These Are the Right NBA Award Picks. Don’t Overthink It.
A Season-End Review of the NBA’s Most Impactful Contributors
There are few things less productive in the NBA universe than arguing about end-of-season awards.
You know the drill: one side throws stats, the other yells “eye test,” and somewhere in between we all pretend like the trophy ceremony in June means more than a title.
While opinions will always vary, there are performances that stand out based on consistency, contribution to winning, and overall influence on the game. These are the selections that reflect what actually happened on the court—not just the names that generated the most discussion.
Here’s a look at the picks that best represent this season’s real award winners.
Most Valuable Player: Nikola Jokić
Yes, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was sensational. And yes, he was the offensive engine for the best team in the league. But Jokić did something that’s never been done in NBA history: he became the first center to average a triple-double — 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, 10.2 assists — while shooting 63.3% true from the field.
He was a center by the way guys, don’t want that to fly over your head.
He doesn’t need to shout his value. You can see it in how every Denver possession orbits around him.
SGA was incredible. But Jokić was inevitable.
He’s a center just so you know—just checking if you know.
Defensive Player of the Year: Evan Mobley
You probably didn’t notice it because he doesn’t make highlight reels, but Evan Mobley was elite defensively this year—again.
He anchored one of the league’s best defenses and made life easier for every Cavs rotation player. Whether switching on guards or contesting at the rim, Mobley did all the little things right and rarely took a wrong step. He’s the reason Cleveland didn’t need gimmicks to defend—just structure.
Rookie of the Year: Jaylen Wells
Stephon Castle had momentum late, and that matters to people who only watch spring basketball.
Jaylen Wells was the more consistent, more efficient, and more impactful rookie across the entire season.
Wells averaged 10.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and shot 39.9% from three on solid volume. He played real minutes, in meaningful games, for a Memphis team that stayed in the playoff hunt longer than expected. He fractured his wrist late in the year, and people seemed to forget about him. They shouldn’t have.
Sixth Man of the Year: Payton Pritchard
The Celtics’ second unit shouldn’t work on paper.
They play fast, undersized, and rely on shooters to stay efficient. And yet, it was one of the best benches in the league.
Why? Payton Pritchard.
He averaged 14.3 points and 4.4 assists per game, shot 40.7% from deep, and made the Celtics’ already elite offense basically unstoppable when the starters sat. He was steady, smart, and incredibly effective.
Want a guy who padded numbers on a bad team? There are options. Want a guy who helped the best team in the league get better? This is your pick.
Most Improved Player: Ivica Zubac
This one’s going to mess with the “we need a guard who made a leap” crowd, but Zubac earned it.
He upped his averages from 10.8 points and 9.2 rebounds last season to 16.8 points and 12.6 boards per game. That’s a massive leap, especially on a team that needed every inch of his size and every ounce of his consistency with Kawhi Leonard missing half the season (per usual in the 2020’s)
He didn’t need a new bag; he just got significantly better, and that’s what the award is for.
Clutch Player of the Year: Jalen Brunson
Clutch scoring isn’t about just showing up in close games; it’s about owning them. Brunson led the league in clutch points at 5.6 per game, shot 51.4% from the field in those moments, and basically turned every fourth quarter into his own personal highlight reel.
Brunson had that rare ability to slow everything down and still get his shot every time. Whether it was a foul-line fadeaway or a back-down into a pivot jumper, he lived in the mid-range like it was before I was born. If you watched a single Knicks game this year, you know this is the right call.
Coach of the Year: Kenny Atkinson
This isn’t complicated. Atkinson took over a team that had chemistry issues, major injuries early, and unclear spacing. He turned it into a 64-win squad with a top-5 offense and defense. That’s not just “good coaching.” That’s surgical.
He elevated Evan Mobley, balanced the frontcourt rotation, and actually got Jarrett Allen to shoot 70% from the field. Cleveland also led the league in clutch wins. That’s not luck — that’s structure. That’s coaching. And that’s why this award should already have his name on it.
Executive of the Year: Sam Presti
Look, if you stockpiled picks, made smart deals for Caruso and Hartenstein, developed Chet into a stretch-5 alien, and built a 68-win team without a single All-NBA veteran, you deserve Executive of the Year.
Presti didn’t just win trades. He built an actual contender through patience, vision, and the rare ability to stop tinkering when things are working. The Thunder might be ahead of schedule. Presti isn’t.
Every award race was tight this year. That’s fine. But close doesn’t mean complicated.
And if your pick didn’t make the list?
Maybe next year they can focus less on their podcast.
By Aiden Brueck, The Letter Media Network
Contact: brueckaiden@gmail.com
April 15, 2025