Author: Aaron Shah
MVP Race
This has been one of the most statistically remarkable opening stretches to an NBA season in recent memory. Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic are dropping 40-point triple-doubles like it’s nothing, Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to dominate on both ends of the floor, and Victor Wembanyama is raising the bar for what elite play looks like. Each has a legitimate case for MVP consideration, but through the first quarter of the season, no one has earned it more than the man from up north, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Shai is second in the league in scoring, OKC is 18–1, and he’s doing it all with some of the most efficient shotmaking the NBA has ever seen. You can tell he’s reached a level of comfort and control that he’s never had before, and it’s showing night in and night out. He’s averaging 32.6 points, 6.6 assists, 5 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 1 block per game while anchoring the league's best defence.
And the most remarkable part? He’s barely even playing in fourth quarters. SGA averages under eight fourth-quarter minutes because OKC is routinely blowing teams out, yet in the minutes he does play, he still puts up 8.7 points on elite efficiency, making him one of the most dangerous per-minute clutch scorers in the NBA. He leads the league in scoring; even if you removed every fourth-quarter point, he would still sit second overall.
The advanced metrics make his case even more overwhelming. With Shai on the floor, Oklahoma City is outscoring opponents by 12.7 points per 100 possessions, one of the highest impact marks in the league. When he sits, the Thunder’s offence collapses. When he plays, they look like a machine.
If this level of dominance holds, Shai won’t just be the MVP favourite but one of the greatest to ever play the game.
MVP - Shai Gilgeous Alexander
DPOY Race
Through the first month of the season, we’ve seen elite defensive play from Giannis Antetokounmpo, Evan Mobley, Dyson Daniels, and Jalen Duren, all of whom are posting near career-level numbers and are legitimate DPOY candidates most years. However, none of them are impacting the game defensively to the extent that Victor Wembanyama is right now.
Wemby is averaging 3.6 blocks, 1.1 steals, and an outrageous 17.1 contested shots per game, the highest total ever recorded since the stat has been tracked. Opponents are shooting just 37 percent at the rim when he is the nearest defender, the lowest in the NBA. Wemby’s impact goes beyond the shot contests. Players are avoiding him entirely. Wembanyama currently leads the league in rim deterrence, with drives decreasing by nearly 24 percent when he is on the floor.
His overall defensive effect is even more staggering. With Wemby in the game, the Spurs have a 103.8 defensive rating, putting them up there with historically elite defences. When Wemby is off the floor, that number jumps to 122.5, which ranks dead last in the league. The difference, a massive +18.7, leads the league and is historically rare for a big man at this stage of a season.
This impact extends far beyond the box score. Wembanyama switches onto guards, protects the rim, blows up pick-and-rolls, quarterbacks the weak side, and covers more space than any player in the sport. He consistently shuts down plays designed to succeed and erases shots that should result in easy points.
If he continues playing at this level, Victor Wembanyama will not only run away with the Defensive Player of the Year, but will also put together one of the greatest defensive seasons in NBA history.
DPOY: Victor Wembanyama
MIP Race
Entering the season, Jalen Duren was viewed as a high-upside young center who provided energy, rebounding, and elite vertical spacing. The questions, however, were clear: could he expand his offensive game beyond dunks and putbacks, anchor a defense, and develop into more than a complementary piece alongside Cade Cunningham? Eighteen games into the season, the answers look increasingly clear. Duren has taken a major leap and is playing like one of the most complete bigs in the Eastern Conference.
Duren has raised his scoring from 13.8 to 19.8 points per game, pulling down roughly 12 rebounds a night, and is doing so while shooting 66 percent from the field. The most significant development has been his versatility. His short midrange jumper is now a reliable weapon, connecting at 48 percent, and he now looks comfortable facing up, attacking off the dribble, and creating his own shots. Rather than simply finishing plays, he is initiating them and consistently punishing mismatches.
The advanced numbers back up the eye test. Duren ranks top five among centers in offensive rebound percentage, screen assist points, and second-chance efficiency. On the defensive end, he has increased his block rate and is holding opponents to 49 percent shooting at the rim, a massive improvement from last season. Detroit is +11.2 per 100 possessions with him on the floor, and he has become the stabilizing force behind their rise to the top of the conference.
This is not small, incremental growth. This is a franchise center emerging in real time.
If he keeps playing at this level, Jalen Duren has a strong chance to finish the season as the NBA’s Most Improved Player.
MIP: Jalen Duren
CPOY Race
Through the opening stretch of the season, no superstar has looked more composed in decisive moments than Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Shai has become the literal definition of a closer. While his scoring and efficiency draw national attention, his late-game mastery has quietly positioned him as the early frontrunner for Clutch Player of the Year.
Shai is averaging 8.7 fourth-quarter points on elite efficiency, one of the best marks among high-usage guards. He is shooting over 54 percent in the final period and commits fewer than one turnover per fourth quarter across the season. Most stars see their efficiency dip when the game tightens. Shai’s imrpoves. In the NBA’s official clutch window, the final five minutes of games within a five-point margin, he produces 5.2 points, 1.1 assists, and 0.7 steals on 63 percent true shooting. Those numbers would be impressive for anyone, but they are especially rare for a guard who creates nearly all of his own offense.
The Thunder’s success in close games reflects his influence. OKC hold one of the league’s best records in tight contests and posts a plus-21 clutch net rating with Shai on the floor. His pacing, precision, and ability to generate clean mid-range looks make him nearly impossible to contain when possessions matter most. His impact extends defensively as well. Opponents shoot under 40 percent in clutch time when he is the primary defender, a testament to his discipline and instincts.
