Another NBA regular season is in the books. Honestly, 2025-26 was kind of a weird one. An onslaught of injuries really junked up the year, specifically in the award department. So many of the names we’re used to seeing compete for All-NBA and All-Defensive slots were snuffed out by the pesky 65-game rule.
That said, though, there is still so much eligible talent worth celebrating. It’s become such a buzz term to say the league is more stacked than ever, but it’s true. So, I’m proud to present my annual NBA award picks. This article includes my “votes” for all of the real awards as well as Bench Mob Player of the Year and the All-Bench-Mob teams. Let’s dive in!
(Note: for brevity, ineligible players such as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Cade Cunningham will not be listed anywhere. Honorable mention lists will only include eligible guys.)
Coach of the Year
Honorable Mentions: Mitch Johnson, Mark Daigneault, Jordan Ott, David Adelman
Finalist: J.B. Bickerstaff
This isn’t the first time J.B. Bickerstaff has been in Coach of the Year talks after leading a team out of a rebuild. He has three top-five finishes for this honor under his belt and it’s likely to become four. Bickerstaff conducted an unbelievable turnaround for the Pistons, transforming a laughably bad club into a force to be reckoned with in two years’ time.
Finalist: Charles Lee
One of the best kept secrets in the NBA world is that this generation of young coaches is insane. There are some potential all-timers on the rise, including Charles Lee. A two-time champion as an assistant, Lee knows what winning teams look like, and he’s turned the usually mediocre Hornets into one. The 41-year-old optimized his talent in Charlotte, making them a squad capable of competing with anyone on any given night.
Finalist: Joe Mazzulla
Mazzulla is one of the best minds (and personalities) in all of basketball. He’s instilled an unshakeable, deeply-rooted culture in Boston that fosters success regardless of who’s in the lineup. In the words of Bill Simmons, the Celtics isn’t Jayson Tatum’s team or Jaylen Brown’s. It’s Joe Mazzulla’s.
2025-26 Coach of the Year: Joe Mazzulla
Sixth Man of the Year
Honorable Mentions: Reed Sheppard, Ajay Mitchell, Ayo Dosunmu, Naz Reid, Collin Sexton, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Quentin Grimes, Isaiah Stewart
Finalist: Tim Hardaway Jr.
Timmy Junior was a constant for the Nuggets as they dealt with various injuries throughout the season. The veteran marksman appeared in 80 games, averaging 13.5 points and shooting 40.7% from deep on 6.9 attempts per game. Nobody in the league hit more threes off the pine than him. Hardaway has always been a human heat check. This year, he realized he was on fire way more often than not.
Finalist: Jaime Jaquez Jr.
After a disappointing sophomore campaign, Jaquez is back on the track he was on as a rookie. The UCLA product was key to Miami’s funky ball-screen-averse system, using his nifty post game to create advantages for himself and others inside the arc. He led the NBA in total bench points with 1138 and was second in assists behind only Jamal Shead.
Finalist: Keldon Johnson
Not enough positive things can be said about Keldon Johnson’s development and maturation with the Spurs. He’s accepted a bench role and thrived in it, despite having a 22.0 PPG season as a starter under his belt. That wasn’t an easy transition— he said it himself in a recent Player’s Tribune article. But, he pulled it off, and he’s been a leader for an incredible San Antonio squad in all senses. Keldon finished second in total bench scoring and fourth in cumulative plus/minus.
2025-26 Sixth Man of the Year: Keldon Johnson
Most Improved Player
Honorable Mentions: Collin Gillespie, Neemias Queta, Jalen Johnson, Deni Avdija
Finalist: Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Alexander-Walker set the NBA ablaze this season, making an improbable leap from quality 3&D guy to 20-point-per-game scorer on a playoff team. His ascension was fueled by his lethal shooting— only Kon Knueppel, LaMelo Ball, and Luka Doncic drilled more triples than him on the year. Most of his bucket-getting was done off the ball, making the production feel extra sustainable and scalable. The best part? He maintained his defensive effort despite shouldering an increased offensive load.
