15/01/2026
David Adelman of Denver Nuggets will be COTY and Peyton Watson will win MIP 💯
The 2025-26 NBA awards race is officially HEATING up! 🔥
With the 65-game rule shaking up the board, our very own Brett Siegel dropped his midseason predictions for who’s taking home the hardware.
🏆 MVP: It’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s world right now. With Jokic and Giannis battling the injury bug and eligibility rules, SGA has a clear path to his second straight MVP.
Keep an eye on Jaylen Brown, though; he’s playing like the best two-way wing on the planet.
🏆 Rookie of the Year: Cooper Flagg is the real deal. After a slow start, the Mavs’ top pick has been putting up All-Star numbers since December.
Kon Knueppel and VJ Edgecombe started strong, but Flagg is pulling away from the pack.
🏆 Defensive Player of the Year: Is it time for a guard to win? With Wemby’s health a question mark, Derrick White is making a huge case. He’s a block-and-steal machine and guards every position on the floor.
It’s hard to find a high-impact defender more versatile than D-White.
🏆 Most Improved Player: Deni Avdija is a star in Portland. He’s seen a massive jump in his scoring and playmaking, leading a deep field that includes Keyonte George and Jalen Johnson.
Deni’s evolution has been one of the best stories of the season.
🏆 Sixth Man of the Year: Keldon Johnson is the ultimate spark plug. While other candidates have filled in as starters, Keldon has been a true bench warrior for the surging Spurs.
His energy and 40%+ shooting from deep are keeping San Antonio in the hunt.
🏆 Coach of the Year: Mitch Johnson is doing the impossible. Taking over for Pop, he’s got the Spurs on track for 50 wins and turned them into a top-tier defensive unit.
J.B. Bickerstaff is close behind, but the vibes in San Antonio are too good to ignore.
Which of these do you agree with? Drop your picks in the comments! 👇
