It feels like an eternity ago, but we're a little less than six weeks removed from the end of the 2025-26 NBA season. Since then, we've had free agency, the draft, and countless big names traded to new teams. If last year is any indication of how the schedule might unfold, then we're basically three months away from the start of the 2026-27 season! Though a lot can still change and we're waiting for LeBron James to make a free agency decision, that won't stop us from providing you with three potential finalists for each of the NBA's major awards this coming season.
Coach of the Year
Darko Rajakovic, Toronto Raptors
The Raptors have shown noticeable improvement every season under Rajakovic's watch. They went from 25 wins in 2023, to 30 in 2024, to 46 last year, which was good enough to earn Toronto a playoff spot. The Raps managed to completely avoid the play-in and qualified for the postseason as the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference. There are questions as to whether or not the Kawhi Leonard trade will actually be completed, but the Raps should still be a playoff team even if they fail to acquire the two-time NBA Finals MVP. Considering how stacked the East will be next season, simply getting Toronto to the playoffs would warrant Coach of the Year consideration for Rajaković. This is especially true for a team like the Raptors, which lacks a true number-one superstar like Victor Wembanyama, Jayson Tatum, Luka Doncic, etc.
JJ Redick, Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers have completely retooled their roster following the departure of LeBron James in free agency. Thankfully, they still have an MVP-caliber player in Luke Doncic, as well as a bona fide number-two option like Austin Reaves. Los Angeles also invested a lot of money in its frontcourt, which should help the Lakers during the playoffs and the regular season. After going 53-29 last year with LeBron James and Luka Doncic, the expectations for this season will be lower, but the LA faithful still believe their team is good enough to make the playoffs and even win a championship. If JJ Redick can lead the Lakers to a top-six finish in the Western Conference, then he will be looked at as a Coach of the Year candidate. With that being said, Redick will likely lose out on the award if Los Angeles ends up just being a play-in team.
Rick Carlisle, Indiana Pacers
It's too bad postseason success is not a factor in these awards because Rick Carlisle was probably the NBA Coach of the Year during the 2024-25 season when he led the Pacers to the NBA Finals. The 2025-26 campaign will be a stain on Carlisle's Hall of Fame resume, but Indiana was clearly tanking. After opening the season 6-18, they lost 13 games in a row. Following the All-Star Break, the Pacers went 4-23 the rest of the year. With the expected return of Tyrese Haliburton, the addition of Kelly Oubre Jr., and the center position figured out thanks to the trade for Ivica Zubac, Indiana should be right in the thick of things during the 2026-27 season. It would not be surprising to see the Pacers go from 19 wins to at least 42! After all, they went 50-32 just a year ago. If they can finish the year with a winning record and possibly a Play-In berth, then Rick Carlisle will be one of the finalists for the NBA's Coach of the Year award. I would even say that he will be the outright winner if the Pacers finish the season with one of the five best records in the East.
Clutch Player of the Year
Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
Introduced four years ago, the NBA Clutch Player of the Year award is given to the individual "who best comes through for his teammates in the clutch." Based on his performance during the 2026 NBA Playoffs, Cade Cunningham should be an early favorite to win this award. The former number-one overall pick put the Pistons on his back at multiple points during the team's postseason run, which would explain why he averaged the second-most points per game during the 2026 playoffs (28.1). Only NBA Finals MVP Jalen Brunson was a better scorer than Cunningham during the postseason. With the loss of Tobias Harris and Jalen Duren still unsigned, Cade Cunningham will play an even bigger role for Detroit next season. They probably won't finish the campaign with the best record in the East, but Cade Cunningham will likely be in contention for this award if the Pistons have a winning record and qualify for the playoffs as a top-six seed in the East.
Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
In the playoffs, when the lights shine the brightest, nobody was more clutch or better for their team than Jalen Brunson, who actually won this award during the 2024-25 season. In fact, Jalen Brunson scored the fourth-most fourth-quarter points ever by a player in a single NBA Finals series (56). Brunson has defined clutchness over the last two years. With the Knicks bringing back the same head coach and starting five that led the franchise to its first championship in 53 years, he should be as effective next season as he was during the 2026 Playoffs. Actually, I predict Brunson will have his best season as a member of the New York Knicks. He might not top the 28.7 points per game he averaged during the 2023-24 campaign, but he will have strong assist numbers and a high field goal percentage to go along with a good scoring output.
Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
As you will find out throughout this article, expectations are sky high for Victor Wembanyama after he put the league on notice during the 2026 NBA Playoffs. Wemby is going to have an MVP-caliber season this year, and it will make him the favorite to win multiple prestigious awards. The Clutch Player of the Year accolade is one that he will most likely be in the running for. Wembanyama's mere presence elevates the play of those around him both offensively and defensively. There will be many moments during the 2026-27 campaign where he will be tasked with covering an opponent's best player in crunch time, and I’m confident he will be able to answer the call when those situations arise. Victor Wembanyama is also another year older and wiser, which will give him the confidence needed to put the team on his back in high-pressure moments. Don't be surprised when we see Wemby hit multiple game-winning shots next season.
Most Improved Player
Ayo Dosunmu, Minnesota Timberwolves
Though he was an afterthought on a middling Chicago Bulls team, Ayo Dosunmu showed the world why he was once one of the most promising young players in the NBA after joining the Timberwolves. He took his game to new heights in the 2026 Playoffs, where his scoring and assist numbers improved from the regular season. Hell, there were several times during the Western Conference Quarterfinals where he put Minnesota on his back, which is why he averaged 21.8 points per game on 60.9% shooting during that series. In all likelihood, guard Donte DiVincenzo will miss the entirety of the regular season as he recovers from a torn Achilles tendon. Therefore, Dosunmu will have to rotate in as the Timberwolves' backup point guard, backup shooting guard, and backup small forward. Getting a bump in minutes and potentially more starts will lead to improved stats this coming season. I could even see Dosunmu averaging almost 20 points per game and becoming Minnesota’s third scoring option following the departure of Julius Randle.
Dylan Harper, San Antonio Spurs
As a rookie, Dylan Harper was doing things during the postseason that we usually see from veteran players. After finishing the regular season ranked sixth on the team in points per game (11.8), he took his game to the next level in the playoffs. During the postseason, Harper was fourth on the team in scoring with 14.1 points per game. His rebound and steal numbers also took a noticeable leap during the 2026 NBA Playoffs. One could argue that he was the Spurs' best player towards the end of the 2026 NBA Finals. He certainly was the most consistent player on the court for San Antonio. He should become one of the Spurs’ starting guards, but he might have to come off the bench with De'Aaron Fox still on the books and Stephon Castle being the team's second-best defender. Whether he's a starter or the Spurs' sixth man, Dylan Harper is going to take a big leap from year one to year two, and that will earn him plenty of Most Improved Player votes.
Egor Demin, Brooklyn Nets
It's hard to imagine any member of the Brooklyn Nets receiving award recognition, but Egor Demin turned a lot of heads with his play during the NBA Summer League. After averaging 10.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game as a rookie, Demin showed that he was one of the better young players in the NBA during Summer League play by posting a stat line of 21.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. In all likelihood, his field goal percentage will be above 40%. Plus, the addition of Julius Randle will give Demin a good outlet for assists, while giving him more open looks at the basket. With all this in mind, we should taper our expectations. Egor Demin is not going to be an All-Star or anything like that. But if he can post a 15-4.5-4.5 stat line this season, then that would be a significant improvement from his rookie year.
Sixth Man of the Year
Ajay Mitchell, Oklahoma City Thunder
The point guard spot is locked up in Oklahoma City, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the charge. That means Mitchell will have to compete with Jared McCain and Cason Wallace to be the team’s starting shooting guard. Though it's unclear who will be manning the two-spot for OKC, it seems that Ajay Mitchell will not be the de facto starting shooting guard for the Thunder. If Mitchell comes off the bench in more games than he starts, then he will probably end up being the favorite to win the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year award. After all, he finished last season fifth in voting for the award. If he can still average around 13 points per game as he did for the Thunder this season, then he will be a shoo-in to at least be a finalist for the award. To be honest, though, he will probably have an even better year statistically since this will be his third season in the NBA, and he is already approaching his 100th game as a pro. OKC is known for its depth, but Mitchell provides a scoring spark off the bench that not many other sixth men across the league can touch.
Bobby Portis Jr., Miami Heat
Most people forget that Bobby Portis Jr. was also a part of the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade package, but he’s not a player that should be overlooked. Portis has consistently been a Sixth Man of the Year candidate ever since he joined the Milwaukee Bucks in 2020. In fact, he has finished in the top-10 in voting for that award three times in the last six years! Though he is getting a change of scenery in Miami, he will still be a bench player. I love the guy, but he is not going to be starting down low over Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo. Bobby Portis Jr. didn't get nearly as much national media recognition as he deserved over the last few years because he played in a small media market like Milwaukee. Now that he is playing in Miami, award voters will pay much more attention to him and give a lot more respect to the 13.6 points and eight rebounds per game that he has averaged over the last six seasons.
