The 2024-25 season is only a couple of weeks away, which means we're running out of chances to get our bearings before the real games start.

Here, we'll go through all 30 teams and lay out awards predictions. Think of it as a forecast, but also as a primer for what (and whom) to watch when arenas around the country flip the lights on for real.

In every case, we'll predict an MVP, but the parameters broaden a bit from there. We'll go with at least one other conventional award—Defensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Most Improved, etc.—and then toss in a third as a way to focus on a particular player or angle that warrants watching in the coming campaign.

Enough preamble. We have 90 different awards to hand out. Please limit acceptance speeches to no more than five seconds.

Atlanta Hawks

MVP: Trae Young

If Young isn't the Atlanta Hawks' most valuable player, it'll mean something seismic happened during the year. Options could include another injury (Young played just 54 games in 2023-24) or perhaps even an in-season trade.

Young remains Atlanta's offensive engine, and this team will continue to define itself on that end of the floor. He's been good for at least 25.0 points and 9.0 assists per game in each of the last five seasons. If the Hawks manage to improve on last year's lottery finish, it'll be because Young stays healthy and returns to form as a premier shot-maker and shot-creator.

Rookie of the Year: Zaccharie Risacher

As is the case with Young, something will have gone wrong if Risacher, the top pick in the 2024 draft, isn't the best rookie on his team.

Though his biggest contributions may come as a supplementary role player who defends, keeps the ball moving and relies on setups to score from the perimeter, Risacher still stands to make a big impact at a critical wing position.

The Hot Seat? Already? Award: Quin Snyder

Snyder took over head coaching duties in Atlanta with 21 games left in the 2022-23 season, which wasn't enough time to create real expectations for change. He was, however, supposed to deliver in his first full season.

Suffice it to say the 2023-24 Hawks didn't display the crisp, egalitarian style that produced top-three offensive ratings in Snyder's last two seasons with the Utah Jazz. Atlanta's 36 wins were the franchise's lowest total since 2019-20.

Maybe that was a personnel issue, or maybe Snyder will preside over another underwhelming season that lands him on the hot seat ahead of a broader rebuild.

Boston Celtics

MVP: Jayson Tatum

To crib from a post-championship Stephen Curry, "what they gonna say now" about Jayson Tatum? Maybe Tatum will forever exist outside the inner circle of league-wide MVP candidates, and maybe Jaylen Brown was the one who walked away with Finals MVP honors after the Boston Celtics' 2024 title. But Tatum remains his team's best and most important piece.

Expect his scoring average to wind up closer to 2022-23's 30.1 points per game than last year's 26.9 as he takes up slack for an injured Kristaps Porziņģis, and don't be surprised if the advanced playmaking Tatum showed during the postseason results in an assist average well above last year's career-high 4.9.

Defensive Player of the Year: Derrick White

Jrue Holiday is one of the best defenders of his generation, but at 34 he's bound for some slippage. Good thing the Celtics have Derrick White, who quietly topped Holiday in Defensive Estimated Plus/Minus, blocks per game and steals per game last year. In 2024-25, public appreciation will catch up with the numbers, and White will be recognized as the Celtics' top stopper.

Please Just Be There in June Award: Kristaps Porziņģis

Tatum is Boston's best player, with Jaylen Brown close behind. That's not controversial. But many observers might still consider Holiday and White as more important to the Celtics' success. Perhaps from a "volume of contributions" standpoint, that's actually true.

But no one other than Tatum matters more to this team's ceiling than Porziņģis, whose floor spacing, post-up mastery and rim protection unlock dimensions on both ends that are otherwise inaccessible.

The Celtics won't have Porziņģis for at least the first several weeks of the season as he recovers from offseason surgery to repair a torn retinaculum and dislocated posterior tibialis tendon. They don't need to sweat that, but it'll be a major problem if KP isn't all the way back in the spring.

Brooklyn Nets

MVP: Nic Claxton

Four players averaged at least 2.0 blocks and 2.0 assists last season: Victor Wembanyama, Anthony Davis, Chet Holmgren and Claxton. That's not bad company for the Brooklyn Nets' best player.

The top defender likely to still be on the team in February and as good a candidate as anyone to finish second to Cam Thomas for the Nets' scoring lead, Claxton is a quality two-way starter who can protect the bucket, guard in space and put up double-digit points on the other end.

Most Improved Player: Noah Clowney

This is a bet that last year's 36.4 percent shooting from long range is mostly real and that Clowney will sustain that efficiency over a much larger sample than the 23 games he logged in 2023-24.

Rangy, athletic and toting a perimeter stroke that rarely comes in a 6'10" package, the 20-year-old should get every opportunity to prove he's a long-term keeper for the rebuilding Nets. Averages of 15.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks are not out of the question.

Here Come the Buckets Award: Cam Thomas

A league-high usage rate? A scoring average that creeps up toward 30.0 points per game? Several in-game stoppages to mop up the moisture as Thomas, an unabashed bucket-getter, salivates over all the shots he's going to get for a Nets team with so few other offensive threats?

It's all on the table.

Thomas put up 22.5 points in 31.2 minutes per game last year and has been among the best scorers at every level he's played, dating back to high school. He's not out there to defend or pass, folks.

Charlotte Hornets

MVP: LaMelo Ball

There's some risk attached to this pick. Ball's two-year struggle with ankle injuries makes it hard to be confident he'll play enough to provide team-best value from a volume perspective, and Brandon Miller's runner-up finish in Rookie of the Year voting was only the beginning of his progress toward stardom.

