If the NBA's top awards were presented one month into the 2024-25 NBA season, which players and coaches could stake their claim to the coveted titles?
Some MVP-caliber superstars like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic struggled with their teams early in the season. Will they be able to pull their teams out of these ruts, or will early problems prevent these former MVPs from claiming the coveted crown again?
After what was considered a down year for the 2024 NBA Draft class, some surprising rookies made an immediate impact and caught the league's attention. Atlanta Hawks No. 1 Zaccharie Risacher is still adjusting to the pace of the league, but the Los Angeles Lakers' Dalton Knecht just tied the rookie 3-point record while coming off the bench.
After being named Rookie of the Year last season, will Victor Wembanyama make the jump to his second year and take home Defensive Player of the Year honors from four-time winner Rudy Gobert? Or will another defensive star like Draymond Green or OG Anunoby clinch the award?
We asked our NBA insiders to rank their top three picks for the top six awards up to this point in the season. A first-place vote received five points, a second-place vote received three points, and a third-place vote received one.
Jump to:
MVP | ROY | DPOY
Sixth Man | MIP | COY
Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic is looking to become a four-time MVP this season after winning the award in 2021, 2022 and 2024. Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Who will be NBA MVP?
The conventional wisdom was that Nikola Jokic would have to overcome an exceptionally high hurdle to win his fourth MVP in five seasons. A month into the season, it's simply not possible to make a rational argument that any other player in the league can claim the award over Jokic. The distance between Joker and the field was quite evident during the Nuggets' away game against the Lakers on Sunday night. Jokic put in a fairly typical performance for his standards (34 points, 13 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals and a block) while dominating Anthony Davis, the runner-up in this award category. – Tim MacMahon
1. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets: 50 points (67% of first placers)
2. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers: 22 points (25% of first place votes)
3. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics: 12 points
4. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder: 11 points (8% of first place)
T5. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks: 6 points
T5. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors: 6 points
Jared McCain was the 16th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft and is averaging 16.5 points for the Philadelphia 76ers this season. Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images
Who will win NBA Rookie of the Year?
Zach Edey, the two-time national player of the year at Purdue, played a big role at Memphis and was the favorite for the award early in the season. But a month into the season, two players selected with back-to-back picks in the 2024 NBA Draft: Jared McCain at No. 16 and Dalton Knecht at No. 17, are at the top of the rookie round. It's been a complete disaster for Philadelphia so far, but McCain has been the only bright spot for the 76ers. He leads all rookies in points per game (16.6) and is shooting 40% from 3 on over six attempts per game, even after a poor performance Sunday against the Clippers (3 of 15 FG in 28 minutes). – Tim Bontemps
Editor's Tips
2 relatives
1. Jared McCain, Philadelphia 76ers: 56 points (83% of first place finishers)
2. Dalton Knecht, Los Angeles Lakers: 32 points (17% of first place finishers)
3. Zach Edey, Memphis Grizzlies: 12 points
T4. Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs: 2 points
T4. Jaylen Wells, Memphis Grizzlies: 2 points
T4. Zacharie Risacher, Atlanta Hawks: 2 points
T7. Alex Sarr, Washington Wizards: 1 point
T7. Reed Sheppard, Houston Rockets: 1 point
Victor Wembanyama leads the league with 3.6 blocks per game and is the Spurs' leading scorer with 22.9 points per game. (Photos by Cooper Neill/NBAE via Getty Images)
Who will be named Defensive Player of the Year?
Since the start of last season, no player has had more games (71) with multiple blocks in his career than Victor Wembanyama, who has made at least three shots in 11 of 14 appearances this season for a young Spurs team that is learning to outlast opponents scored in close games. Wembanyama recorded more blocks (51) than Anthony Davis and Draymond Green combined (46), along with 18 steals, despite missing three games due to injury. –Michael Wright
1. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs: 43 points (67% of first place finishers)
T2. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers: 16 points (8% of first place)
T2. Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors: 16 points
4. Dyson Daniels, Atlanta Hawks: 12 points (8% of first place)
T5. AND Anunoby, New York Knicks: 5 points (8% of first place)
T5. Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic: 5 points (8% of first place)
T7. Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers: 3 points
T7. Jalen Suggs, Orlando Magic: 3 points
T9. Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies: 2 points
T9. Lu Dort, Oklahoma City Thunder: 2 points
11. Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder: 1 point
Payton Pritchard is averaging a career-best 14.9 points in his fifth season with the Boston Celtics. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
Who will be named Sixth Man of the Year?
