As the 2025-2026 NBA season is nearing its end, the NBA awards have been a frequent topic of conversation amongst the NBA community.
NBA award winners are typically announced during one of the first two rounds of the playoffs, which this year will be starting on April 18. Awards like Most Valuable Player (MVP), Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY), Rookie of the Year (ROTY), Most Improved Player (MIP), Coach of the Year (COTY) and other specialty awards will be awarded then.
With playoffs approaching, fans are making predictions on who they think will win the awards, and players are trying to keep their names in the conversation.
65 MINIMUM GAME RULE:
Starting in the 2023-2024 season, the NBA established a 65 game minimum rule, making it so players would not be eligible to win major individual awards such as, MVP, ROTY, Defensive player of the year and All-NBA, if they did not play in at least 65 games.
This rule was put out to, “put more emphasis on the regular season and to encourage teams to play their elite players more often,” according to ESPN.
However, this rule has sparked a lot of controversy amongst NBA fans, given that players they think may be deserving may not be eligible to win.
“I think that it’s stupid, honestly,” says Senior, Charlie Schuldt, “I think being able to impact the game as much as you can should let you be able to have any award.”
But, other NBA fans view this rule differently.
“I think the 65 game rule is very good,” says sophomore Vance Tessler, “I think it is good at helping to balance out awards.
No matter how fans view the 65-game minimum rule, it is a major part of deciding who will win the NBA awards and will be taken into account when ballots are filled out.
MVP:
One of the most prestigious awards for NBA players is MVP, which stands for “Most Valuable Player.” According to Paris Basketball, this title is awarded every year to the player who has had the biggest season on an individual level, but also on a collective level.
This means that the player not only needs to have a good season themselves, but also needs to be a part of and a heavy contributor towards a successful team.
With this being one of the most important awards, it leads to many fans forming opinions on who they think is most deserving.
“I think Luka Dončić should win MVP,” Tessler states. “I think the Lakers are a good overall team, and I think Luka Dončić is the reason that they are winners.”
Dončić is currently first in the NBA in points, with an average 33.8 points per game, and third in assists with an average of 8.3 per game, according to ESPN.
Dončić is one of the top four contenders for MVP this season. But, after suffering a hamstring injury against the Oklahoma Thunder, he has only played 64 games and may not be able to meet the eligibility rules to win the coveted award.
According to Yahoo! Sports, Dončić will be out for the remainder of the regular season, meaning he will not meet eligibility for MVP due to the fact that he has not been able for 65 games. Dončić’s agent, Bill Duffy, along with many others are trying to challenge the rule on the grounds that the rule is unfair.
As for the Lakers, though, their season has been successful. As of April 3, they are 50-27 and third in the western conference.
Other fans have different views on who they think is deserving of MVP.
“I think the most complete player, Jokic, should win MVP,” says Schuldt. “But, as of right now, I think Wemby is in a really good spot to win MVP.”
Victor Wembanyama or also nicknamed “Wemby”, is a center and power forward for the San Antonio Spurs, and is currently fourth in rebounds with an average of 11.5 and thirteenth in points with an average of 24.7.
The Spurs are currently second in the western conference and 59-18, as of April 3.
“I think Wemby has a really good shot,” Schuldt continues, “because he said in an interview that defense is 50% of the game, and that is a very true statement, and he is probably the best defender of this generation.”
Schuldt believes that although Wembanyama’s stats don’t add up to those of other players, his impact on both the defensive and offensive end make him an extremely valuable player.
He believes that other than stats, the most important reason for a player to win an award is by being a well-rounded player.
ROTY:
Another major award is Rookie of the Year, or “ROTY.” According to the New York Times, ROTYs often lead rookies in major statistics, play heavy minutes and have high efficiency.
“For rookie of the year,” Schuldt says, “I think Cooper Flagg … he can do everything, like pretty much anything Kon Kneupple can do, besides shoot as well as him.”
Cooper Flagg is one of the biggest contenders for the 25-26 Rookie of the Year. Flagg is a forward for the Dallas Mavericks, and is currently ranked first in points for all rookies, with an average of 20.3. He has also been consistently in first or second place on the rookie ladder all season.
Flagg was also the first teenager to score 50+ points in a game in NBA history.
Another top contender for Rookie of the Year is Charlotte Hornets’ guard, Kon Kneupple. Kneupple also recently made history when he broke the Hornets single-season franchise record for most 3-pointers.
With these two contenders being neck-to-neck all season, it will be interesting to see who comes out on top.
With the regular season nearing its end, the competition for these awards will remain tight-knit until they very end.