Dylan Harper, San Antonio Spurs
We've already heaped so much praise on Dylan Harper for his outstanding performance during the 2026 NBA Playoffs. However, that doesn't change the fact that De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle had better regular-season statistics than Harper last year, and these are all regular-season awards. With a $49 million cap hit this coming season, the Spurs are not going to move De'Aaron Fox to the bench. The only way Harper starts is if he overtakes Stephon Castle, and that seems unlikely given Castle's defensive prowess. Harper will still come off the bench next season, barring any crazy changes, but that's okay because the kid showed the entire world that he is more than capable of taking over a game regardless of whether he's a starter or a bench player. He will have an increased role with the Spurs this season, which will give him many opportunities to prove he is one of the best sixth men in the NBA.
Rookie of the Year
AJ Dybantsa, Washington Wizards
Even though Dybantsa was taken with the number-one overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, he has the third-best odds to win the NBA's Rookie of the Year award (+400), according to bet365. The former BYU Cougar was the most dynamic scorer in college basketball last season, averaging 25.5 points per game, which was the best mark amongst Division I players. He also put up 35 points in his lone NCAA Tournament game and averaged 25 points per game during Summer League action, which was good for third amongst all players. Getting a chance to play alongside All-Star veterans like Anthony Davis and Trae Young will draw attention away from Dybantsa, giving him plenty of one-on-one scoring chances that he should be able to capitalize on. If he can give the Wizards at least 18 points and five rebounds every night, then he will be a frontrunner for the Rookie of the Year award.
Darryn Peterson, Utah Jazz
Darryn Peterson has the best odds to be named the Rookie of the Year (+280), and it was not surprising to learn that information. The kid has the most superstar potential of any player in the 2026 NBA Draft, including AJ Dybantsa. Some fans believe that Darryn Peterson was better than AJ Dybantsa during Summer League play, but I don't subscribe to that theory. Still, he averaged 20.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game, which is a really good stat line. That said, we can't ignore his turnover issues. Peterson was tied for the second-most turnovers per game out of 450 Summer Leaguers (4.7). The good news is that award voters are willing to ignore turnovers if you can still put up impressive numbers. With Peterson likely starting at the two-spot and not being the Jazz’s primary ball-handler on a nightly basis, his turnover numbers should be much better during the 2026-27 regular season. From there, he just needs to focus on his scoring, which shouldn't be an issue after he averaged over 20 points per game on 43.8% shooting at Kansas.
Yaxel Lendeborg, Golden State Warriors
With +1800 odds to take home the hardware, Lendeborg could be viewed as a dark-horse candidate to be the NBA Rookie of the Year. Then again, he is going to the most favorable playing situation of any first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. How many rookies get to say they play alongside Stephen Curry? Plus, Jimmy Butler is probably going to return to the lineup at some point this season, which will draw even more attention away from Lendeborg. Early on, though, it'll be Lendeborg starting next to Curry and Kristaps Porzingis, which will generate many one-on-one scoring chances for the Summer League Championship Game MVP. The Warriors are built to win right now, so the pressure will be on Lendeborg to produce at a high volume immediately. But this kid is an older rookie, an NCAA Tournament champion, and a Summer League First-Teamer. He should have no problem answering the call for Golden State this season, since that’s what he has done at every level of competitive basketball.
Defensive Player of the Year
Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers
With his odds currently set at +5000 to win this award, Mobley could be a good value option for some bettors. Not to mention, he has already won this award once, which gives him a leg up when it comes to voting. Since the Defensive Player of the Year award was first given out following the 1982-82 season, eight players have been named DPOTY multiple times in their careers. This is a fancy way of saying that once you win this award, you’re always going to be on voters' radars. That will be the case for Mobley this season, especially if LeBron James joins the Cavaliers because that will bring even more media attention to Cleveland. The Cavs are an offense-first team, and Mobley is clearly their defensive anchor. Should the Cavs once again finish with one of the best records in the East, which we expect, then Mobley will be in the Defensive Player of the Year conversation.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Miami Heat
As a massive Giannis Antetokounmpo fan, I come from a place of bias, but I do genuinely believe that the Greek Freak has been drastically overlooked as one of the best defensive players in the NBA. Giannis was a four-time NBA All-Defensive First-Team player from 2019 to 2022, and then he seemingly fell off a cliff. He has since been replaced by guys like Brook Lopez, Dillon Brooks, Amen Thompson, and Derrick White, even though he was often asked to guard opposing teams' best players. Similar to Bobby Portis, the national media has not been watching the Milwaukee Bucks much over the last few years, which caused the acknowledgement of Giannis' defensive greatness to plummet. Now that he plays for Miami, media members will remember how good the Greek Freak is at defense, and he'll probably end up making the NBA’s All-Defensive First-Team.
Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
This is the only person who is the clear-cut favorite to win an award this coming season. If we're being honest, Victor Wembanyama will probably end up winning this award again. The young man already has 627 career blocks, which ranks in the top 250 in NBA history. That might sound unimpressive to some, but we have to remember that Wemby has only been in the NBA for three seasons. If we break it down by averages, he is already one of the best shot blockers of all time. Wembanyama averages 3.46 blocks per game during his career, which ranks second in NBA history behind only Mark Eaton, who was a two-time Defensive Player of the Year. Considering Wemby won the award last year while averaging the fewest blocks per game during any of his pro seasons, it would be unsurprising to see him win DPOTY. He will likely average more blocks per game this coming season than he did last year. But even if the numbers aren't as impressive as they were this season, Wembanyama is such a difference-making defender that his mere presence on the court changes the way other teams attack the Spurs' defense. For that reason alone, he is the obvious favorite to win this award.
MVP
Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
Jayson Tatum is a perennial All-Star and one of the 10 best basketball players in the world right now. Unfortunately, he doesn't have many individual accolades to highlight how good he has been as a pro. He was the Eastern Conference Finals MVP in 2022, but that performance was overshadowed by an eventual loss in the NBA Finals to the Golden State Warriors. Not to mention, he was robbed of an NBA Finals MVP award by Jaylen Brown when the Celtics won the title in 2024. But now that Jaylen Brown is out of the picture, there will no longer be any questions about who the man is in Boston. This season is the perfect opportunity for Tatum to elevate his standing amongst NBA voters and the national media. It shouldn't be too difficult for Jayson Tatum to join the MVP conversation. Two things need to happen for him to get serious consideration for the 2027 NBA MVP award. First, he needs to have a strong season statistically, which should be doable since he has completely recovered from his ruptured Achilles. With a full off-season of training, we will see Tatum return to his pre-injury form that averaged 26.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game from 2022 to 2025. If he can post a stat line like that over the course of the entire 2026-27 season, and the Boston Celtics finish with a top-three record in the Eastern Conference, then Jayson Tatum will cement himself as a favorite to win the Most Valuable Player award this year.
Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers
Had Luka Doncic played in just one more regular-season game during the 2025-26 campaign, then he might have been named MVP. After all, the Slovenian superstar led the league in scoring with 33.5 points per game, and the Lakers finished as a top-four seed in the West even though LeBron James missed 22 games last season. Unfortunately for Doncic, he only appeared in 64 games, which meant he was not eligible to win any end-of-season awards. If you didn't already know, the NBA implemented a rule recently stating that players can only be eligible to win awards if they register at least 20 minutes of action in 65 regular-season games. If Luka Doncic can stay on the court this coming season, then he should be a shoo-in to at least finish as an MVP award finalist. Since the start of the 2024-25 season, Doncic has averaged the second-most points per game in the NBA (31.1) behind only Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (32 ppg), who has won back-to-back MVPs. On top of that, Luka has averaged more rebounds per game (7.9) and assists per game (8.0) than SGA during this stretch. Now that LeBron James is no longer a member of the Lakers, Luka is running the show in Los Angeles. LeBron will not be there to take votes away from him. Similar to Jayson Tatum, Luka Doncic just needs to stay the course and continue putting up the numbers that we have come to expect from him over the last few years. If he can do that and carry the Lakers to a playoff berth, then Luka Doncic will be an obvious choice to win MVP.
Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
You can see that Victor Wembanyama having a dominant season has been a recurring theme in our predictions. If we're being honest, though, the 22-year-old French superstar warrants this type of praise and recognition. He is the best defensive player in the league, so much so that opposing teams have to completely change the way they play the game of basketball when he’s on the court. Plus, Wemby elevates the guys around him. In the playoffs, the Spurs' four other starters saw their points per game total increase from the regular season because teams were so focused on limiting Wembanyama's production, which would explain why his scoring totals decreased slightly during the postseason. The 2026 NBA Playoffs served as Victor Wembanyama's coming-out party, even though he struggled against the Knicks. Following the success that the Spurs had last season, all eyes will be on San Antonio this year with the expectation that the team will take another step forward. Then again, that might be hard considering they won 62 games last season. However, I have faith in Wemby and the rest of the Spurs roster to answer the call this year. Wembanyama is already the best defensive player in the NBA, so that will earn him more votes than guys like Tatum or Doncic. However, Wemby will have to increase his scoring output this season. Statistically speaking, this was his best year, but he was only good for 13th in the league in points per game (25). If he can up his nightly production to 26 or 27 points per game, which we expect him to do, then Wembanyama will be at the top of everybody's MVP ballot. More importantly, the Spurs have to finish with a better record than the Oklahoma City Thunder. If that happens, then Wemby will cement his place as the best player in the NBA.