When last able to play at least 40 games, Ball was a 20-year-old All-Star who finished with averages of 20.1 points, 7.6 assists and 6.7 rebounds with a 38.9 percent knockdown clip from deep. If he can stay on the floor, he'll run away with this.

Sixth Man of the Year: Tre Mann

Mann averaged 11.9 points, 5.2 assists and 4.5 rebounds in 28 starts after coming over from the Oklahoma City Thunder in a trade last year. All of those figures would have represented career highs, but none of them were a surprise to OKC fans who knew Mann was a quality player with the misfortune of being buried behind star-level talent.

This all assumes Mann isn't so good in camp that head coach Charles Lee has to find room for him in the starting lineup.

Top Trade Bait Award: Miles Bridges

Bridges' no contest plea to felony domestic violence charges will be almost two-and-a-half years old by the 2025 trade deadline, long enough for some teams to look past the PR hit and moral qualms and decide a 20-point scorer on a discount contract (three years, $75 million) is worth the trouble.

Charlotte should jump at the chance to take back bad salary and picks for Bridges, whose departure would clear the decks for the real beginning of a new era.

Chicago Bulls

MVP: Coby White

This might as well be retitled "Best Bulls Player Who Probably Won't Be Traded." Even then, it's not so easy to believe White will finish the season on the team.

The 24-year-old guard busted out last season with averages of 19.1 points, 5.1 assists and 2.6 made triples per game—all career highs. On a bargain contract ($12 million this year, $12.9 million in 2025-26) too small for Chicago to realistically extend, White's unrestricted free agency is coming in the summer of 2026. That could lead to him being dealt this season.

If he stays put and Zach LaVine doesn't, there won't be much competition for team MVP honors—even assuming Josh Giddey's arrival will cut into White's touch time.

Comeback Player of the Year: Lonzo Ball

Yes, we're aware this is no longer an official award. The NBA did away with it almost 40 years ago because it kept going to players who returned after serving suspensions for failed drug tests—not exactly the kind of thing the league wanted to celebrate.

But Ball's potential comeback would come with legitimately positive vibes, and everyone in the NBA community can get behind it free of moral confusion. Knee injuries cost Ball two-and-a-half seasons, and his career remains in jeopardy. Let's speak his return to health and productivity into existence.

Trade Value Rehab Award: Zach LaVine

Even if it was artful spin designed to improve his trade value, you have to appreciate the execution of LaVine's opening statement at media day. He was straightforward, earnest and professional in addressing his status with and feelings toward the Bulls.

Assuming he's healthy and productive, LaVine is going to seriously flip the narrative on his trade value, which hit an incomprehensible low last season.

Cleveland Cavaliers

MVP: Donovan Mitchell

We're going to say some outlandish things about Evan Mobley in a second, but the Cleveland Cavaliers will still go only as far as Mitchell can take them.

Increased playmaking duties bumped Mitchell's assists per game up to a career-high 6.1 last year. He may not sustain that figure if Darius Garland rebounds from a season ruined by the broken jaw he suffered, but that'll only mean Mitchell gets to concentrate more on scoring.

Bank on a sixth straight All-Star nod, All-NBA consideration if he can play 65 games and a lot of time spent in the top 10 of the league-wide MVP discussion. Cleveland has a real shot to win more games than anyone in the East, and Mitchell is going to be the most critical player in that effort.

Most Improved: Evan Mobley

Mobley finished second in Rookie of the Year voting in 2021-22, third in Defensive Player of the Year the following season and has made gains in scoring average, rebound rate and assist rate in each of his three seasons. And yet, nobody should be convinced he's anywhere close to his final form.

Expect that incremental progress to transform into a leap as Mobley adds real volume to last year's 37.3 percent stroke from deep, challenges for DPOY honors and nudges up toward 20-10 status in points and rebounds.

This is the year Mobley truly arrives. Book it.

Coach of the Year: Kenny Atkinson

OK, sure, odds are there won't be any competition for this one. But we need to highlight the potential impact of Atkinson, who replaced JB Bickerstaff over the summer. The leader of a highly functional and much admired Brooklyn Nets rebuild almost a decade ago, Atkinson brings structure and innovation to a Cavs team that feels oh so close to taking the next step.

Not to be overlooked: It was Atkinson who presided over Brook Lopez's transformation into a three-point shooter all those years ago. Mobley's stockholders should be beside themselves with joyful anticipation.

Dallas Mavericks

MVP: Luka Dončić

Dončić is coming off his first Finals appearance and already owns two of the eight seasons in NBA history with averages of at least 30.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 8.0 assists. It'll be a surprise if he doesn't add a third in 2024-25.

Take the "Luka's finally in shape" observations with a grain of salt, as we get them every year, but it's not like he has to change anything about his body to feature heavily in the league-wide MVP conversation again.

In fact, he's currently the favorite.

Most Improved Player: Dereck Lively II

Lively is a good bet to challenge the all-time field-goal percentage record set last year by teammate Daniel Gafford. If he'd qualified, his 74.7 percent hit rate would have actually bested Gafford's 72.5 percent figure.

Still just 20 years old, Lively should take over as Dallas' starting center, finish lobs in bunches, gobble up offensive boards and feast on putbacks. With Klay Thompson spacing the floor and two of the league's most dynamic individual offensive players running things, the second-year big man is going to have all the interior space he could ask for. A breakout year is in store.

