By Tim Bontemps

On Tuesday afternoon, I finalized my official NBA awards ballot, making my selections for all of the league`s top individual honors: the seven major end-of-season awards (Most Valuable Player, Defensive Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Sixth Man of the Year, Most Improved Player, and Clutch Player of the Year), as well as the All-NBA, All-Defense, and All-Rookie teams.

Here is the breakdown of my ballot and the reasoning behind each pick (with gratitude to Matt `Stats` Williams for providing extensive data for our ballots).

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Most Valuable Player

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks

Each season presents multiple deserving MVP candidates, and this year`s race was exceptionally close, culminating in a final showdown between Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic. Both players have delivered outstanding seasons, establishing themselves as the league`s elite.

Gilgeous-Alexander spearheaded the Thunder to become only the seventh team in NBA history to achieve at least 68 wins, averaging a league-best 32.7 points per game with a 51.9% field goal percentage. Jokic, in parallel, recorded a historically significant statistical season, ranking among the top three in points (29.6), rebounds (12.7), and assists (10.2) while shooting 57.6% from the field and 41.7% from three-point range.

The decision-making process involved considering a quote from former Nuggets coach Michael Malone: `If you were unaware of Nikola`s three MVP titles and assessed Player A and Player B on paper… he would win unanimously.` This perspective underscored Jokic`s consistent dominance.

Malone`s viewpoint is understandable. However, securing a fourth MVP award in five years, a feat matched only by LeBron James and Bill Russell, demands an extraordinary level of performance, which Jokic has achieved.

In a closely contested race, where opinions are divided among media, players, coaches, and executives, the advantage should lean towards the leader of a historically dominant regular-season team.

The Thunder set a new benchmark for point differential, exceeding opponents by over 1,000 points and by 12.7 points per 100 possessions, achieving 68 wins despite key player absences. While the Nuggets` performance significantly improves with Jokic on the court, the Thunder`s offense notably declines without Gilgeous-Alexander, highlighting his crucial role.

Antetokounmpo secured the third spot, marking his seventh consecutive season in the top four. Tatum was also a strong contender, but Antetokounmpo`s strong finish, especially after Damian Lillard`s injury, solidified his position ahead of Tatum.

The fifth spot came down to Brunson and Mitchell, with Brunson ultimately earning the nod due to his clutch performances.

Defensive Player of the Year

Ivica Zubac, LA Clippers
Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers
Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies

Prior to the All-Star break, Victor Wembanyama was the clear frontrunner for DPOY. However, his season-ending diagnosis shifted the race, opening the field to several contenders, including Zubac, Mobley, Jackson Jr., Gobert, Green, Daniels, Thompson, and Dort.

The decision narrowed to Zubac and Mobley. The Clippers stood out as a top defensive team, with Zubac playing a pivotal role, demonstrating the lowest shot quality allowed as a primary defender. Mobley, known for his versatility, defended multiple positions effectively.

Ultimately, Zubac received the edge due to his greater games played and minutes, and his significant defensive presence in the paint, contributing to the Clippers` top-tier defensive rating.

Jackson Jr.`s versatility is also noteworthy, as Memphis`s defense noticeably suffers when he is off the court. He stands alongside Mobley in defending various positions and stands alone in achieving at least 75 steals and 100 blocks this season.

Coach of the Year

Kenny Atkinson, Cleveland Cavaliers
J.B. Bickerstaff, Detroit Pistons
Ime Udoka, Houston Rockets

The top two coaches remained consistent for weeks, with Atkinson and Bickerstaff frequently interchanging. Bickerstaff`s achievement in more than tripling the Pistons` win total is commendable, particularly in fostering defensive commitment among a young team.

However, the Cavaliers` transformation from a good team to a great team under Atkinson is more impactful. They secured home-court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs and achieved 64 wins, showcasing broad player improvement.

Udoka, who guided the Rockets to the second seed in the Western Conference, and Lue of the Clippers, also deserve recognition, though they were not included in the final ballot.

Rookie of the Year

Zaccharie Risacher, Atlanta Hawks
Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs
Jaylen Wells, Memphis Grizzlies

This year`s rookie race differs significantly from the previous year, where Wembanyama and Holmgren made immediate impacts. This year, the choice was between Castle, who assumed a larger role for the Spurs, and Risacher, who contributed to a playoff-contending team. Risacher was chosen for his consistent performance, averaging 14 points with high shooting percentages since January.

Wells, a second-round pick who became a starter for the Grizzlies, secured the third spot. His resilience after a season-ending injury is also acknowledged.

Most Improved Player

Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers
Ivica Zubac, LA Clippers
Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers

The Most Improved Player award is often debated. Mobley`s leap from not being an All-Star contender to potentially making an All-NBA team this season makes him a deserving recipient.

Zubac also showed significant improvement, particularly in minutes played and overall performance for the Clippers. Reaves has played a crucial role in the Lakers` strong second half of the season.

Sixth Man of the Year

Payton Pritchard, Boston Celtics
Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Minnesota Timberwolves
Malik Beasley, Detroit Pistons

Pritchard was a clear choice for Sixth Man of the Year, consistently providing energy and scoring off the bench for the Celtics. His 3-point shooting has been instrumental in Boston`s victories.

Alexander-Walker has been valuable for the Timberwolves, contributing on both ends of the court. Beasley`s career-best year with the Pistons also earned him a spot in the top three.

Clutch Player of the Year

Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks

Brunson, Jokic, and Young were the top contenders for Clutch Player of the Year. Brunson`s clutch scoring was among the highest in recent history. Jokic excelled in clutch situations, and Young led in total fourth-quarter points and assists.

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