With just one week left in the regular season, we asked our NBA analysts to predict who they think will win the Kia Most Valuable Player, Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards, as well as who they think he will be coach of the year. Here’s how they responded:
Steve Aschburner
Most Valuable Player
Joel Embiid is my likely choice in a battle with multiple layers of intrigue. First, can we agree that Embiid, Nikola Jokic, and Giannis Antetokounmpo all have interesting statistical cases as MVP candidates? Then there’s the Greek Freak’s status as the best player on the best team, Jokic’s triple-double versatility as a center and Embiid’s potential sophomore title. For me, it was the Sixers center who carried the biggest weight. And as I voted for him last year, this time I am counting on other voters to achieve this.
Rookie of the Year
Paolo Banchero has been the favorite almost all season for his work as Orlando’s centerpiece, while versatile Jalen Williams has climbed rung after rung to rank just behind him on the wildly popular Kia rookie scale. This race is as close as it has been since opening week, which means it’s time to make a jump. These final matches will be important, with my ROY pick coming in at #1 in the April 12 edition of the Ladder.
Defensive Player of the Year
Brook Lopez Or Jaren Jackson Jr. will get my vote. One of them will almost certainly walk away with the honor, in which voters will each year have to compare rim protectors to perimeter defenders and exceptional “helpers” or combo guys. Each has impressive help: Lopez plays with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday, Jackson has Dillon Brooks as an irritant on Memphis’ ball. The final Kia defensive ladder On April 11, they will be 1-2 in a certain order.
Coach of the Year
Mike Brown is an easy choice for me. Breathing life into a moribund Sacramento franchise is a notable accomplishment, something eight non-interim coaches have tried and failed to do in the 16 years since Rick Adelman led the Kings to their last playoff berth. OKC’s Mark Daigneault was creative with his young group and Jacque Vaughn kept the Nets from collapsing, but Brown has his team ready for more than just a nosedive this spring.
Brian Martin
Most Valuable Player
Even though the league’s leading scorer, Joel Embiid, has a compelling case, Nikola Jokic is the pick to win his third straight MVP by combining another statistical masterpiece – 24.9 points per game (16th), 11.9 RPG (2nd), 9.9 apg (3rd, highest average ever achieved by a center), 29 triple-doubles (1st, more than the next three players combined) – with team success elusive for the past two seasons.
Rookie of the Year
Despite a late surge from OKC’s Jalen Williams, Paolo Banchero was the most consistent rookie throughout the season, leading all rookies in scoring (20 ppg), ranking fourth in rebounds (6.8 RPG) and third in assists (3.7 apg). He’s on track to become the 11th rookie to average 20-6-3, joining stars like Luka Doncic, Blake Griffin, Michael Jordan and Larry Bird.
Defensive Player of the Year
Jaren Jackson Jr. will be the first player to average at least three blocks (a league record with 3.1 points per game) and a flight (1.1 GSP) in 15 seasons. Jackson is the player of the league upper rim protector, limiting opponents to 46.7% field goal shooting, but is versatile enough to cover players beyond the paint. He spent 19% of his matches defending guardskeeping them at 36% shooting.
Coach of the Year
During his first season in Sacramento, Mike Brown has changed the culture of kings and guided the team towards a Improved 17 wins compared to last season (30-52) with five games remaining. Should contend for the Play-In tournament, but Sacramento has ended longest playoff drought in NBA history and will make the playoffs for the first time in 17 years.
Shaun Powell
Most Valuable Player
Let’s all agree on this: there is no right or wrong answer. Did you say Nikola Jokic? Fine, he’s the most valuable player on his team, given how the Nuggets’ production falls off a cliff when he sits out. You say Giannis Antetokounmpo? Alright, he’s the best two-way player in basketball. I say Joel Embiid? Yes, sir, it encompasses all of the above. That, and it’s his turn.
Rookie of the Year
I compare it to Usain Bolt sprinting from the starting blocks of the 100 meters, comfortably climbing seven steps over the nearest competitor mid-race, assuming he wins with 10 meters to go, and suddenly someone appears almost at his side upon arrival. It is Paolo Banchero with the victory, Jalen Williams makes him sweat.
Defensive Player of the Year
This award is difficult to parse: do you go for the rim protector, or the perimeter defender, or the on-ball defender? It’s everywhere. I will say this is the year of the rim protector, and even if Brook Lopez (not even his team’s best defender) gets the love, my pick is the Block Panther, Jaren Jackson Jr.the league leader in swats, who also applies D on the perimeter.
Coach of the Year
Here’s a hint: he coaches the Kings. So you have to top it off, right? Mike Brown gets this award for steering this franchise in the right direction for a change. In fact, whoever ultimately coached the Kings to the playoffs was a winner for this award; This is such an important achievement. What a great 10 months for Brown – he wins a ring as an assistant with the Warriors, the Kings are now higher than the defending champions in the standings.
John Schumann
Most Valuable Player
Nikola Jokic. Her boxscore numbers are down a bit from last season, but otherwise Jokic’s resume is stronger. The Nuggets have been a better team, it has been more efficientand his value to the Nuggets (regarding how well they work with him on the ground) is bigger than ever. That said, this race is closer than last season and my vote could change by April 10.
Rookie of the Year
Paolo Banchero. Jalen Williams has a very good case with his team competing for a Play-In spot. But among the rookies, Banchero has carried the heaviest load by a fairly wide margin and is only the third rookie in the last 28 years (Blake Griffin and Luka Doncic were the others) to average at least 18 points, six rebounds and three assists per game.
Defensive Player of the Year
Brook Lopez. It’s a difficult decision. Jaren Jackson Jr. had a huge impact on the Grizzlies defense as Memphis allowed 5.8 fewer points per 100 possessions with him on the ground than when he is outside. But through Friday, Lopez has played 616 more minutes and defended 882 more shots (league record 1,698 against 816) than Jackson.
Coach of the Year
Mike Brown. The Kings rank as the league’s most improved team in winning percentage and the second most improved team in point differential per 100 possessions (+8.3). Most of the pieces were in place before Brown arrived (the Kings were 5-8 with De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis last season), and he completely transformed the franchise.
Michael C. Wright
Most Valuable Player
You’ll have to wait until April 14, when the final edition of our Kia Race to the MVP Ladder will be released. Joel Embiid seemed to have an advantage over Nikola Jokic. But Philadelphia’s decision to Holding Embiid Monday in Denver could come back to sink the big man’s MVP candidacy in a race that comes down to a photo finish.
Rookie of the Year
Oklahoma City’s Jalen Williams deserves a mention here along with Utah’s Walker Kessler, but Paolo Banchero is the leader of this year’s class. The No. 1 pick in the 2022 draft is showing consistency rarely seen in a first-year player. He has already been either Orlando’s leading scorer or tied for the team lead in that category 29 times.
Defensive Player of the Year
This one is close, but what separates the field from this perspective is that Jaren Jackson Jr. is clearly the linchpin of one of the best defensive teams in the league. Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo deserves consideration along with Brook Lopez. But both Bucks lead a loaded team that also features one of the league’s best perimeter defenders, Jrue Holiday.
Coach of the Year
Lots of great candidates here: Joe Mazzulla, Michael Malone, Taylor Jenkins and JB Bickerstaff. But let’s light the beam for Sacramento Mike Brown. Let’s not think too much about it. It would have to be unanimous.
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The views expressed on this page do not necessarily reflect those of the NBA, its clubs, or Warner Bros. Discovery Sports.