Predicting 2025 NBA Season Award Winners

The NBA season is officially back tonight and after an offseason of massive trades and signings, let's breakdown my NBA award winners.

MVP:

Starting off with arguably the most competitive award in the NBA, the MVP. I have always believed that the MVP isn't a best player on the best team award, but if that player left that team they would significantly lose a lot more games.

Guys like Nikola Jokić, Luka Doncic, or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are the main different makers on their respective teams. Without Nikola Jokić, the Denver Nuggets would be in shambles. Jokić accounts for almost 30 of the Nuggets nightly points, not to mention posting 13 rebounds and almost nine assists per game. Jokic is a no-brainer for MVP this year, but already winning three in his career, it doesn't seem likely. The Nuggets will make the playoffs and potentially the NBA Finals, but voter hangover is a real thing.

For my MVP for this year's NBA season, I wanted to go with something different from the rest of the pack. That player has all the surrounding pieces to succeed, and it's his time to truly takeover. Anthony Edwards is +1200 to win the MVP, the fifth highest out of all players in the NBA. After Karl Anthony-Towns was traded to the New York Knicks, this opens up so much space for Edwards to shine. Don't get me wrong, Edwards was a great player with KAT, but now it's his team. Julius Randle might take shots away from Edwards, but Edwards has evolved as a passer every single year he has been in the NBA. With more shooters, the ball is in his hands more often, and a complete team, the Timberwolves could be even better than they were thanks to Edwards.

DPOY:

Rudy Gobert might've won it last year, but as Victor Wembanyama focused last year, it's his time for the award. This year, a second-year Wembanyama will win this award. At this point, it's his to lose. The former first overall pick averaged almost four blocks per game last season. Not only that, he should've had more. Opposing players literally felt scared to enter the paint with him in it. Add on the NBA's new physicality coming this year from new rules being placed, Wembanyama gaining more experience and muscle, the league is in trouble.

Rookie of the Year:

This might be one of the hardest awards to predict for this year's NBA season awards. There is no clear-cut favorite to win it, but this award is based on opportunity. Reed Sheppard and Dalton Knecht balled out in summer league play, impressing a lot of fans, but will their opportunity be enough to win them the award? Honestly, Dalton Knecht might be the answer. Yes, the Los Angeles Lakers drafted Bronny James, but that wasn't a good pick by any means. Knecht was an amazing pick. His ability to shoot, craft his own shot, and get to the rim makes him just what the Lakers need. LeBron James is a playmaker at the end of the day and he might have just found a new gem in Knecht. He has the opportunity to take over Max Christie's breakout year for one of his own. Knecht will bring a new life into the Lakers and is someone that can put them over the hump this year.

Sixth Man of the Year:

Outside of MVP and Rookie of the Year, Sixth Man of the Year is a fun and frisky award that has been becomingly more competitive. In my opinion, this award is coming out of Minnesota. Naz Reid or newly acquired Donte DiVincenzo are the front-runners for this award and I don't blame the odds makers. Donte is back for revenge on the entire NBA (mostly the Knicks) and he will be the first guard off the bench for the Timberwolves or even plugged into the starting lineup (that's the problem). Minnesota head coach Chris Finch loves to play with his lineups, but if he gets overly dicey with DiVincenzo and inserts him into the starting lineup, he won't win the Sixth Man of the Year. If that happens, Naz Reid will win the award.

Most Improved Player:

The NBA's MIP award has gotten out of hand. Tyrese Maxey, an incredible player, but his award from last year wasn't the most deserving. Maxey improved because of his opportunity that happened in Philadelphia. He improved when Harden left because he was the second option. Lauri Markkanen was looking to be out of the starting lineup towards the end of his time in Clevland and Chicago, but when he got to Utah, he has transformed into a completely different player.

As for this year's most improved player, I think Scoot Henderson can really make that jump for the Portland TrailBlazers. Last April, Henderson had the best stretch of his career. Things were starting to look up for the former third overall pick. Henderson averaged almost 20 points per game on 40% shooting from both the field and deep. Henderson also formed into the playmaker and defender that he was supposed to be, averaging 10 assists per game and over a steal per game. Out of the bunch, Henderson is a great value bet to win the award.

Coach of the Year:

I believe this is the year he will win it again. The all-time leader in combined wins across playoffs and regular season; Gregg Popovich. I truly believe that there wasn't a potential better signing this offseason than Chris Paul. Paul will mentor Victor Wembanyama and become one of the best one-two punches in the NBA. Along with their young pieces like Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, and Jeremy Sochan, the Spurs are going to surprise a ton of people. Making the playoffs is one thing, but if their young core can click, they can be a top five seed and Popovich will be the reason for that.

Clutch Player of the Year:

The Clutch Player of the Year is a newly introduced award to the league dating back to the 2022-23 season. You can throw a dart on a map to get the player for this year's award, but if I had to throw my dart, I would lean towards Luka Donić. Luka has been hitting game winner after game winner in his first six seasons. This year, Doncić will yet again be in the spotlight for the Dallas Mavericks and I could definitely see him winning the NBA's newest award.

Let me know what you guys think who will win each award in the comments down below. For more article ideas, drop ideas down below in the comments as well.