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Complete Prediction Of 2024 NBA Award Winners After The End Of Regular Season
Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

The NBA regular season is coming to an end, with the play-in tournament and playoffs right around the corner on April 16th. We have collected the 2024 award leaders and finalized it for the regular season, featuring superstars such as Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Rudy Gobert. Every major award, including MVP and Rookie of the Year, has its near-certain winner this season, although some award categories, including Coach of the Year, will come down to the wire. 

Kia MVP - Nikola Jokic

Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Kia MVP Leaderboard

1. Nikola Jokic 70.0%

2. Luka Doncic 20.0%

3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 10.0%

In the race for the 2023-24 Kia MVP, Nikola Jokic has emerged as the frontrunner as the best player in the world and reigning NBA champion and Finals MVP. He is on track to win his third MVP trophy, with near triple-double averages (26.4 PPG, 12.4 RPG, 9.0 APG), showcasing his ability to impact the game through his unique combination of size and skill. With the Denver Nuggets finishing with the number-two seed in the Western Conference, Jokic's contributions have been invaluable. It's worth noting that only a select few legends, including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell, Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, and LeBron James, have won more than three MVP awards, placing Jokic in elite company once he wins his third MVP.

Luka Doncic follows in second place with 20.0% of the MVP votes as the NBA's leading scorer. Doncic is consistently getting closer to securing his first MVP award each season. As a triple-double machine (33.9 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 9.8 APG), he has led the Dallas Mavericks to the playoffs and successfully avoided the play-in tournament with over 50 wins on the season. Doncic and the Mavericks are locked in an exciting first-round matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers, promising an exhilarating series that could raise the Slovenian’s stock as a playoff performer. Even if he does not win the MVP this year, Doncic is likely to capture an MVP award in the next few seasons and could be the favorite to win the award next year.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander rounds out the top three with 10.0% of the MVP votes. He has been instrumental in guiding the Oklahoma City Thunder to the first seed in the Western Conference by posting elite scoring numbers (30.1 PPG)and elevating the Thunder's play sooner than many expected. While he finished third in the MVP race this season, Gilgeous-Alexander's performance indicates his potential to be a leading MVP candidate in the future.

Kia Rookie Of The Year - Victor Wembanyama

Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Kia Rookie of the Year Leaderboard

1. Victor Wembanyama - 70%

2. Chet Holmgren - 29%

3. Jaime Jaquez Jr. - 1%

French superstar Victor Wembanyama has emerged as the clear frontrunner, posting 21.4 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. Wembanyama, leading the NBA in blocks per game this season (3.6 BPG), has showcased his superstar talent and is proving to be a dominant force on both ends of the court. With his exceptional skills and contributions, Wembanyama is set to be a perennial All-Star and Defensive Player of the Year candidate for years to come. There's no doubt that the Frenchman is the real deal and has lived up to the high expectations set for him.

Chet Holmgren follows closely behind in second place with under 30% of the Rookie of the Year votes. Throughout the season, Holmgren has battled with Wembanyama for the top spot, showcasing his own impressive skill set. While Wembanyama's numbers may be slightly better, Holmgren deserves significant credit (16.5 PPG, 7.9 RPG) for establishing himself as the second-best player on the Oklahoma City Thunder, who secured the first seed in the Western Conference.

Jaime Jaquez Jr. rounds out the leaderboard with 1% of the Rookie of the Year votes. Despite being a surprise to many in the NBA Universe, Jaquez Jr. has had an impactful rookie season and has proven to be a key contributor for the Miami Heat (11.9 PPG). While his chances of winning the Rookie of the Year award are slim due to Wembanyama and Holmgren being the favorites throughout the season, Jaquez Jr. certainly deserves recognition for his impressive debut season in the NBA.

Kia Defensive Player Of The Year - Rudy Gobert

Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Kia Defensive Player of the Year Leaderboard

1. Rudy Gobert - 60%

2. Anthony Davis - 25%

3. Victor Wembanyama - 15%

In the 2023-24 Kia Defensive Player of the Year race, Rudy Gobert has taken the lead with an impressive 60% of the votes on the leaderboard. Gobert has been the cornerstone of the NBA's number-one-ranked defense with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Known for his dominant post-defense, long arms, and impeccable timing (2.1 BPG), Gobert is set to win his fourth DPOY trophy. Only Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace have achieved this feat, highlighting Gobert's elite defensive prowess. Despite the consistent criticism aimed at Gobert, he remains a dominant force on the defensive end of the floor.

Anthony Davis has been having one of his best individual seasons, making significant contributions on both ends of the court. Defensively, the big man is averaging 2.3 blocks per game. Without Davis anchoring their defense, the Los Angeles Lakers would likely rank near the bottom of the league in defensive rating as they rank 16th to end the season. His impact on the Lakers' defensive performance underscores his importance as a defensive stalwart in the NBA.

Victor Wembanyama rounds out the top three with 15% of the Defensive Player of the Year votes. In his rookie season, Wembanyama has made a significant impact, leading the NBA in blocks and demonstrating a dominant defensive presence. While he has an outside chance to win the DPOY award in 2024, Wembanyama is showing promising signs of becoming a multiple-time winner of the award in his career. He narrowly beats out Bam Adebayo for third place, further solidifying his status as one of the league's most dominant defenders.

