, averaging impressive stats: 32.7 points, 6.4 assists, and 5 rebounds with efficient shooting. Jokić, on the other hand, achieved a historic feat, becoming the first center to average a triple-double (29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists), marking arguably his best season yet in an already decorated career with three MVP awards.
Defensive Player of the Year
| Award | Brad Botkin | James Herbert | Jack Maloney | Sam Quinn | Bill Reiter | Colin Ward-Henninger | Jasmyn Wimbish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPOY | Ivicia Zubac | Evan Mobley | Evan Mobley | Amen Thompson | Draymond Green | Draymond Green | Evan Mobley |
The Defensive Player of the Year voting is even more diverse, with four different players receiving votes. Wembanyama was considered a frontrunner until a blood clot sidelined him for the last six weeks of the season, preventing him from meeting the 65-game eligibility requirement. Green emerged as a strong contender late in the season, while Mobley anchored the defense of the top team in the East throughout the year. The Warriors and Cavaliers, Green`s and Mobley`s respective teams, ranked seventh and eighth in defensive rating this season.
Rookie of the Year
| Award | Brad Botkin | James Herbert | Jack Maloney | Sam Quinn | Bill Reiter | Colin Ward-Henninger | Jasmyn Wimbish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROY | Stephon Castle | Stephon Castle | Stephon Castle | Jaylen Wells | Stephon Castle | Stephon Castle | Jaylen Wells |
Rookie of the Year narrowed down to a two-player race by season`s end. Castle improved significantly for the Spurs as the season progressed, averaging over 19 points and 5 assists in March and April. Wells contributed 10.4 points and 3.4 rebounds, playing 26 minutes per game for a Grizzlies team that was competitive for a playoff spot for much of the season. Unfortunately, Wells` rookie season was cut short last week due to a wrist fracture from a fall.
Sixth Man of the Year
| Award | Brad Botkin | James Herbert | Jack Maloney | Sam Quinn | Bill Reiter | Colin Ward-Henninger | Jasmyn Wimbish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6MOY | Payton Pritchard | Payton Pritchard | Payton Pritchard | Malik Beasley | Payton Pritchard | Malik Beasley | Payton Pritchard |
Pritchard of the reigning champion Celtics, was a leading candidate for Sixth Man of the Year for most of the season, averaging 14.3 points and shooting 40.7% from three-point range off the bench for Boston. Beasley played a significant role in the Pistons` improved performance. He averaged 16.3 points per game and made 319 three-pointers, second only to Anthony Edwards in the league.
Most Improved Player
| Award | Brad Botkin | James Herbert | Jack Maloney | Sam Quinn | Bill Reiter | Colin Ward-Henninger | Jasmyn Wimbish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIP | Dyson Daniels | Ivicia Zubac | Dyson Daniels | Ivicia Zubac | Dyson Daniels | Ivicia Zubac | Dyson Daniels |
Another close vote split 4-3, this time between the Hawks` breakout guard and the veteran Clippers center for Most Improved Player. Both Daniels and Zubac are strong contenders for All-Defense Teams this season. Daniels, nicknamed `The Great Barrier Thief,` topped the league in steals with 229 while increasing his scoring to 14.1 points per game (from 5.8 for the Pelicans last season). Zubac posted career highs of 16.8 points and 12.6 rebounds per game, playing a crucial role in the Clippers` stability during Kawhi Leonard`s extended absence and helping them secure the West`s No. 5 seed.
Clutch Player of the Year
| Award | Brad Botkin | James Herbert | Jack Maloney | Sam Quinn | Bill Reiter | Colin Ward-Henninger | Jasmyn Wimbish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clutch Player of the Year | Trey Murphy III | DeMar DeRozan | DeMar DeRozan | Stephen Curry | DeMar DeRozan | DeMar DeRozan | DeMar DeRozan |
DeMar DeRozan is the overwhelming favorite for Clutch Player of the Year in our expert picks, receiving five of the seven votes. DeRozan has built a reputation as one of the NBA`s most reliable late-game scorers, and the numbers this season back it up. He leads the league in clutch points (182) and field goals made in clutch situations (59). Curry and Murphy also received votes, highlighting their clutch performances this season.
Jasper Hawthorne