Make-or-Break Award: Klay Thompson

It's not just Lively's success that'll depend on Thompson stretching defenses to their breaking points. The whole Mavericks operation could hinge on the estranged Splash Brother's ability to provide elite spacing without giving back those gains on defense.

Thompson's shot selection was brutal during his last season with the Dubs, but perhaps a change of scenery will make him more comfortable functioning strictly as a catch-and-shoot weapon. If he's capable of accepting a somewhat limited role, Thompson could unlock new dimensions for the Mavs, particularly in the playoffs, where his gravity will open up runways for Dončić, Kyrie Irving and everyone else.

Denver Nuggets

MVP: Nikola Jokić

The Denver Nuggets have lived and died with Nikola Jokić over the last several years, and their reliance on the three-time MVP is only greater ahead of 2024-25. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope's departure makes it two straight summers in which the Nugs have lost veteran talent (Bruce Brown Jr. got away in 2023), which means less proven players are increasingly being called upon to contribute.

That just adds to the weight of Jokić's already massive burden.

Fortunately for Denver, he's always been up for the challenge. Last year, the Nuggets were a preposterous 23.7 points per 100 possessions better with Jokić on the floor than off, and he's posted at least a plus-19.5 on-off split in each of the last three seasons.

Most Improved Player: Christian Braun

Maybe this should be called the "They'd Better Hope He's Most Improved" award, as the Nuggets need Braun to hit a new level as he takes over starting duties for KCP.

A dogged defender and dangerous cutter who never gets out-competed, Braun must also prove he can shoot it well enough from deep to be taken seriously by opposing defenses. His 38.4 percent knockdown rate on threes last year was encouraging, but it came on a meager 2.0 attempts per game. Braun needs to sustain that efficiency while tripling his volume, and that's a huge ask.

Redemption Award: Jamal Murray

Struggle through an injury-plagued postseason and lay an egg for Canada over the summer, and apparently everyone forgets you just turned in what was, by many measures, the best regular season of your career.

Murray quietly set or beat career bests last year with 21.2 points and 6.5 assists per game while also setting a new personal high by shooting 42.5 percent from three and 48.1 percent from the field. The worries about his health are legit, and it can't be ignored that he hasn't played 70 games since 2018-19. Assuming Murray gets his body right, he will challenge for the first All-Star nod of his career.

Detroit Pistons

MVP: Cade Cunningham

Despite wretched spacing and a head coach seemingly bent on sabotaging the rotation, Cade Cunningham's 2023-24 effort made him one of just 10 players to average at least 22.0 points and 7.0 assists at the age of 22 or younger. Now surrounded by a remade cast of veteran supporting parts led by Tobias Harris and Malik Beasley, Cunningham should finally have some breathing room on offense.

It remains to be seen if any of his young teammates is ready to join him in the ascent, but Cunningham's career trajectory is angling sharply upward.

Defensive Player of the Year: Ausar Thompson

After a rookie season truncated by blood clots, Thompson will resume his quest to become the most disruptive defensive force in the league. Prior to his early shutdown last year, Thompson joined Alex Caruso as the only players 6'7" or shorter to post block rates above 3.0 percent and steal rates above 2.0 percent across at least 1,500 minutes.

If you're not statistically inclined, just understand that Thompson regularly wrecked opposing possessions in ways almost no one else could. He's going to pile up the highlights and land on an All-Defensive team.

Move It or Lose It Award: Jaden Ivey

Ivey hit 33.6 percent of his threes last season and saw his counting averages decline from their rookie levels of 16.3 points and 5.2 assists, respectively. If he can develop some shooting consistency and contribute on D, those numbers will rise and the Detroit Pistons will feel confident in his ability to play next to Cunningham in the backcourt of the future.

If Ivey's growth stagnates, rookie Ron Holland will be waiting to replace him in the Pistons' plans.

Golden State Warriors

MVP: Stephen Curry

There might only be a dozen players in the league who, if they were members of the Golden State Warriors, could challenge Curry for team MVP honors. Even entering his age-36 season, Steph is an elite, All-NBA performer coming off averages of 26.4 points, 5.1 assists and 4.5 rebounds on a 45.0/40.8/92.3 shooting split.

The Warriors' main problem is that no one else on the roster is anywhere close to his level. In fact, with Klay Thompson gone and no clear second-star replacement, you could argue Curry hasn't had a lift this heavy since he was in his early 20s.

Most Improved Player: Brandin Podziemski

Fifth in Rookie of the Year voting and already one of the best rebounding guards in the league, Podziemski has a chance to make dramatic improvements by picking the low-hanging fruit.

His 3.2 long-range tries per game as a rookie weren't nearly enough, and Podz left points at the foul line by hitting just 63.3 percent of his freebies. An ace off-ball defender, excellent connective passer and all-around heady contributor, the 21-year-old guard will seize a starting role and make major gains in his box-score stats if he simply shoots (and hits) more often.

Lynchpin Award: Jonathan Kuminga

Remember all that stuff above about how Curry has no second-star running mate? The Warriors desperately need Kuminga to prove that contention wrong.

Entering his fourth season, the 6'8" forward needs to make a leap. A-plus athleticism has so far been the main factor in Kuminga earning minutes. He set a franchise record for dunks last year, but Golden State needs his threes to fall, his defense to be consistent and his decision-making to speed up.

