Stephon Fortress (left) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had been unanimous picks by our writers for Kia Rookie of the 12 months and Kia MVP in 2024-25.
Periodically, NBA.com’s writers will weigh in on key storylines or trending subjects across the league.
The finalists have been revealed. Who’re your picks for the 2024-25 NBA award winners?
Steve Aschburner
Eighteen of the 21 finalists unfold throughout the seven main NBA awards had been fellows I had on my ballots. Since that additionally consists of all my No. 1 decisions, it is a easy copy-and-paste train for me. For Kia MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander bought my vote over Nikola Jokić for OKC’s 68 victories over Denver’s 50 and the easy filter of “finest participant on finest workforce.”
Different notes: Fortress for his heavy utilization as soon as Wembanyama and Fox bought damage. Payton over Beasley for the way totally he embodied the sparkplug position. Brunson over the sphere for his factors (5.6) within the clutch on 51.5% taking pictures and 1.8 free throws. Bickerstaff edges Atkinson attributable to a heavier raise in Detroit. Daniels will get Kia Defensive Participant of the 12 months for some gaudy defensive stats and will get Kia Most Improved for reinforcing his contributions throughout the board (together with greater than doubling his scoring common), incomes my vote — wait, two — within the season awards.
- Kia MVP = Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder
- Kia Rookie of the 12 months = Stephon Fortress, San Antonio Spurs
- Kia Defensive Participant of the 12 months = Dyson Daniels, Atlanta Hawks
- Kia Sixth Man of the 12 months = Payton Pritchard, Boston Celtics
- Kia Most Improved Participant = Dyson Daniels, Atlanta Hawks
- Kia Clutch Participant of the 12 months = Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
- NBA Coach of the 12 months = J.B. Bickerstaff, Detroit Pistons
Brian Martin
The query of which participant deserves to win the Kia MVP is concurrently unimaginable to reply and get incorrect.
It’s unimaginable to reply as a result of discovering a separation between the highest two candidates (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokić) is mind-bending. Each have historic resumes that may run away with the MVP had they not occurred in the identical season. It is usually unimaginable to get incorrect as a result of nobody can fault you for a vote for Gilgeous-Alexander or Jokić. Each are astoundingly deserving.
Pressured to decide on, Gilgeous-Alexander is my selection for his two-way play, consistency and his workforce’s success.
- Kia MVP = Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder
- Kia Rookie of the 12 months = Stephon Fortress, San Antonio Spurs
- Kia Defensive Participant of the 12 months = Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers
- Kia Sixth Man of the 12 months = Malik Beasley, Detroit Pistons
- Kia Most Improved Participant = Dyson Daniels, Atlanta Hawks
- Kia Clutch Participant of the 12 months = Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
- NBA Coach of the 12 months = Kenny Atkinson, Cleveland Cavaliers
John Schuhmann
The Coach of the 12 months vote was fascinating. If J.B. Bickerstaff had not coached the Cavs final season, he can be a transparent favourite. The Pistons had been the league’s third-most improved workforce on offense and its most improved workforce on protection, having made no main adjustments to the roster. The issue for Bickerstaff is that Kenny Atkinson took his outdated workforce (that made even fewer adjustments) and turned it right into a title contender.
Naz Reid was the non-finalist who bought a first-place vote right here. He had higher boxscore numbers than any of the opposite Sixth Man candidates, and the Wolves had been much better with him on the ground (plus-7.4 factors per 100 possessions) than with him off (plus-2.5).
- Kia NBA MVP = Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder
- Kia NBA Rookie of the 12 months = Stephon Fortress, San Antonio Spurs
- Kia NBA Defensive Participant of the 12 months = Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers
- Kia NBA Sixth Man of the 12 months = Naz Reid, Minnesota Timberwolves
- Kia NBA Most Improved Participant = Dyson Daniels, Atlanta Hawks
- Kia NBA Clutch Participant of the 12 months = Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
- NBA Coach of the 12 months = Kenny Atkinson, Cleveland Cavaliers
Shaun Powell
The most important award — Kia MVP — was additionally the hardest to determine. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will very doubtless win, however anybody who believes there’s a niche between him and Nikola Jokić is kidding themselves. Talking of gaps, the cushion between OKC and the pack within the West is why Gilgeous-Alexander ought to win.
As for the opposite awards, Daniels was up for the Kia Defensive and Most Improved awards, and, usually in these conditions, the candidate winds up with neither as a result of voters cut up their vote. He will get the defensive on my listing. Ivica Zubac is the true definition of most improved, a participant who all of the sudden soars after a number of years caught at a sure stage.
- Kia MVP = Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder
- Kia Rookie of the 12 months = Stephon Fortress, San Antonio Spurs
- Kia Defensive Participant of the 12 months = Dyson Daniels, Atlanta Hawks
- Kia Sixth Man of the 12 months = Payton Pritchard, Boston Celtics
- Kia Most Improved Participant = Ivica Zubac, LA Clippers
- Kia Clutch Participant of the 12 months = Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
- NBA Coach of the 12 months = Kenny Atkinson, Cleveland Cavaliers
