Giannis Antetokounmpo Reclaims the Title of MVP

Since his last MVP win in 2020, Giannis’ MVP case has flown under the radar. Over the past 5 seasons he has consistently finished in the top 4 for MVP voting, with last season being one of his most efficient. Giannis  scored 30.4 PPG on 60% from the field. The one problem for Giannis’ MVP cases in recent years has been a combination of winning, and lack of a narrative. Giannis has either not won a dominant amount of games like SGA did this past season, or had too good of a team to have a compelling narrative, like Jokic did in 2022. However, this upcoming season is primed for Giannis to have his 2018 Lebron season. Outside of Myles Turner, the Bucks virtually have no talent. If Giannis is able to pair his elite efficiency with a top 5 finish in his conference, then I believe he will be a lock for MVP. 

Victor Wembayama Claims his First DPOY of Many

The defensive player of the year may be the easiest award to predict. Victor Wembanyama would have already won his first DPOY if not for injuries. Over his first 2 seasons, Wembanyama has had a 106.6 defensive rating, and has averaged 3.7 BPG. Keep in mind this is with a roster that has been subpar on defensive without Wemby. With Wemby the Spurs have had a 115.4 DRTG, and without it has been a 121.4 DRTG. That level of impact on a team’s defense is only seen in a few elite defenders. With all of this in mind, Victor Wembyama, barring injuries, should have the DPOY award locked up by the trade deadline.

Andrew Nembhard Builds on his Performance in the Playoffs

Most improved player is always the most difficult award to predict, seeing as any random player could take a massive leap. However, based on last season, and specifically the playoffs, Andrew Nembhard is the most logical pick. Nembhard had a fairly quiet regular season last year, averaging only 10 points on 46/29/79 shooting splits. However, it was the playoffs where Nembhard truly shined. He improved his stats to 12.5 PPG on 47/47/80 shooting splits. A massive jump in production which we also saw in the 23-24 playoffs. As a result of the injury  to Tyrese Haliburton, Nembhard is in a position to continue this production into next season. Add on the elite defense that Nembhard has shown, and he has an excellent opportunity to take home MIP.

Cooper Flagg Backs Up the Hype

The number 1 pick who is one of the highest touted picks of all time will win rookie of the year. It may be basic to say that, but it’s really that simple. Cooper Flagg is that level of player. Flagg was able to show off his elite defensive versatility last year for Duke, and with Anthony Davis protecting the paint, he should be able to show it off on the NBA level as well. Throw in his natural ability to score, and the flashes of playmaking he showed and it’s not hard to understand the hype behind Flagg. On top of all of the projected production that he should bring, Flagg will also be winning. Thanks to the lottery odds, Flagg has been drafted to a team poised to compete for championships. Even without Kyrie Irving, Flagg is surrounded by elite stars and role players that will make his life easier. No matter which way you look at it from, Cooper Flagg will win Rookie of the Year.

Ime Udoka Takes the Rockets to the Next Level

Throughout his time as a head coach, Ime Udoka has displayed a talent for getting the most out of his players, especially on defense. Whether it be with the Celtics, who went to the finals behind an all time great defense, or the young Rockets who defied all expectations and were the second seed in a gauntlet of a conference. Now, Udoka will be able to pair his elite defensive culture with an all time great scorer in Kevin Durant. With all the additions and moves that the Rockets front office has made, the Rockets could easily be looking at a 60+ win season. If the Rockets do achieve this, which I believe they will, then Ime Udoka will be a major catalyst, and he should walk away with a Coach of the Year award.

Deandre Hunter Continues his Bench Production

Deandre Hunter last season became a professional scorer. His main responsibility for the Cavaliers this upcoming season will be to provide bench scoring and shot creation. This is perfect for a sixth man of the year case, as the award typically goes to the best bench scorer. With the Cavs last season, Hunter scored 14.3 PPG on 49/43/82 shooting. The Cavs also replaced a player in Ty Jerome, who would look for his own shot, with Lonzo Ball who is a definitive pass first player. With this in mind, Deandre Hunter will be expected to get a bulk of the shots off the bench, and his scoring production should reflect this. Therefore, based off of pure scoring ability and volume, Deandre Hunter is primed to win Sixth Man of the Year.