Stardom is far from guaranteed, but Kuminga has the capacity to hit that level. If he does, everything about the Warriors' present and future changes.

Houston Rockets

MVP: Alperen Sengün

Sengün played at an All-Star level last season and, at 22, should still be expected to improve. Considering he put up 21.1 points, 9.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists from the center spot while taking over control of the offense for vast stretches of every game he played, that's saying something.

Intelligence and competitiveness could help Sengün overcome athletic limitations en route to plus defensive play, and a three-point shot would make him an officially complete offensive superstar.

Rookie of the Year: Reed Sheppard

Several recent lottery picks, many of whom the Rockets need long looks at before making contractual decisions, obstruct Sheppard's path to playing time. Good thing he's going to be so undeniably good as a rookie that he forces his way ahead of several of them in the rotation.

After hitting more than half of his threes and racking up unbelievable steal rates in college, Sheppard showcased on-ball verve and playmaking skills with Houston's summer-league team. Sheppard will contribute significantly on both ends, perhaps to the point that the Rockets start looking for trade partners interested in veteran starter Fred VanVleet.

Making the Leap Award: Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., Amen Thompson, Cam Whitmore (tie)

As roster-building problems go, having too many high-ceilinged prospects is about as good as it gets. The four-way tie we just predicted for this made-up award is a good illustration of how many different shapes the Rockets' hierarchy could take this season. Everyone listed here—plus Sheppard, Sengün and even Tari Eason—has a real shot to ascend in 2024-25.

Houston can't keep and pay all of its prospects, and this season will go a long way toward determining which ones will become long-term fixtures and which ones might have to be moved in a win-now consolidation trade.

Indiana Pacers

MVP: Tyrese Haliburton

The Indiana Pacers are defined by their offense, and Haliburton is the unquestioned leader of the charge on that end. When Haliburton was on the floor last seaosn, Indy put up 122.4 points per 100 possessions, a number that dipped to 115.8 when he sat. That's roughly the difference between 2023-24's No. 1 and No. 16 attacks.

Remember, too, that Haliburton's full-season figures of 20.1 points and a league-leading 10.9 assists don't tell the whole story. Prior to going down with a hamstring injury on Jan. 8 that basically split his campaign into "before" and "after" sections, Hali was averaging 24.2 points and 12.7 assists while residing in the thick of the MVP race.

Defensive Player of the Year: Andrew Nembhard

This one's a bit of a "by default" award, but don't let the Pacers' general lack of quality defenders diminish Nembhard's rugged work on that end. Indy's leader among guards in Defensive Estimated Plus/Minus last season, Nembhard's role is made all the more important by the the fact that he's vital to covering up for Haliburton on D.

Back Up the Brink's Truck Award: Myles Turner

The Pacers can't offer Turner an extension this season because the deal he signed in 2022 was only for two years. The CBA doesn't allow extensions on anything less than a three-year agreement, which means Turner is ticketed for unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2025.

One of precious few big men who can defend the rim and space the floor, the 28-year-old center will be among the most sought-after and eventually well-compensated players on the market. Indy will have to grin and bear the uncertainty, as trading Turner to avoid losing him for nothing seems like a nonstarter. He's too vital to its success on both ends.

LA Clippers

MVP: Kawhi Leonard

Even if he's offering ominous training camp quotes about his balky knee like "We're just taking it slow, day by day and just trying to get me back on the floor," per ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk, Leonard remains the LA Clippers best player.

With Paul George gone, LA needs Leonard's two-way brilliance more than ever. If volume of contributions counts, this is a risky pick. But Leonard put up 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists on the highest true shooting percentage of his career last season. Any time he's on the floor, he'll be the best Clipper out there.

If things go sideways early, he also probably has the best trade value on the team. Just saying...

Scoring Champion: James Harden

It's fascinating to note that Harden's takeaway from seeing Luka Dončić lead the Mavs to the Finals, where constant questions arose about the viability of his immense workload, was that it made sense for him to return to his own heliocentric ways.

Harden only averaged 16.6 points per game last year and is clearly on the athletic downswing at age 35. But with George gone and Leonard a nightly question mark, don't be surprised if the three-time scoring champ goes broke for buckets.

Welcome Distraction Award: The Intuit Dome

Nothing takes fans' minds off Leonard's sporadic unavailability and a roster that isn't good enough (even with him) to do more than hope for a Play-In spot like a full acre's worth of video boards and unprecedented toilet access.

Los Angeles Lakers

MVP: LeBron James

Father Time continues to procrastinate. He'll get to James eventually, he swears. Just not today, and probably not this year, and maybe not ever.

That's the way things seem to be going after James made his 20th consecutive All-NBA team last year, averaged over 25.0 points per game and set a new career high by hitting 41.0 percent of his threes. Slight declines would still see him rate as the Los Angeles Lakers' MVP, largely because no one else on the roster could replace his all-around production, intelligence and playmaking.

Defensive Player of the Year: Anthony Davis

If AD ever truly starts shooting and making threes, it'll be a welcome bonus. But we're going on something like the 10th year in a row where we wonder whether he'll finally be more featured on the perimeter, and it has yet to happen in a meaningful way.

Fortunately for the Lakers, Davis remains one of the most impactful defensive forces in the league. He blocked at least 2.0 shots per game for the 10th time in the last 11 seasons last year, still holds up just fine in space against guards and has never been a better rebounder.