Finalist: Jalen Duren
Duren was centric (pun partially intended) to Detroit’s prosperity on both sides of the ball. He notched a career-best 19.5 points a night, displaying a higher level of aggression than ever before with the rock in his hands. The first-time All-Star’s greatest improvement came on defense, though. In the past, he struggled with positioning, awareness, effort, and fouls, all fatal flaws for big men given the roles they play on that end. Duren has now erased all of those concerns, as he just anchored the East’s best fortification, making a sneaky case for All-Defense.
Finalist: Ryan Rollins
Nobody in the association genuinely improved more than Ryan Rollins. His season was the definition of a breakout. The former second-round pick posted career-highs in all five major categories, notably jumping from 6.2 PPG to 17.3. Rollins’ competitive attitude, silky scoring, and poise in the clutch gave Bucks fans something to get excited about in an otherwise dumpy year.
2025-26 Most Improved Player: Ryan Rollins
Defensive Player of the Year
Honorable Mentions: Chet Holmgren, Rudy Gobert, Derrick White, Evan Mobley, OG Anunoby
Finalist: Scottie Barnes
If you want a versatile defender, look no further than Scottie Barnes. Toronto’s finest is something like a modern Draymond Green with the way he can make every hat look good on the side of the ball that wins championships. Barnes finished top ten in both steals and blocks this season, the only player to do so, while directing the Raptors’ fifth-ranked defensive unit.
Finalist: Ausar Thompson
Ausar is the premier wing stopper in all of basketball. He bothers superstars more than anyone else. His freak athleticism certainly helps him out, but the young twin also has uncanny instincts and a relentless motor. Thompson led the NBA in steals per game at 2.0 and spearheaded Detroit’s elite defense from the point of attack.
Finalist: Victor Wembanyama
We’ve never seen a defender like Victor Wembanyama. He impacts every single possession with his astonishing ability to cover ground and insurmountable length and size. The Alien paced the league in blocks for the third straight season. What else really needs to be said?
2025-26 Defensive Player of the Year: Victor Wembanyama
Rookie of the Year
Honorable Mentions: Dylan Harper, Jeremiah Fears, Cedric Coward, Ace Bailey, Maxime Raynaud, Derik Queen, Will Riley, Tre Johnson
Finalist: VJ Egdecombe
Edgecombe was a nonstop source of energy for the 76ers this season. He delivered explosive highlights on O and D, but he also did the little things, all while playing 35 minutes a night. The third overall pick out of Baylor finished third in PPG and APG amongst freshmen. It’s safe to say Philly is happy to have him around for the long haul.
Finalist: Cooper Flagg
It’s tough to say the consensus top dog in the class did anything but live up to the hype as a freshman, despite the critiques you may see on social media. Flagg carried Dallas’ offense for countless stretches, scoring inside the arc with the strength and polish of a 10-year pro. He finished the year averaging 21.0 points and 4.5 assists and poured in 40+ points four different times. Those are wildly impressive figures for a rookie, especially within the context of how bad the spacing (and team in general, really) around him was. There’s no limit to how good this kid could become.
Finalist: Kon Knueppel
Whew, man, this was a special season from Knueppel. He led the entire freaking NBA in three-pointers as a rook. That’s nuts! The Wisconsin native benefitted from the system he was drafted to in Charlotte, yes, but he was also integral to making that system work. Knueppel is a virtually flawless off-ball offensive player already. His ceiling isn’t as high as Flagg’s, but he ultimately had a better rookie campaign than his Duke teammate.
2025-26 Rookie of the Year: Kon Knueppel
Most Valuable Player
Honorable Mentions: Luka Doncic, Kawhi Leonard, Jaylen Brown, Donovan Mitchell
Finalist: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
From start to finish, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the most consistently dominant (and overall best) player of the 2025-26 regular season. In many ways, he’s approaching basketball robot territory. He’s an automatic scorer at every level and an impeccable decision maker. You can try your hardest, but you will not stop him, evidenced by his passing of Wilt Chamberlain for most consecutive games with 20+ points.
