The NBA recently announced the finalists for its seven main individual awards for the 2025 season, such as Most Valuable Player, Rookie of the Year, and Defensive Player of the Year.
With several award races concluding at the end of the regular season – and with injuries significantly impacting the Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year contests – we gathered insights from our NBA experts to get their predictions for the top three finalists in each category.
Will Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder secure his first MVP trophy, or can Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets, with a strong finish to the season, claim his fourth MVP title in five years?
With Victor Wembanyama, the presumed DPOY frontrunner from the San Antonio Spurs, sidelined due to injury, the race for Defensive Player of the Year is open. Who among the finalists – Draymond Green, Evan Mobley, or Dyson Daniels – is favored to win?
Below are the picks from our panel of experts, covering every major award from MVP down to the Clutch Player of the Year.
MVP
Finalists
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
- Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
- Chris Herring: Gilgeous-Alexander
- Tim MacMahon: Gilgeous-Alexander
- Bobby Marks: Gilgeous-Alexander
- Dave McMenamin: Gilgeous-Alexander
- Kevin Pelton: Gilgeous-Alexander
- Ramona Shelburne: Gilgeous-Alexander
- André Snellings: Jokic
- Marc J. Spears: Gilgeous-Alexander
- Jeremy Woo: Jokic
Defensive Player of the Year
Finalists
- Dyson Daniels, Atlanta Hawks
- Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors
- Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers
- Chris Herring: Daniels
- Tim MacMahon: Mobley
- Bobby Marks: Daniels
- Dave McMenamin: Daniels
- Ramona Shelburne: Green
- André Snellings: Green
- Marc J. Spears: Green
- Jeremy Woo: Mobley
Rookie of the Year
Finalists
- Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs
- Zaccharie Risacher, Atlanta Hawks
- Jaylen Wells, Memphis Grizzlies
- Chris Herring: Castle
- Tim MacMahon: Castle
- Bobby Marks: Risacher
- Dave McMenamin: Castle
- Kevin Pelton: Wells
- Ramona Shelburne: Castle
- André Snellings: Castle
- Marc J. Spears: Castle
- Jeremy Woo: Risacher
Most Improved Player
Finalists
- Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
- Dyson Daniels, Atlanta Hawks
- Ivica Zubac, LA Clippers
- Chris Herring: Zubac
- Tim MacMahon: Zubac
- Bobby Marks: Daniels
- Dave McMenamin: Zubac
- Kevin Pelton: Cunningham
- Ramona Shelburne: Zubac
- André Snellings: Zubac
- Marc J. Spears: Daniels
- Jeremy Woo: Zubac
Sixth Man of the Year
Finalists
- Malik Beasley, Detroit Pistons
- Ty Jerome, Cleveland Cavaliers
- Payton Pritchard, Boston Celtics
- Chris Herring: Pritchard
- Tim MacMahon: Beasley
- Bobby Marks: Pritchard
- Dave McMenamin: Pritchard
- Kevin Pelton: Pritchard
- Ramona Shelburne: Beasley
- André Snellings: Beasley
- Marc J. Spears: Pritchard
- Jeremy Woo: Pritchard
Coach of the Year
Finalists
- Kenny Atkinson, Cleveland Cavaliers
- J.B. Bickerstaff, Detroit Pistons
- Ime Udoka, Houston Rockets
- Chris Herring: Atkinson
- Tim MacMahon: Bickerstaff
- Bobby Marks: Bickerstaff
- Dave McMenamin: Atkinson
- Kevin Pelton: Atkinson
- Ramona Shelburne: Bickerstaff
- André Snellings: Atkinson
- Marc J. Spears: Bickerstaff
- Jeremy Woo: Atkinson
Clutch Player of the Year
Finalists
- Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
- Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
- Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
- Chris Herring: Brunson
- Bobby Marks: Brunson
- Dave McMenamin: Jokic
- Kevin Pelton: Brunson
- Ramona Shelburne: Edwards
- André Snellings: Jokic
- Marc J. Spears: Edwards
- Jeremy Woo: Brunson