You Signed Up for This Award: JJ Redick

The pressure, expectations and scrutiny of coaching the Lakers is unmatched anywhere else in the league. Redick knows what he's getting into and has so far done well to tune out the noise.

Just wait until Los Angeles drops three straight games, or someone raises questions about the rotation. Even if there's nothing newsworthy to discuss about the Lakers, they're always under the microscope. There are only 30 NBA head coaching jobs, and Redick was more than justified in seizing this opportunity. But it's not going to be easy.

Memphis Grizzlies

MVP: Ja Morant

Let's not allow last season's suspension and season-ending shoulder injury to erase our memories of Morant as one of the game's great rising stars. The exceptionally bouncy guard averaged at least 26.0 points, 6.0 assists and 5.0 rebounds in his last two healthy seasons, finishing 12th and seventh in MVP voting, respectively.

A high-flying game based largely on quick-twitch athleticism and speed may not age well, but Morant is only 25 and should be highly motivated to reestablish himself alongside guys like Anthony Edwards in the "next face of the league" conversation.

Defensive Player of the Year: Jaren Jackson Jr.

Overtaxed as an on-ball scorer and playmaker during Memphis' injury-plagued 2023-24, Jackson didn't even make an All-Defensive team. It'll be a while before he finishes a season without that status again, and we should all keep in mind his DPOY win in 2022-23.

And if Jackson replicates that level of defensive dominance while retaining his gains as a scorer (career-high 22.5 points per game) and perhaps even tapping into that 39.4 percent three-point shooting he teased us with in 2019-20, All-NBA consideration will follow.

Ultimate Luxury Award: Desmond Bane

It's ridiculous that Bane, a career 41.5 percent long-range shooter who averaged 23.7 points per game last year, added new playmaking dimensions and brings it every night on defense, profiles as the Grizzlies' third-most-critical player.

He'd be the unquestioned cornerstone on several teams around the league.

Health is a concern, as Bane has totaled 100 games over the last two years. But nobody should be surprised if he winds up an All-Star in what could be a career year.

Miami Heat

MVP: Bam Adebayo

Jimmy Butler's availability and commitment are both in question. He's played more than 60 games just twice in the last seven years, somewhat famously throttles back during the regular season and couldn't squeeze a contract extension out of the Miami Heat. His ceiling is still sky-high, but there are too many variables in his profile—not the least of which being his age. At 35, decline should be the expectation.

Adebayo is comparatively rock steady.

Five straight All-Defensive nods, double-double averages in three of the last five years, the ability to run the offense from the elbows and an oh-so-tantalizing dalliance with three-point shooting last year make him the safe MVP pick here.

Rookie of the Year: Kel'el Ware

Ware has the theoretical potential to unlock a new and dangerous version of the Heat by bringing his size, athleticism and mobility to lineups that also feature Adebayo. Rookies don't tend to contribute to winning right away, but the 7-footer showed out during the summer and seems likely to earn a rotation spot from the jump.

It wouldn't even be a surprise if he winds up starting at some point.

Offensive Salvation Award: Tyler Herro

We can write off last season as a blip. It'll never make sense that Herro's presence on the floor actually coincided with a drop in offensive efficiency for the Heat, who've ranked in the bottom 10 on that end two years running.

Herro is in line for a vital scoring role on a team that desperately needs buckets. The shooting guard has averaged at least 20.0 points per game in each of the last three years but has struggled to stay healthy. Ahead of his age-25 season, Herro is quietly a make-or-break player for a team that still intends to contend.

Milwaukee Bucks

MVP: Giannis Antetokounmpo

Antetokounmpo hasn't finished lower than seventh in MVP voting since 2015-16, and he quietly put together one of the best years of his Hall of Fame career in 2023-24. Last season marked just the second time he cracked 30.0 points per game, and all that scoring came with a career-best 6.5 assists and a 61.1 field-goal percentage.

Giannis' intensity and competitiveness are unwavering, making him one of the most reliable superstars in the game. There's really no such thing as an off night when you're guaranteed to be the hardest-playing participant in every game.

Clutch Player: Damian Lillard

A legendary late-game performer, Lillard lands here for a couple of reasons. First, he has every chance of being the Bucks' clutch savior in tight contests, perhaps to the point that he wins the league-wide version of this award. More than that, though, Milwaukee's status as a contender feels tenuous. It needs a bailout. A hero. Someone who can settle things down, hit the big shot when necessary and prove the Bucks are as dangerous as anyone.

Coming off a difficult transition after leaving the Portland Trail Blazers, the only team he'd ever known, Dame is due for a bounce-back season that could effectively save the Bucks.

One Last Ride Award: Brook Lopez and Khris Middleton

Bucks fans won't want to consider this, but it's possible Milwaukee's title window has already closed. Brook Lopez will turn 37 before the 2025 playoffs begin, and Khris Middleton, coming off dual ankle surgeries, has played 88 games over the last two seasons combined.

If the Bucks are going to make one more run at another championship before the supporting cast breaks up (Lopez is in a contract year) or breaks down, they need their top role players to look like the 2020-21 versions of themselves.

Minnesota Timberwolves

MVP: Anthony Edwards

Even if the breathless hype naming Edwards as the next face of the league and the heir apparent to Michael Jordan didn't sway you, there's still no denying Ant is among the game's most promising young stars.

