NBA Awards predictions

MVP: Nikola Jokic

Jokic has been in the eyes of many, the greatest player in the world since the beginning of the 2020s and it’s hard to argue against it.

Stuffing the stat sheet with averages of 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds and 9.0 assists per game, along with leading the league in win shares gives him a hard-to-beat case for why he should win his third career MVP.

It’s hard to imagine the Denver Nuggets being anywhere near the team they are without Jokic’s facilitation on offense, and his defensive prowess has only improved by year

DPOY: Rudy Gobert

If Jokic has been the face of modern offense in the NBA, then Gobert is the face of the other end of the court on defense.

This year, however, a new challenger has approached him and his title of the best defender in the league in Victor Wembanyama. While many believe Wemby deserves the award based on his monster 3.6 blocks per game, Gobert’s defense shines in ways that can’t be put on a stat sheet.

The biggest strength of Gobert's defense is his positioning and presence in the paint, able to get players to move out of position better than anyone in decades. He leads the league in defensive win shares and has by far the best defensive rating of all the big men in consideration with 105.9.

ROTY: Victor Wembanyama

As the season opened up, there was heavy debate about who would come out on top, Wembanyama or Chet Holmgren, two seven-footers who excel on both ends of the court.

As the season went on, however, it became clear who the better player was this season. Victor currently holds averages of 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 3.6 blocks (most in the NBA) per game.

Some highlights of his rookie season include a 40-20 game, a triple-double with blocks and the first 5x5 game since 2019.

A quick message to the San Antonio Spurs: You might have drafted the GOAT.

6MOTY: Malik Monk

Monk has been an explosive scorer and weapon coming off the Sacramento Kings’ bench this year with an impressive 15.4 points on good efficiency coming off the bench, exactly what you want from your role players.

MIP: Coby White

The Bulls have been going through an awkward phase this season with two of their best players being out for the season. Lonzo Ball who has been absent for over two years and Zach Lavine who suffered a foot injury early in the year.

Someone who has made this year a bit easier for the team is Coby White, who has seen massive improvements in all of his stats (from 9.7ppg to 19.1ppg) playing these extra minutes, coming into his own as a player and facilitator on the team’s offense.

COTY: Mark Daigneault

Daigneault has led the Oklahoma City Thunder to the No. 1 seed after being the No. 10 seed last year and losing in the Play-In to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Last year, the Thunder held a record of 40-42 compared to this year’s 57-25, an immensely powerful feat considering how stacked the West is this year.

The Thunder are also the youngest No. 1 seed in league history.

All-NBA First Team prediction:

Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jayson Tatum, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic.

Chris Vadnais is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email cmv5562@psu.edu.