Kia Sixth Man Of The Year - Malik Monk

Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports

Kia Man of the Year Leaderboard

1. Malik Monk - 55%

2. Naz Reid - 30%

3. Norman Powell - 15%

Malik Monk has been a dynamic and energetic presence off the bench for the Sacramento Kings, averaging 15.4 points, 5.1 assists, and shooting 35.0% from three-point range. He is a significant contributor to the Kings' success, attempting 12.4 field goals and 5.9 three-point attempts per game. Monk's impact and scoring prowess off the bench make him a strong favorite for the Sixth Man of the Year award in the player’s best individual season.

Naz Reid follows closely behind in second place with 30% of the Sixth Man of the Year votes. Reid has been a valuable backup center for the Minnesota Timberwolves, posting 13.5 points and 5.2 rebounds per game while shooting an impressive 41.4% from three-point range. His contributions have been instrumental in making the Timberwolves a formidable team on both ends of the floor. Reid's impressive performance could potentially allow him to challenge Monk for the Sixth Man of the Year trophy.

Norman Powell rounds out the top three with 15% of the Sixth Man of the Year votes. Despite posting 13.9 points per game this season, Powell's contributions have been somewhat overshadowed by playing alongside stars like Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and James Harden. While he may be overlooked in this award category due to his supporting role on a star-studded team, Powell's scoring ability and impact off the bench should not be underestimated.

Kia Most Improved Player - Tyrese Maxey

Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Kia Most Improved Player of the Year Leaderboard

1. Tyrese Maxey - 60%

2. Coby White - 20%

3. Jalen Williams - 20%

Tyrese Maxey has emerged as the clear frontrunner, capturing an impressive 60% of the votes on the leaderboard. Maxey has made a significant leap from a starter to an All-Star and is now recognized as one of the best young talents in the NBA. At just 23 years old, he is averaging 25.9 points and 6.2 assists per game this season, showcasing his elite scoring and improved playmaking abilities. Maxey has established himself as Joel Embiid's sidekick and is expected to play a key role for the Philadelphia 76ers in the foreseeable future, which is why he is the favorite to win the Most Improved Player award.

Coby White follows in second place with 20% of the Most Improved Player votes. White is having a career-best season, averaging 19.1 points per game while shooting 37.6% from three-point range. He has been a key contributor to the Chicago Bulls' success and their chances in the play-in tournament. While White may not be at the star level of Maxey, he is certainly an improving combo guard who has made significant strides in his game.

Jalen Williams shares the second spot with 20% of the votes as well. Williams has shown dramatic improvement this season, increasing his averages from 14.1 points and 3.3 assists per game in his rookie season to 19.1 points and 4.5 assists per game in his second year. At just 22 years old, Williams is proving to be an invaluable asset for the Oklahoma City Thunder. With his continued development and promising performance, Williams is setting himself up to be a cornerstone player for the Thunder as they aim to compete for the NBA championship over the next decade.

Kia Clutch Player Of The Year - Stephen Curry

Credit: D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports

Kia Clutch Player of the Year Leaderboard

1. Stephen Curry - 65%

2. DeMar DeRozan - 25%

3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - 10%

Stephen Curry is the clear frontrunner for the Kia Clutch Player of the Year award. The point guard leads the NBA in total clutch points this season with 189, showcasing his ability to deliver in crucial moments. He has gone 23-20 in games where his clutch scoring was needed, posting impressive averages of 26.4 points per game while shooting 40.8% from three-point range. Curry's exceptional performance and reliability in clutch situations make him the top candidate for the Clutch Player of the Year award.

DeMar DeRozan follows in second place with 25% of the Clutch Player of the Year votes. DeRozan has accumulated 177 clutch points this season and has a record of 24-15 in games with clutch scenarios. Known for his elite mid-range scoring and confident go-to scoring abilities, DeRozan has continued to excel at 34 years old, solidifying his reputation as a clutch performer in the NBA.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander rounds out the top three with 10% of the Clutch Player of the Year votes. Gilgeous-Alexander has been increasingly dominant in clutch situations and possesses the athleticism to score against any opponent. While he has made significant strides in his clutch performances, he is unlikely to win the Clutch Player of the Year award this season due to Curry's outstanding contributions in this area.

NBA Coach Of The Year - Mark Daigneault

Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

NBA Coach of the Year Leaderboard

1. Mark Daigneault - 40%

2. Chris Finch - 35%

3. Jamahl Mosley - 25%

The Coach of the Year award race is the closest one among all of the races this season. Mark Daigneault closely follows in second place with 35% of the Coach of the Year votes. Daigneault has done an exceptional job with the young talent on the Oklahoma City Thunder, accelerating their development faster than many expected. The Thunder rank third in points per game (119.9), fifth in defensive rating (112.5), and currently occupy the first seed in the Western Conference, led by emerging young stars.

Chris Finch has guided his team to the third seed in the Western Conference and has been instrumental in spearheading the NBA's top-ranked defense in terms of opponent points per game (106.3) and defensive rating (108.7). Under Finch's leadership, players like Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert, and Naz Reid have elevated their play and have become key contributors to the team's success.

Jamahl Mosley rounds out the top three with 25% of the Coach of the Year votes. Mosley has transformed the Orlando Magic into a formidable defensive team, ranking fourth in opponent points per game (108.7) and second in defensive rating (111.5). While Paolo Banchero has emerged as an All-Star player under Mosley's guidance, the coach has also elevated the play of the entire team, making the Magic a competitive playoff side. 

This article first appeared on Fadeaway World and was syndicated with permission.

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