Edwards' consistent year-over-year gains in scoring and facilitation should continue, leaving last year's figures of 25.9 points and 5.1 assists in the dust. The lockdown individual defense he played at key moments last season will become a staple, the foul-drawing craft will progress, and his seventh-place finish in MVP voting might be the floor for the next several years.

Defensive Player of the Year: Rudy Gobert

Gobert's benching in the Olympics was concerning, but when last we saw the four-time DPOY in the NBA, he was anchoring a unit that dramatically outperformed every other defense in the league.

An all-timer among rim-protectors who quietly improved as an isolation defender in space, Gobert is bound to finish among the top three in this season's Defensive Player of the Year race and earn an eighth All-Defensive nod.

Problem Solver Award: Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and Rob Dillingham

Defense wasn't an issue for the Wolves last year. Their struggles came on the other end, where they ranked 16th in offensive efficiency and 23rd in turnover rate. Three new additions should help balance things out.

Maybe Randle is just a short-timer brought on board principally because his contract is shorter and less costly than Karl-Anthony Towns', but the Wolves desperately need his scoring and shot creation. If he slots in next to rookie spark plug Dillingham and high-volume sniper DiVincenzo, Minnesota's second unit should blow opposing backups out of the water.

Firepower won't be an issue in Minnesota this season. Assuming the defense holds near its league-best level of 2023-24, it's pretty easy to see a championship profile.

New Orleans Pelicans

MVP: Zion Williamson

As has been the case for the last two seasons, Williamson will be the Pels' top offensive threat and a good bet to earn All-NBA honors...if he's fit and healthy.

A second-half surge during which Williamson attacked the basket with renewed vigor and made major gains on defense illustrated what could be possible over a full season. It's a little surprising to note that Zion only averaged 22.9 points per game in 2023-24. Heading into his age-24 campaign, it feels more likely he'll get back up toward the 27.0 points he posted in 2020-21, this time with improved defense.

Most Improved: Jordan Hawkins

Trey Murphy III is the trendy pick here, and it's hard to argue with anyone who sees him taking a leap—especially if the Pels move on from Brandon Ingram to free up more playing time. Unfortunately, a strained hamstring in the preseason may cost Murphy reps and rhythm.

That creates an opening for Hawkins, a stellar movement shooter who hit 36.6 percent of his threes on a pretty difficult shot diet as a rookie. As with Murphy, Hawkins' opportunities could depend on Ingram's fate. If minutes open up, the UConn product will validate himself as the best shooter in his draft class over a much larger sample.

Man in the Middle Award: TBD

If you've paid any attention whatsoever to offseason NBA discourse, you're aware the Pelicans' plans at center are at little unsettled. Starter Jonas Valanciunas left in free agency, and primary backup Larry Nance Jr. went to the Hawks in the Dejounte Murray deal. While Daniel Theis has been a useful reserve in the past, he hasn't seen regular first-unit center reps since 2020.

Williamson at center is an option, but it probably shouldn't be the default setting in New Orleans—not if the Pelicans want to defend and rebound with any oomph. That means the starting center probably isn't on the team yet.

New York Knicks

MVP: Jalen Brunson

Karl-Anthony Towns might be just as effective on offense overall as Julius Randle was, but he's not the same level of distributor. That means Brunson is going to carry an even heavier offensive load than he did a year ago. Mikal Bridges can offer some secondary creation, and OG Anunoby has a history of hitting open threes, but Randle's setup work will be missed.

Brunson's regular-season usage rate of 32.5 percent was high enough, but it spiked to a league-leading 36.4 percent in the playoffs with Randle sidelined.

The new additions are exciting, but Brunson is now even more clearly the guy who'll decide the Knicks' fate.

Sixth Man: Deuce McBride

The KAT trade upped New York's top-end talent, but it came at the price of depth.

As it stands, McBride is the team's clear sixth man. No one else among the projected reserves—Cam Payne, Landry Shamet, Precious Achiuwa, rookie Tyler Kolek—has any sort of reliable track record.

The Knicks extended McBride last season, and he averaged 17.9 points in 43.3(!) minutes per game in his 14 starts. Both factors suggest he can handle all the backup playing time ahead of him.

Adjustment Bureau Award: Tom Thibodeau

Flexibility due to necessity is still flexibility, and Thibodeau must continue to show this season that he's open to change. It's been a long time since Thibs defined himself with a rigid defensive structure in Chicago, and he's shown real growth over the last several seasons with the Knicks.

Now, with Towns likely to be his only serviceable center to start the season—and not exactly a conventional one at that—Thibodeau will need to embrace smaller looks, more creative schemes and maybe even consider abandoning his love for offensive-glass dominance.

Oklahoma City Thunder

MVP: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The race will be a little closer this year as Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren progress toward perennial All-Star status, but SGA remains the Oklahoma City Thunder's driving force.

Coming off averages of 30.1 points, 6.2 assists, 5.5 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 0.9 blocks on a 53.5/35.3/87.4 shooting split, Gilgeous-Alexander boasts one of the best stat lines for a non-MVP in recent memory. Of course, he came in second after finishing fifth in 2022-23, so it's not like he's all that far off from securing the league's highest individual honor.

At 26, SGA is smack in his prime and surrounded by the most talented roster of his career. Maybe his counting numbers will dip, but that'll come with efficiency gains that will preserve his massive overall value.

Defensive Player of the Year: Almost Everyone

Seriously, just throw a dart at OKC's roster, and you're likely to hit someone with All-Defensive chops.

