My 2024-2025 NBA Award Ballot

With the season ending on Sunday and the Playoffs coming soon, I began re-familiarizing myself with what I missed during March madness. And it got me thinking about the award picture of the 24-25 season, which I will have no say in, but have thoughts on like any basketball fan.

Defensive Player of the Year:

Lu Dort (OKC)

I think Evan Mobley is a strong candidate for this award, I think a lot of steam for Draymond Green has picked up, Dyson Daniels was a menace (we’ll cover him later). And for too long we've overlooked the guard for this award. I value switch-ability, effort, assignment, opponent output for this award. Dort does play for the best defensive team in the league, but he's the best defender ON the best defensive team. Guards the other team's best player, switches 1-5, guards much taller opponent's, while keeping his assignments under 42% FG. The Dortchure Chamber.

Rookie of the Year:

Stephon Castle (SAS)

Very weak class of rookies this season in terms of production. Only 4 rookies that played 65+ games that averaged double-digits ppg. Steph Castle's stats benefitted from Wemby and De'Aaron Fox's season-ending injuries as he ballooned his ppg to nearly 15. He played 81/82 games, improved as the season progressed, is one of the best athletes and defenders in the class, and is simply the most productive rookie in the 2024-2025 season. S/O Bub Carrington who would be my runner-up.

Most Improved Player:

Dyson Daniels (ATL)

Competitive award this year -- Ivica Zubac, Austin Reaves, Evan Mobley, Cade Cunningham, Tyler Herro will all warrant consideration. I complain about this award every year because it isn't actually about which player improved the most, it's about what already-great player did so. Tyrese Maxey won it last year after going from 21 ppg to 25 ppg. Ja Morant had a similar case in 2022. I just think this award should go to someone who makes a massive leap from role player/unknown to impact player. That's why my MIP is Dyson Daniels, aka The Great Barrier Thief:

• 2023-2024: 5.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.4 spg, 44%/31%65%, 22 mpg, 62 games, 0 starts

• 2024-2025: 14.1 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 4.4 apg, 3.0 spg, 49%/34%/59%, 34 mpg, 76 games/starts

My runner-up would be Amen Thompson because I think his impact this year compared to his rookie year is bonkers. But he could make a much bigger leap next year so we’ll save his MIP award. .

6th Man of the Year:

Malik Beasley (DET)

I checked the odds for this award because I couldn't for the life of me remember the rules for who qualifies as a 6th man, and some candidates I had in mind started too many games or didn't have 65 appearances. Payton Pritchard is the big favorite for this award, and for good reason: he plays on an elite team, green light when he enters the game, and has great numbers. But I'm going to take Malik Beasley for what I think is a more impressive season than Pritch. Beasley is the veteran presence on a young Pistons team, accepted a bench role and still contributes 28 mpg, didn't miss a game, shot 42% from 3pt and was 2nd in the league in total makes from 3.

Coach of the Year:

Ime Udoka (HOU)

This is essentially just a zag on an award that likely will go to Mark Daigneault of OKC or Kenny Atkinson of Cleveland. JB Bickerstaff is also a prime candidate - but want to give shine to the Houston Rockets and Ime Udoka. They went from 41-41 and an 11th place finish in the West, to 52-30 and the 2nd seed the next season, and are a legit threat to win the West. He also did it without a true star in my opinion, though Amen Thompson is budding. Bickerstaff took the Pistons from 14-68 last year to 44-38 this year, but I blame Monty Williams' incompetence for a BIG chunk of that, so Udoka is my winner.

Most Valuable Player

Nikola Jokic (DEN)

Picking an MVP is as close to a Sophie's Choice as I ever want to get. My favorite team is the OKC Thunder, and this is one of the best Thunder teams I've ever watched, right there with the Westbrook/Durant/Harden team that went to the Finals. But Nikola Jokic is my favorite player in the league - and probably my favorite player of all time in the NBA already. And I'd be happy with either taking home the MVP, especially since it'd be Shai's first MVP -- but I'm finding it really difficult to not lean toward Joker. Let's compare the general stats:

SGA: 68-14 (1st in West), 32.7 ppg (1st in NBA), 6.4 apg, 5 rpg, 1.7 spg (3rd), 1.0 bpg, 52%/37.5%/90%

Joker: 50-32 (4th in West), 29.6 ppg (3rd), 12.7 rpg (3rd), 10.2 apg (2nd), 1.8 spg (2nd), 57.6%/41.7%/80%

To me, the pros in the SGA camp are his team's success that he's the key component of, dominant scoring output, plus defensive metrics, clutch factor, and league-leading Net Rating. But Jokic has been great in the clutch as well, is top 3 in 4/5 major per game stats, highest offensive rating in NBA History among qualifying players, and averaged a 30-point triple double. I won't judge anyone voting SGA for MVP because he had one of the greatest seasons by a guard in league history. But Jokic may have had the best individual non-Wilt-Chamberlain season ever, and he'd have my vote.

1st Team All-NBA:

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Donovan Mitchell

Nikola Jokic

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Jayson Tatum

SGA, Jokic, and Giannis are easy choices. Tatum and Mitchell get the nod for how dominant their teams were in addition to their outstanding output on the court. Giannis would be my 3rd place MVP.

2nd Team All-NBA:

Cade Cunningham

Anthony Edwards

Lebron James

Karl-Anthony Towns

Evan Mobley

Lebron continues to defy age, Cade Cunningham is my #1 guard in the Ant/Curry/Brunson group (and I don't think it's that close), KAT had a great statistical season, Ant’s scoring separates him from the guards, and Mobley earns the nod for the Cavs success + his immense improvement + defensive versatility.

3rd Team All-NBA:

Steph Curry

Jalen Brunson

James Harden

Alperen Sengun

Jalen Williams

Steph is deserving of a spot but don't think his year was as impressive as Ant or Cade - but if he’s 2nd team I’d understand cause he’s Steph. Brunson just barely played enough games but his stats are a no-brainer. James Harden quietly had a great season in my book, plus the Clips have been better than anyone expected. Sengun is a beneficiary of me not liking JJJ and the Grizz (and bias) but the Rockets have been great and I didn’t have the balls to put Amen on here.

And Jalen Williams gets my last spot. Sure he's on my favorite team, so this could be perceived as biased. But I challenge you with this - fuck you. Everyone below him won less games, and I don't think anyone below is that much better than him to where it’d be outrageous. (Besides Booker, whose team was so bad they don't deserve a mention in this blog).

Notable Omissions:

Tyrese Haliburton, Jaren Jackson Jr., Devin Booker, Trae Young, Domantas Sabonis, Tyler Herro, Darius Garland, Pascal Siakam

Comment below your hottest take for who should win one of these awards, or tell me where I went wrong on the All-NBA Teams.