
Shai Leads Final NBA Awards Watch as ROY and DPOY Contests Heat Up
As the 2025-26 NBA season wraps, this Awards Watch pins Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the MVP front-runner with Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama in the mix, the latter challenging if he remains eligible. Other candidates mentioned include Kevin Durant and Donovan Mitchell. For Rookie of the Year, Kon Knueppel leads the field with Cooper Flagg a close challenger. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is the pick for Most Improved, while Joe Mazzulla is highlighted as a top Coach of the Year contender amid debates and ongoing injury effects that could sway final ballots. The piece emphasizes consistency and availability over raw numbers in deciding the awards.