New additions Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso finished second and fifth in D-EPM last season, SGA led the league with 150 steals, Williams was in the 94th percentile in D-EPM, Lu Dort is among the most smothering individual defenders in the game and Holmgren (93rd percentile in D-EPM) swatted 2.3 shots per game.

If the Thunder don't wind up as the best defense in the league, something will have gone surprisingly wrong.

But Wait, There's More! Award: Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins

As if the Thunder didn't already have an embarrassment of riches, Joe and Wiggins give them arguably the best deep-rotation men in the league.

Joe is a slithery movement shooter who can be utilized in tricky screening actions. He's hit over 40.0 percent of his treys in each of the last two years. All Wiggins did in 2023-24 was bury an unreal 49.2 percent of his triples in 15.7 minutes per game.

Orlando Magic

MVP: Paolo Banchero

We didn't get a full-on offensive leap from Banchero in his second season, but the incremental gains he made as a shooter and facilitator were scary enough for opposing defenses around the league.

After averaging an even 20.0 points per game in his Rookie of the Year campaign, Banchero bumped his average up to 22.6 while hitting 33.9 percent of his treys. That was a significant step up from the 29.8 percent he canned from distance during his first year.

The Magic may always be driven by their defense, but Banchero's potential to grow into an elite offensive fulcrum will be what puts them over the top as a contender.

DPOY: Jalen Suggs

Despite ranking behind only the exceptional Wolves in defensive efficiency last year, the Magic had just one player earn an all-league honor on that end. Suggs was the guy, and he earned it.

You'd be hard-pressed to find a better screen-avoider than the Magic guard, who routinely made life uncomfortable for his matchups with extreme physicality and competitiveness on the perimeter. Suggs finished 10th in DPOY after 2023-24, and the expectation should be for that to represent his floor over the next several years.

Per-Minute DPOY: Jonathan Isaac

Arguably the best per-minute defender in the league last season, Isaac got an $84 million contract extension that suggests the Magic are either just fine with another few years of low-volume contributions or—and this is the scary part—believe the 27-year-old is actually capable of playing more in the future.

Nobody topped Isaac's plus-4.1 D-EPM last season, and the Magic, who had the No. 2 overall defense in the NBA, were a ridiculous 7.8 points per 100 possessions better than their baseline with Isaac in the game. It's hard to think of a player who's ever made a bigger impact in just 15.8 minutes per night.

Philadelphia 76ers

MVP: Joel Embiid

It'll be a surprise if Embiid logs the 65 games necessary to qualify for actual MVP consideration, but you're overthinking it if you see anyone else as the Philadelphia 76ers' best player.

The new toys are nice (more on those later), but Embiid is the center around which all of them orbit. Even if he gets ample rest in an effort to preserve his health for a playoff run, Embiid is going to contribute like few others can. He only needed 33.6 minutes to average 34.7 points in 2023-24, the first time since 1962 that someone managed to score more than a point per minute played.

Executive of the Year: Daryl Morey

He'll have some competition from Sam Presti in OKC, but Morey's top-down makeover of the Sixers should put him in the driver's seat for EOY at the end of the season. Getting Tyrese Maxey to wait on an extension to preserve cap space and then positioning the Sixers to make the Paul George signing were just two of Morey's masterstrokes. He also got great value elsewhere in free agency by adding Andre Drummond, Caleb Martin, Eric Gordon and Reggie Jackson.

Right Place, Right Time Award: Paul George

George can be something close to an alpha on most teams, but ahead of his age-34 season, that's not his ideal role. In fact, his all-around game might be at the point where he's nudging a little closer to a supportive, perhaps even "specialist" designation. That's not to say PG is going to start coming off the bench any time soon. He averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists in an All-Star season last year.

But George's 2023-24 free-throw attempts hit their lowest point (over a full season) since his age-22 campaign with Indy, and his playmaking (3.5 assists per game) slipped. At the same time, his spot-up game was better than ever, marked by a career-high 41.3 percent from deep on 7.9 attempts per game.

The Sixers are paying George like a superstar, but they're probably getting something closer to a high-end third option. In this particular context, that's actually perfect.

Phoenix Suns

MVP: Devin Booker

It was basically a dead heat between Booker and Kevin Durant for Phoenix Suns MVP a year ago. Booker averaged a few more assists, KD logged a few more rebounds and they shared an identical scoring average of 27.1 points per game. On a per-minute basis, Booker graded out marginally better (plus-4.8 EPM to Durant's plus-4.0), while the cumulative catch-all gave Durant, who played seven more games, the edge.

The eight-year age difference favors Booker this season. Durant has held up remarkably well, but with a race as close as this one was last year, we have to give the edge to the guy entering his age-28 season. Plus, the addition of actual point guards to Phoenix's roster could allow Booker to focus less on playmaking and more on scoring, potentially nudging his average up toward 30.0 points per game.

Coach of the Year: Mike Budenholzer

If there's any competition for this award, it'll mean Coach Bud got fired and someone else took over. That seems unlikely, as Budenholzer's career legacy—in addition to winning that 2021 title with the Bucks—is all about wringing the best regular-season performance out of his teams.

He will get the Suns organized and optimally deployed on both ends, improving their night-to-night performance just like he did with Milwaukee and Atlanta before that. Considering the Suns made talent upgrades and finished ninth and 12th in offensive and defensive efficiency last year, they could hit the playoffs with a legitimate championship profile.