Finalist: Nikola Jokic
Somehow, Jokic continues to boost his already absurd levels of production each year. The three-time MVP led the league in rebounds (12.9) and assists (10.7) per game while posting a hyper-efficient 27.7 points. The craziest part? He makes it all look so easy. The Joker barely met the 65-game requirement, but he got there, setting the stage for a sixth straight top-three MVP finish.
Finalist: Victor Wembanyama
Wemby has been pelted with almost unfairly lofty expectations constantly, but somehow, he’s managed to shatter all of them. Superlatives to do this guy justice just do not exist. We already touched on the defense, but Vic also averaged 25.0 points and 3.0 assists on 51.2% shooting this year. He’s a two-way supernova who is going to break basketball.
But, he doesn’t have unchallenged reign over the NBA just yet.
2025-26 Most Valuable Player: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Bench Mob Player of the Year
Honorable Mentions: Dru Smith, Jamaree Bouyea, Moussa Cisse
Finalist: Luka Garza
Garza embodies adaptability, the model trait of a Bench Mobbler. He was tasked with all types of roles over the course of the season, from starter to DNP-CD, and he was ready for whatever came his way. The Iowa legend was a real spark for the Celtics in what was supposed to be a down year. His post scoring and floor spacing were big time off the bench.
Everything Garza accomplished is a testament to his unmatched work ethic. He won seven Bench Mob Player of the Day awards on the season and was named a Bench Mob All-Star for the first time.
Finalist: Caleb Love
Love was having one of the all-time great two-way contract seasons before Portland popped the tires, choosing not to convert his deal as his eligibility dwindled. He was averaging 11.3 points before the All-Star break, but logged just 13 minutes across four games after the hiatus. Still, his run in the fall and early winter shouldn’t be forgotten, and he’ll undoubtedly be ready to pick up where he left off in 2026-27.
Love was named captain of the 2026 Bench Mob All-Star team and won seven BM POTDs.
Finalist: Jordan Miller
Miller has gone through some ups and downs in his three-year career. As a rookie, he played 28 total minutes. In year two, he showed some flashes, even earning a contract conversion, but he was demoted back to a two-way last summer. Finally, he was able to break through in 2025-26, showcasing his smooth on-ball scoring and playmaking chops while helping the Clippers pull off a historic midseason U-turn. Miller averaged 10.0 points and 2.3 assists in 22.1 minutes, looking like a core piece for LA.
Miller earned 10 BM POTD this year, tying Jay Huff for the all-time single-season record. He, naturally, was also named a Bench Mob All-Star.
2025-26 Bench Mob Player of the Year: Jordan Miller
All-NBA Teams
First Team: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama, Luka Doncic, Kawhi Leonard
Second Team: Jaylen Brown, Donovan Mitchell, Tyrese Maxey, Jalen Brunson, Kevin Durant
Third Team: Jamal Murray, Jalen Duren, Jalen Johnson, James Harden, LaMelo Ball
(Note: if Luka Doncic is deemed ineligible, then Brown would be bumped up to first team, Murray would go to second team, and Scottie Barnes would get the third team nod.)
All-Defensive Teams
First Team: Victor Wembanyama, Ausar Thompson, Scottie Barnes, Chet Holmgren, Rudy Gobert
Second Team: Derrick White, Evan Mobley, OG Anunoby, Bam Adebayo, Cason Wallace
All-Rookie Teams
First Team: Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, VJ Edgecombe, Dylan Harper, Jeremiah Fears
Second Team: Ace Bailey, Maxime Raynaud, Cedric Coward, Derik Queen, Will Riley
All-Bench-Mob Teams
First Team: Luka Garza, Jordan Miller, Caleb Love, Jamaree Bouyea, Dru Smith
Second Team: Moussa Cisse, Dylan Cardwell, Pat Spencer, Jabari Walker, Pete Nance
Third Team: Micah Potter, Nae’Qwan Tomlin, Sharife Cooper, Bryce McGowens, Jalen Pickett
So, those are my official 2025-26 awards picks. Let me know what you agree and disagree with by tweeting @finleykuehl. Thanks for reading— see you next time!
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