Shai does not play frantic basketball. He plays controlled, deliberate, surgical basketball. Oklahoma City is a top contender because of their depth, but they win tight games because they have the best closer in the league.
CPOY: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
ROTY Race
Kon Kneuppel entered the NBA with modest expectations and, like many rookies, initially struggled to adjust to the speed and physicality of the league. The feel for the game and shooting touch were always evident, but the scoring production and overall impact needed time to develop. Over the past several weeks, that growth has become clear. Kneuppel has found his rhythm, emerged as a focal point of Charlotte’s offense, and is now playing like a legitimate Rookie of the Year contender.
Kneuppel is averaging 18.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists on 47.6 percent shooting from the field, 41.7 percent from three, and 88.4 percent from the line, numbers that reflect one of the most skilled and well-rounded rookies in the NBA. His improvement has been consistent and undeniable. Since earning a permanent starting spot, he has become Charlotte’s most reliable perimeter scorer, a dynamic off-movement shooter, and a surprisingly strong secondary playmaker. His efficiency has climbed, his reads have sharpened, and his confidence has grown with every game.
Over the last several games, Kneuppel has averaged 20.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 0.8 steals in 35 minutes per game, showing exactly why the Hornets trust him. He impacts every facet of the game without forcing it, rarely makes losing plays, and consistently elevates the offense through his spacing, decision-making, and poise.
Charlotte has battled injuries and inconsistency in the early part of the season, and Kneuppel has been asked to carry far more responsibility than most rookies. Instead of shrinking, he has exceled. He initiates sets, rebounds in traffic, guards multiple positions, and has emerged as the Hornets’ most dependable two-way connector. In pressure moments he looks composed, not rushed, and his shotmaking has swung several close games.
If this trajectory holds, Kon Kneuppel has a strong and legitimate path to winning Rookie of the Year.
ROTY: Kon Kneuppel
Sixth Man Race
Jamie Jaquez Jr. has quietly become the heartbeat of the Miami Heat this season. With injuries sidelining major players in the rotation, Miami was desperate for someone to step up. Jaquez answered the call. He elevated his game and turned himself into one of the most valuable bench players in the league.
After averaging 8.6 points as a sophomore, Jaquez has surged to 16.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game this season. His playmaking has grown dramatically, his rebounding effort is constant, and Miami have gotten a dependable downhill scorer. Even with his three-point percentage sitting at only 22 percent, Jaquez impacts the game in every other area. His size, footwork, and patience allow him to get into the paint, draw help, and create easy opportunities for teammates.
Miami has remained competitive through its injury stretch because Jaquez has taken a major step forward. When the team needs a ball-handler, he can run the offense. When it needs stability in the half court, he provides structure and calm. When toughness on the glass or wing defense is required, he fills that role as well. As the rotation thins, he becomes the steadying presence that holds lineups together. He does not force shots or rush possessions, he plays with maturity and a clear understanding of what wins at both ends.
The Heat are currently 13–6 and sitting third in the Eastern Conference. They have avoided falling in the standings largely because of Jaquez’s versatility and growth. He supplies energy, poise, and reliable production that smooths out every lineup he joins.
If this level of play continues, Jamie Jaquez Jr. is not simply in the Sixth Man of the Year race. He is one of the top candidates. He has made the jump from promising rookie to true difference-maker, the kind of player who holds a playoff team together when the season gets rocky.
6MOY - Jamie Jaquez Jr.
Coach of the Year Race
Two seasons ago, the Detroit Pistons were not just bad. They were historically bad. A 28-game losing streak, constant lineup instability, and the lowest win total in the NBA made them the worst team in professional sports. The franchise looked lost, and the young core had talent, but no structure, identity, or confidence.
This year, JB Bickerstaff has rewritten the entire story.
Bickerstaff has transformed Detroit from a team stuck in the mud into one of the most competitive and disciplined groups in the league. The change is visible on every possession. The Pistons now play with purpose and clarity. Their defensive rotations are sharper, their half-court offense is patient and organized, and the team’s identity is built around movement, pace, and smart decision-making.
His impact becomes even more impressive when considering that he is leading one of the youngest rosters in the NBA. Cade Cunningham has grown into a true franchise leader who plays with poise and control. Jalen Duren has developed into a powerful interior anchor. Ausar Thompson, Jaden Ivey, Marcus Sasser, and the rest of the young core finally have structure, defined roles, and the confidence to play freely.
Bickerstaff has also integrated a wave of new players. Tobias Harris has stepped in with veteran stability, Killian Hayes moved on, and younger players took on expanded responsibilities. Instead of forcing a rigid system, Bickerstaff adjusted his schemes, redesigned the rotations, and built an environment where every player knows their expectations.
The results are undeniable. Detroit is 15–3 after recently putting together a 13-game win streak, and they now play connected, competitive basketball on both ends. They defend with real effort, they share the ball, and they close games with calm execution. These were the very weaknesses that crushed them during last year’s collapse, and they have now become defining strengths.
JB Bickerstaff did far more than fix a losing team. He reshaped the way they play, rebuilt the culture, and redirected the entire franchise. He took a team that once looked hopeless and turned it into a legitimate playoff contender built on unselfish basketball and emerging young leadership.
If the Pistons continue this level of play, JB Bickerstaff has a strong and legitimate case for Coach of the Year. Very few coaches in the league have created a turnaround this dramatic or this meaningful.
