The 2024-2025 NBA season will principally be remembered for one thing that occurred off the court docket. Luka Doncic getting traded from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers won’t ever make sense regardless of what number of occasions followers see him in purple and gold. Dallas’ epic collapse within the wake of the deal will ceaselessly be tied to the commerce, and may have penalties for years to come back.
There was a lot to rejoice on the court docket. The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder morphed into among the best common season groups ever regardless of some harm points. The Cleveland Cavaliers went on a surprising rise to a 60+ win powerhouse. The Celtics have sensible goals of being the league’s first repeat champion since Kevin Durant was on Golden State. The MVP race between Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been one for the ages, whereas the Lakers and Warriors have been reborn as (fringe) contenders after their commerce deadline offers.
The common season is nearly over, and the playoffs are across the nook. With that in thoughts, listed here are our picks for the league’s awards for the 2024-25 season.
MVP: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
My sizzling tackle the 2025 NBA MVP race is there is no such thing as a mistaken reply between Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. This is likely to be the closest MVP since … Russell Westbrook over James Harden in 2017? Tim Duncan over Kevin Garnett in 2003? Both means, each Jokic and SGA are deserving of MVP, and it sucks solely one among them can win it.
Jokic is one of the best participant on the planet, and there’s a case that that is his finest season but even with three MVPs already to his title. He’s among the best offensive gamers of all-time, and can end top-3 within the league in scoring, assists, rebounds, and steals whereas taking pictures higher than 41 % from three. The Nuggets’ roster has began to deteriorate this 12 months, and Jokic has stored them afloat by being a wild +703 on the season. How are you going to common a 30-point triple-double and never win MVP?
Nicely, Gilgeous-Alexander has been each bit pretty much as good. There’s a case to be made that that is one of the best season by a guard since Michael Jordan haunted the league. SGA is averaging 32.8 factors per sport on implausible 64 % true taking pictures. He has blended utilization and effectivity at an all-time stage with out being reliant on the three-pointer. The Thunder would possibly end as one of the best common season group ever regardless of their second finest participant Chet Holmgren lacking a lot of the 12 months with harm. Gilgeous-Alexander is an actual a part of OKC’s historic protection, and he’s a strong playmaker even when he’s not at Jokic’s stage. SGA is presently +1,013 on the season.
There’s no mistaken reply right here, however I’ll go SGA.
Defensive Participant of the Yr: Ivica Zubac
This could have been Victor Wembanyama’s award, however he received’t meet the 65-game minimal requirement after a season-ending shoulder harm. Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein may have had a case in Wemby’s absence, however neither will play sufficient video games. There are nonetheless some good candidates on the market between Evan Mobley, Draymond Inexperienced, and Dyson Daniels, however I’ll go together with Ivica Zubac, who has anchored an elite protection in a shocking season for the Clippers.
I believed the Clippers might be in peril of being one of many worst groups within the West this season after dropping Paul George in free company. Whoops. LA rebuilt its group with a defensive id round James Harden’s playmaking, with Kris Dunn, Derrick Jones Jr. and Zubac taking part in key roles. Zubac ranks within the 98th percentile of defensive EPM this season, he’s placing up a monstrous 30 % defensive rebound charge, and he’s held opposing gamers to -8.9 % worse taking pictures on the rim. Zubac is so rattling large that nobody can end by contact over him, and he’s actually spectacular at contesting pictures with out fouling. The Clippers defensive ranking is 109.17 with Zubac on the ground and 113.06 with him off. For pretty much as good as Dunn and Jones are on the level of assault, each are taking part in underneath 25 minutes per sport. It’s been Zubac who has coated for James Harden all 12 months to show the Clippers into an nice protection with out George for the entire 12 months or Leonard for many of it. In a bizarre 12 months for DPOY, his case is as compelling as anybody’s.
Rookie of the Yr: Jaylen Wells
One of the best participant from a draft class usually doesn’t win Rookie of the Yr, with Malcolm Brogdon (2017) and Michael Carter-Williams (2014) as current examples. Jaylen Wells probably received’t go down as one of the best participant from the 2024 draft, however he’s been probably the most helpful rookie this 12 months, and that’s well worth the award.