He receives much less attention than members of Boston's star-studded starting lineup, but Payton Pritchard has emerged as one of the Celtics' most consistent players night in and night out. In 27 minutes per game off the bench, he makes an incredible eight 3s per game, hitting 41% of them, and he has repeatedly given Boston a commanding lead in games where the Celtics have started flat. Buddy Hield had a similar impact with the Golden State Warriors, taking over Klay Thompson's role as a knockdown shooter alongside Stephen Curry (42.2% on 7.7 attempts per game), while Naz Reid, last season's winner in in this category, had another productive season (13.8 points on 49.1% shooting overall and 39.8% from 3) off the bench for Minnesota. — Bontemps
It's not too late to play for free
There's still time to join the #1 fantasy basketball game or start a league. Your league restarts with the first scoring period after your draft.
Create or join a fantasy basketball league on ESPN. Your championship run begins today!
Sign up today!
1. Payton Pritchard, Boston Celtics: 39 points (55% of first place finishers)
2. Buddy Hield, Golden State Warriors: 31 points (27% of first place finishers)
3. Naz Reid, Minnesota Timberwolves: 12 points
T4. Bogdan Bogdanovic, Atlanta Hawks: 5 points (9% of first place)
T4. Tari Eason, Houston Rockets: 5 points (9% of first place)
6. Miles McBride, New York Knicks: 4 points
7. Three Man, Charlotte Hornets: 3 points
T8. TJ McConnell, Indiana Pacers: 1 point
T8. Russell Westbrook, Denver Nuggets: 1 point
Dyson Daniels is averaging a career-best 14.2 points and 3.2 steals in his third season in the NBA and his first season with the Atlanta Hawks. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire)
Who will win the title of “Most Improved Player”?
The one-month check-in for this award is perhaps the category that is most different from the preseason picks. Dyson Daniels was a perfect complementary defender alongside Trae Young – and one of the best stoppers in the league. One note: The 21-year-old managed a league-best 102 deflections, 40 more than OG Anunoby, who ranks second. Jalen Williams, one of the preseason favorites for Most Improved, is posting career highs in points, hits, assists, blocks and steals – even though the 6-foot-2 winger plays a third of his minutes at center for the shorthanded Thunder. Meanwhile, Cam Thomas is in the midst of his most efficient season yet, averaging just over 24 points as he expands his playmaking abilities for the rebuilding Nets. –Chris Herring
Top stories of the week from
Get exclusive access to thousands of premium articles per year from top authors.
• Why Commanders aren't a playoff lock »
• 43 most important games of Rivalry Week »
• MLB Ratings: Royals sign Singer »
More ESPN+ content »
1. Dyson Daniels, Atlanta Hawks: 25 points (33% of first place finishers)
2. Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder: 17 points (17% of first place)
3. Cam Thomas, Brooklyn Nets: 11 points (17% of first place finishers)
T4. Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers: 10 points (17% of first place finishers)
T4. Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks: 10 points
6. LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets: 8 points (8% of first place)
T7. Ty Jerome, Cleveland Cavaliers: 5 points (8% of first place)
T7. Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons: 5 points
9. Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets: 4 points
T10. Norman Powell, LA Clippers: 3 points
T10. Bennedict Mathurin, Indiana Pacers: 3 points
T12. Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic: 1 point
T12. Ochai Agbaji, Toronto Raptors: 1 point
Kenny Atkinson was signed by the Cleveland Cavaliers in June and led his new team to a 15-0 start to the season, the best start by any NBA team since the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors. (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
Who will be Coach of the Year?
Four years into a four-year stint with the Nets that ended unceremoniously when he was fired because he wasn't the right fit to lead a team with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant (as if anyone really was), Kenny Atkinson seemingly has Found the perfect deputy to perform independently in Cleveland. The Cavs' 15-game winning streak to start the season made them the league's stars, and Atkinson's squad boasts the No. 1 offense and No. 10 defense. Joe Mazzulla, who just won a championship in his first season and had his interim tag removed from his title, is the only coach so far who has understood the Atkinsons Cavs, which handed Cleveland its only loss. And Steve Kerr has the Warriors in the race for the fifth ring under his watch, despite failing to make it out of the play-in tournament last spring and losing franchise legend Klay Thompson in the offseason. – Dave McMenamin
1. Kenny Atkinson, Cleveland Cavaliers: 60 points (100% of first place finishers)
2. Joe Mazzulla, Boston Celtics: 16 points
3. Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors: 8 points
T4. Ime Udoka, Houston Rockets: 7 points
T4. JJ Redick, Los Angeles Lakers: 7 points
6. Jamahl Mosley, Orlando Magic: 4 points
7. Mark Daigneault, Oklahoma City Thunder: 3 points
8. JB Bickerstaff, Detroit Pistons: 2 points
9. Michael Malone, Denver Nuggets: 1 point
