NBA day is less than a month away! As the new season approaches, I’ll be dropping my usual trio of preseason prediction articles. Today, I’m starting with my award picks. I’ll give my top five candidates for each of the major awards before naming my projected winner. Let’s get right to it!
Sixth Man of the Year
Honorable Mentions: Deandre Ayton, Saddiq Bey, Collin Gillespie, Tim Hardaway Jr., Tre Jones, Naji Marshall, Collin Murray-Boyles, Kelly Oubre Jr., Collin Sexton, Anfernee Simons
Anthony Black
Black had an electric breakout with the Magic last season, dazzling as a sparky guard-wing hybrid who disrupts defensively and thrives in transition. The former sixth-overall pick is just 22 years old and still has plenty of upside left to tap into. He opened 40 of his 64 games played in 2025-26, largely due to Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner missing time, but should excel in an energy-shifting sixth man role this year.
DeMar DeRozan
DeRozan has started 1,250 straight games, but that unbelievable streak seems destined to snap in Denver. That said, the veteran star is uber-durable and he’s aging like fine wine—he’s a lock to finish top three in scoring off the pine if that’s how the Nuggets use him. DeRozan can still torch defenses with his iconic mid-range game. A role downgrade won’t change that.
Ayo Dosunmu
Few players were as efficient across the board in 2025-26 as Dosunmu was. He’s been a shaky shooter throughout his career, but he was nails last season, especially in the playoffs. In the absence of Donte DiVincenzo, Minnesota will lean on their 2026 deadline acquisition heavily, even though the Jonathan Kuminga addition pushes him to the bench. Dosunmu can handle the pressure.
Dylan Harper
The Dylan Harper hype in the NBA space has soared to the moon, and rightfully so. Realistically, though, as much of a stud as the kid is, he’s not going to start over De’Aaron Fox or Stephon Castle, at least not as a 20-year-old. The Spurs are blessed to have such a stacked backcourt, but it’s a curse for the rest of the league, because Harper is going to dominate second units all year long.
Ajay Mitchell
Like Harper, Mitchell is clearly a starting-caliber guard, but he’s stuck behind established stars. The UCSB product, who began his career on a two-way, had an extremely impressive sophomore campaign and will surely come back even better in year three. The lefty makes plays for himself and others with veteran-esque poise, craft, and efficiency. Mitchell is the real Baby Brunson—sorry, Payton Pritchard.
2026-27 6MOY: Dylan Harper
Most Improved Player
Honorable Mentions: Anthony Black, Donovan Clingan, Pelle Larsson, Davion Mitchell, Gui Santos, Terrence Shannon Jr., Day’Ron Sharpe, Kel’el Ware, Peyton Watson
Matas Buzelis
Caleb Wilson is being hailed as Chicago’s savior, but don’t sleep on Matas Buzelis. He’s a future All-Star jumbo wing hiding in plain sight—a walking contradiction to the notion the 2024 draft class has no stars. Buzi Vert’s superb versatility and functional athleticism make him perfectly suited for the modern game. His stat-stuffing efforts as a sophomore set the stage for an eventual superstar leap, and we might just see him make that jump in 2026-27.
Ty Jerome
Did you know Ty Jerome averaged 19.7 points in 2025-26? He played just 15 games in his debut campaign with the Grizzlies, but in that small sample, he looked like a supercharged version of his 2024-25, third-place-in-6MOY self. If he maintains that production across a full season, he’ll quickly put himself in conversations nobody could’ve expected him being in when he was bouncing around the league in the early 2020s.
Brandon Miller
With LaMelo Ball (wrongfully) out of the picture, the keys to Charlotte’s franchise are now in Brandon Miller’s hands. The 2023 second-overall pick has cemented himself as a thrilling scorer, and with the passing of each year, he’s been getting better and better at all the other stuff. This season, the Hornets will demand him to make his biggest improvements yet. If he picks up his consistency, on-ball bucket-getting, and playmaking while assuming the number one option job, he could be an All-Star before we know it.