Wells has began virtually each sport for a Grizzlies group that was among the many high groups within the West all 12 months till a post-All-Star break collapse. He has a transparent function as a wing stopper, and has spent his rookie 12 months defending opposing stars all season lengthy, from Anthony Edwards to Luka Doncic to James Harden. Wells can be third amongst rookies in complete factors, and first in made three-pointers. He’s creating into an actual 3-and-D wing, and among the best tales within the league for a participant who was at DII Sonoma State simply two years in the past. The Grizzlies discovered an absolute steal within the second spherical.
Sixth Man of the Yr: Payton Pritchard
Payton Pritchard requested a commerce from the Celtics in 2023. He emerged as a key bench piece to Boston’s championship group final season, and has taken one other big leap this 12 months. Pritchard is implausible offensively as an environment friendly scorer all around the ground — 41 % from three, 62 % on two-pointers — whereas additionally avoiding turnovers. He broke the NBA document for many three-pointers off the bench this season. It will be fascinating to see what he may do in an even bigger function on a unique group, however for now he’s a part of Boston’s embarrassment of riches.
I virtually went with Malik Beasley right here, who has been a deadeye shooter for the Pistons. Detroit doesn’t make this leap with out extra taking pictures round Cade Cunningham, and Beasley has been the largest piece of that. He could be a worthy winner if he will get the award.
Most Improved Participant: Dyson Daniels
Cade Cunningham is the favourite for this award, and he has made some actual enhancements this 12 months, notably as a pull-up shooter. No participant within the league has modified their particular person narrative fairly like Dyson Daniels, although, who went from teetering on draft bust to a shutdown defender and succesful offensive participant after being traded from the Pelicans to the Hawks.
Daniels is averaging 3.1 steals per sport, an insane quantity. No NBA participant has averaged three steals per sport since Alvin Robertson in 1991. Daniels additionally has 421 deflections at time of writing, whereas second-place Keon Ellis is at 249. We in contrast Daniels to Marcus Sensible on our 2022 draft board, and whereas Daniels gambles extra and defends the ball much less, their defensive effectiveness has develop into equally nice. Daniels has additionally taken an enormous leap offense, going from 5.8 to 14.2 factors per sport whereas placing a career-best 34.5 % of his threes on 3.1 makes an attempt per sport.
Coach of the Yr: Kenny Atkinson
There are many deserving candidates for this 12 months, from JB Bickerstaff for turning across the Pistons to Ime Udoka for serving to the Rockets take the following step of their rebuild with no true star to OKC’s Mark Daigneault for guiding a traditionally good common season group. Coach of the Yr ought to nonetheless go to Kenny Atkinson although with out being too shut.
The Cavs have been a strong group underneath Bickerstaff the final two years, averaging 49.5 wins and profitable one (very ugly) playoff collection. Atkinson instantly turned them into an elite group with the identical roster, partially as a result of Darius Garland obtained wholesome and Evan Mobley matured as a participant, but in addition as a result of he made the piece of Cleveland’s funky lineup match completely. Nobody thought the Cavs would win 65+ video games this 12 months with the identical roster that struggled to beat the Magic in final 12 months’s playoffs. Atkinson has achieved an incredible job.
2025 All-NBA group picks
First-Staff
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Nikola Jokic
Jayson Tatum
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Donovan Mitchell
Second-Staff
Jaren Jackson Jr.
Karl-Anthony Cities
Stephen Curry
LeBron James
Evan Mobley
Third-Staff
Cade Cunningham
Anthony Edwards
Tyrese Haliburton
Darius Garland
Kevin Durant
2025 NBA All-Rookie group picks
First-Staff
Jaylen Wells
Stephon Fortress
Matas Buzelis
Zaccharie Risacher
Zach Edey
Second-Staff
Ron Holland
Kel’el Ware
Kyle Filipowski
Donovan Clingan
Alex Sarr
2025 NBA All-Protection group picks
First-Staff
Ivica Zubac
Evan Mobley
Draymond Inexperienced
Dyson Daniels
Amen Thompson
Second-Staff
Jaren Jackson Jr.
Lu Dort
Toumani Camara
Rudy Gobert
Jalen Williams