Trending Topics: Picks for 2023-24 NBA award winners

NBA.com's writers reveal their picks for Kia MVP, Kia Rookie of the Year, Kia Defensive Player of the Year and more.

NBA.com Staff

Updated on April 9, 2024 2:28 PM

Victor Wembanyama and Nikola Jokic were unanimous picks by our writers for Kia Rookie of the Year and Kia MVP, respectively.

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Periodically, NBA.com’s writers will weigh in on key storylines or trending topics around the league.

With just a few days left in the regular season, list your picks for 2023-24 NBA award winners.

Steve Aschburner

Voter fatigue? More like voter surrender, acknowledging Denver’s Nikola Jokic as the league’s best player again. The eye test is plenty, but his on/off impact for the Nuggets is greater than in his two previous MVP seasons. Victor Wembanyama ultimately ran away with the ROY and, before long, will have his name edged on the awards immediately above and below him on our lists.

My closest call was Oklahoma City’s Mark Daigneault edging Minnesota’s Chris Finch in COY.

Kia MVP = Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Kia Rookie of the Year = Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
Kia Defensive Player of the Year = Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves
Kia Sixth Man of the Year = Naz Reid, Minnesota Timberwolves
Kia Most Improved Player = Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers
Kia Clutch Player of the Year = DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls
NBA Coach of the Year = Mark Daigneault, Oklahoma City Thunder

Brian Martin

I’ve got two players joining exclusive clubs with their latest honors. Nikola Jokic edges out Luka Doncic to become the seventh player to win three Kia MVPs in a four-season span. In doing so, Jokic joins Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and LeBron James as the only players to accomplish that feat.

Rudy Gobert holds off fellow Frenchman Victor Wembanyama to win his fourth Kia Defensive Player of the Year award, tying Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace for the most ever. Wemby, though, may have something to say about Gobert trying to be the first to five.

Kia MVP = Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Kia Rookie of the Year = Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
Kia Defensive Player of the Year = Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves
Kia Sixth Man of the Year = Malik Monk, Sacramento Kings
Kia Most Improved Player = Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder
Kia Clutch Player of the Year = DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls
NBA Coach of the Year = Mark Daigneault, Oklahoma City Thunder

John Schuhmann

The first three awards listed below were relatively easy selections. Bogdanovic has the box score numbers and the Hawks have been much better with him on the floor. Most Improved was the toughest pick, but Williams has seen a big jump in per-36 numbers and has improved his efficiency.

Gilgeous-Alexander has shot 57% in the clutch, with the Thunder 22-11 in clutch games that he’s played in. Daigneault, meanwhile has a team in the top six on both ends of the floor with it getting 41% of its minutes (the league’s fourth-highest rate) from rookies or second-year players.

Kia MVP = Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Kia Rookie of the Year = Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
Kia Defensive Player of the Year = Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves
Kia Sixth Man of the Year = Bogdan Bogdanovic, Atlanta Hawks
Kia Most Improved Player = Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder
Kia Clutch Player of the Year = Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
NBA Coach of the Year = Mark Daigneault, Oklahoma City Thunder

Shaun Powell

Not many sleepless night choices this season, although in the case of Joel Embiid (MVP) and Alperen Sengun (Most Improved), the new 65-game minimum for eligibility probably cost them some hardware and would’ve cost me some Zs.

With a third MVP in four seasons, Jokic would crash the company of Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, LeBron James, Moses Malone and Michael Jordan for the greatest such stretches since the ABA-NBA merger in 1976. Gobert getting a fourth DPOY would tie him with Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace for most ever and punch his ticket to the Hall of Fame.

And Curry needs the Clutch Award because really, what else has he done in his career?

Kia MVP = Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Kia Rookie of the Year = Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
Kia Defensive Player of the Year = Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves
Kia Sixth Man of the Year = Malik Monk, Sacramento Kings
Kia Most Improved Player = Coby White, Chicago Bulls
Kia Clutch Player of the Year = Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
NBA Coach of the Year = Chris Finch, Minnesota Timberwolves

Michael C. Wright

The MVP seemed obvious, as Jokic appears poised to snag another one. Defensive Player of the Year, Clutch Player of the Year and NBA Coach of the Year were tougher. Gobert receives the DPOY nod for now, but Wembanyama has a legit case as a rookie and could wind up swaying my vote. Curry and DeMar DeRozan are neck and neck for Clutch. Chris Finch and Jamahl Mosely deserve serious consideration for Coach of the Year, too.