Ryan Rollins
The people’s 2025-26 MIP, Rollins has quietly become a cornerstone for the Bucks after he was nearly out of the league just two years ago. His ceiling is unclear, but one thing is for certain—Ryan Rollins is really freaking good. In the post-Greek-Freak era, he’ll have a shot at proving himself to the world as a true star. Well, as long as Tyler Herro doesn’t step on his toes too much, that is.
Alex Sarr
It feels like nobody besides the sickos have paid any attention to the Wizards over the past couple years, which is unfortunate, because Alex Sarr is one of the most exciting big men prospects in the association right now. In 2025-26, he paired his standout defensive versatility with a sharpened offense approach, and the results were scary in the best way possible. His third year could genuinely be special.
2026-27 MIP: Matas Buzelis
Rookie of the Year
Honorable Mentions: Darius Acuff Jr., Brayden Burries, Yaxel Lendeborg, Keaton Wagler
Cameron Boozer
Boozer has been dominating his peers for so long that it’s tough to imagine him doing anything other than that in the NBA. His polish and feel as a post scorer, overall finisher, and passer, as well as his pro-ready frame, should help him produce in a big way in year one. He’ll be Memphis’ top dog from the jump, and if he meets expectations, he could take this roster of scrappy, underrated youngsters further than anyone is anticipating.
Mikel Brown Jr.
The Nets have been searching for their next franchise player since Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving left. Mikel Brown has a chance to be exactly that. As a rookie, he’ll have plenty of freedom to spread his wings, but also enough structure and talent around him to save him from drowning in pressure. He may start off as secondary creator/movement shooter next to Julius Randle and Egor Demin, but it shouldn’t be long before he takes off as a lead guard.
AJ Dybantsa
There’s no doubt that Dybantsa can (or will) be a superstar in this league. How much of that potential he’ll be able to put on display as a rookie, though, remains to be seen. The first-overall pick will be competing for the spotlight with Trae Young and Anthony Davis, and other young guys like Alex Sarr and Kyshawn George will eat up some touches too. Don’t get it twisted—Dybantsa should still look phenomenal. He just doesn’t have the same runway for immediate stardom as other freshmen will.
Darryn Peterson
Peterson couldn’t have (realistically) landed in a better home than Utah. The killa from Kansas should pop in Will Hardy’s offensive schemes, and Keyonte George will be his only true adversary for on-ball usage. If the Jazz live up to the buzz they’ve been getting and find themselves firmly in the postseason race, Peterson will likely be playing a major part in that, which would hold a lot of weight in his ROTY case.
Caleb Wilson
Wilson has Bulls faithful as excited as they’ve been in a minute. The forward from UNC was seen as the “wildcard” of the big four from this class, and he’ll certainly face some growing pains early on as he adjusts to being a top guy at the NBA level. But, his Summer League showmanship proved he’s way more incredible than hypothetical. Even though it probably won’t happen in 2026-27, Wilson should eventually lead Chicago out of its seemingly inescapable cycle of mediocrity.
2026-27 ROTY: Cameron Boozer
Defensive Player of the Year
Honorable Mentions: Donovan Clingan, Rudy Gobert, Jaren Jackson Jr., Evan Mobley, Amen Thompson, Ausar Thompson, Derrick White
Bam Adebayo
Bam has been in DPOY convos for close to a decade now, but the trophy continues to elude him. This year could be his best shot yet to finally snatch the crown. Miami has the recipe for an elite defense, especially after trading for Giannis, and Adebayo will, as always, be the motherboard. If he anchors a Heat team that climbs above the competition in a loaded Eastern Conference, that might just be enough for him to claim an award many would say he should’ve won by now.
OG Anunoby
In the wake of New York’s title run, Anunoby has secured unwavering respect from fans and analysts everywhere. He’s been a formidable wing-stopping stalwart since his early Toronto days, but he’s as good as ever right now as he enters the absolute prime of his career. OG can and will lock up anyone, anywhere, any time. A sprinkle of big-market bias helped him earn a long-overdue second All-Defensive nod in 2025-26, and some lingering championship magic could give him an outside chance at DPOY in 2026-27.
Scottie Barnes
The title of best non-big defender in the association should unquestionably belong to Scottie Barnes. He’s become a monster on that end; a havoc-wreaking playmaker who also has enough control to quarterback the whole operation. Scottie finished fifth in the DPOY race last season but was somehow snubbed from All-Defensive First Team. Hopefully voters aren’t as disrespectfully low on him this year.
Chet Holmgren
Holmgren’s reputation has fallen through the floor and it’s safe to say the pendulum has swung too far. Sure, concerns about his strength and offensive aggression have some merit, but those weaknesses can’t shroud his defensive impact. He’s the NBA’s premier weakside shot blocker and his switchability at his size is unmatched. Alex Caruso and Cason Wallace are cool and all, but OKC’s defense wouldn’t be at the level it is without Holmgren.
Victor Wembanyama
Look, with all due respect to these other candidates, it’s obvious that as long as Victor Wembanyama plays 65 games, DPOY will be his this year. He just won it unanimously in 2025-26 and he’s only gonna get better from here. Soon, he’ll have people throwing accolades and longevity aside and calling him the greatest rim protector to ever grace the hardwood, and they won’t be wrong.
2026-27 DPOY: Victor Wembanyama
Most Valuable Player
Honorable Mentions: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jalen Brunson, Cade Cunningham, Kawhi Leonard, Donovan Mitchell, Jayson Tatum
Luka Doncic
Los Angeles is officially Luka’s city. We saw him put up unfathomable numbers last season, and with LeBron out of the picture, he could somehow outdo himself in his second full year as a Laker. Many would argue Doncic should have won MVP by now. He’s primed to do it in 2026-27 if he can elevate his new-look squad to the top of the West.
Anthony Edwards
The Anthony Edwards takeover is inevitable. He’s going to be a top three player at his peak, it’s just a question of when he’ll get there. The construction of this year’s Timberwolves team should allow him to have his most individually remarkable campaign yet—30 PPG is very much in the cards. Ant will be more of a dark horse choice for MVP, but like Luka, he could put himself at the forefront of conversations if he leads Minnesota to the second or third seed.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
After winning back-to-back MVPs, Finals MVP, and Clutch Player of the Year while making two All-NBA First Teams in a two-year span, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has taken the BITW moniker for the time being. Voter fatigue is sure to kick in for him this year, so a threepeat here is unlikely, but the sport’s smoothest star will still be the scariest scorer in the game on a night-to-night basis.
Nikola Jokic
For perhaps the first time ever, Jokic is coming into a season with something to prove. He’s been passed on the BITW ladder after his embarrassing playoff exit, and with Shai and Wemby both still trending upward, it’s going to be difficult for Joker to reclaim the mantle. His statistics and individual feats will always be astonishing, but it feels like he isn’t striking fear in the hearts of opponents in the same way he once was. He’d have to get back to the pinnacle of his powers, and maybe even surpass that, to win a fourth MVP.
Victor Wembanyama
The entire basketball world is watching the French phenom’s every move. He has everyone captivated and mesmerized with the never-before-seen stunts he pulls off on the court. Wembanyama made a strong case for BITW in what was just his age-22 season, and no bets are off for how dominant he could be this year. Add in the fact that the Spurs could win 70 games and Wemby becomes the clear preseason MVP favorite.
2026-27 MVP: Victor Wembanyama
All-League Awards
All-NBA First Team
Victor Wembanyama
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Luka Doncic
Nikola Jokic
Anthony Edwards
All-NBA Second Team
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Jalen Brunson
Jayson Tatum
Kawhi Leonard
Cade Cunningham
All-NBA Third Team
Donovan Mitchell
Kevin Durant
Stephen Curry
Tyrese Maxey
Scottie Barnes
All-Defensive First Team
Victor Wembanyama
Bam Adebayo
Chet Holmgren
Scottie Barnes
OG Anunoby
All-Defensive Second Team
Amen Thompson
Ausar Thompson
Evan Mobley
Rudy Gobert
Derrick White
All-Rookie First Team
Cameron Boozer
Darryn Peterson
AJ Dybantsa
Caleb Wilson
Mikel Brown Jr.
All-Rookie Second Team
Darius Acuff Jr.
Yaxel Lendeborg
Keaton Wagler
Brayden Burries
Morez Johnson Jr.