You're In Good Hands Award: Tyus Jones

The Suns overburdened their scoring stars with facilitation responsibilities last year because they essentially chose not to roster an actual point guard. The offense ultimately performed just fine, but that was in spite of a turnover rate that ranked 25th in the league. Clean that up, and Phoenix's attack could hit another level.

Jones may ultimately grade out as a bottom-10 starter at the point, but he takes care of the ball better than anyone else in the NBA. He's led the league in assist-to-turnover ratio for six straight seasons.

Portland Trail Blazers

MVP: Deni Avdija

This might be controversial for Portland Trail Blazers fans who understandably didn't familiarize themselves with Avdija's work in Washington, but the two-way forward pretty comfortably outperformed every Portland player last season.

The sixth-place finisher in Most Improved, Avdija averaged 14.7 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists while hitting 50.6 percent of his shots overall and 37.4 percent of his threes. Throw in rugged, physical defense against wings, and you've got the most complete player on Portland's roster. His 5.4 Estimated Wins Added with Washington dwarfed the total of any Blazers player in 2023-24.

Jerami Grant may outscore him, and Deandre Ayton will hoard more boards. But Avdija, still on the upswing at age 23, is going to show why he was worth trading a pair of first-round picks to acquire.

DPOY: Toumani Camara

All the high-wire thefts Matisse Thybulle provides are great, but Camara is the Blazers defender who makes the greater overall impact. A versatile 6'8" forward who can capably check four positions, Camara's work on D probably should have earned him All-Rookie consideration last season.

Between him and Avdija, the Blazers will make things tough on opposing wings and forwards.

Things Are Looking Up Award: Scoot Henderson

Last year was a nightmare for the No. 3 pick, marred from the start by an ankle injury that set the rookie point guard back before his debut ever got started. Ultimately, Henderson struggled most as a shooter and finisher. His 48.9 true shooting percentage was the worst in the league among the 116 players who attempted at least 700 shots.

Expect better this year. Henderson closed the season by averaging 19.4 points and 9.7 assists in April. He'll make those numbers (and respectable efficiency as a shooter) more the norm in his second season.

Sacramento Kings

MVP: De'Aaron Fox

Fox's best MVP finish was 11th in 2022-23, but the defensive gains he made last year, paired with a 36.9 percent hit rate on his highest-ever three-point volume made 2023-24 the best overall effort of his career.

Even with major offensive talent surrounding him, Fox is still the Kings' most indispensable figure. No one else breaks down defenses, changes games with elite speed or works as seamlessly with Domantas Sabonis in the two-man game.

Defensive Player of the Year: Keon Ellis

Ellis was the only Kings rotation player to post block and steal rates above 2.0 percent last year, and his defensive contributions are only going to become more important. Sacramento added DeMar DeRozan to a core that already skewed heavily toward offense-first skill sets, leaving Ellis and Keegan Murray as the players best equipped to balance things out.

Murray made real strides on D last season and has the size to handle larger matchups. But Ellis' energy and disruption are unmatched among Sacramento players.

Happy to Fit In Award: Keegan Murray

Murray may not get the chance to stretch his offensive game with so much on-ball talent in the Kings' rotation, but don't expect that to bother him. Sacramento has been trying to coax more selfishness out of the Iowa product since it drafted him, but Murray's makeup is simply too team-focused for any ball-hoggery to arise.

In that sense, he's the perfect complement to this roster. Every good team needs someone who has no issue with sacrifice. For the Kings, that's Murray, a quality two-way starter who doesn't seem to want higher usage or more shots.

San Antonio Spurs

MVP and Defensive Player of the Year: Victor Wembanyama

Unless he gets beamed back up to the mothership, Wemanyama is a lock to rate as the San Antonio Spurs' top player on both ends. That was the case a year ago, when he led all Spurs rotation players in points, rebounds, steals and blocks per game, plus offensive and defensive Box Plus/Minus.

A clear favorite to win league-wide DPOY, Wembanyama also seems assured of All-Star and All-NBA recognition if he stays healthy. Last year's post-All-Star averages of 23.5 points, 12.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 4.5 blocks and 1.5 steals should serve as a baseline for 2024-25. Odds are, he'll even beat a few of those figures as he puts himself in position to join the MVP short list for the next decade.

Rookie of the Year: Stephon Castle

Questions persist about his shooting and what position he'll ultimately fill, but Castle has already shown off the athleticism and forceful play that got him drafted at No. 4.

Adults In the Room Award: Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes

CP3 is recognized as the bigger veteran addition because of his ability to set Wembanyama up for a handful of easy pick-and-roll buckets per game, but don't discount Barnes' sage presence.

Regarded as an unwavering professional throughout his career, the 32-year-old forward will provide an ideal model for San Antonio's youngsters. And he'll probably do so while playing significantly more than the 39-year-old Paul. Barnes has missed just five games over the last three seasons.

Toronto Raptors

MVP: Scottie Barnes

Despite playing just 60 games last year, Barnes led the Toronto Raptors in total points, rebounds, assists and blocks. He finished just two steals behind Gary Trent Jr.'s team-leading total of 77.

Immanuel Quickley will challenge for the assists lead in 2024-25, but the other four categories will almost certainly belong to Barnes again.

Most Improved Player: Gradey Dick

Yes, there should probably be a rule against second-year players winning MIP. But rewarding guys who shake off the rookie jitters and showcase their full games is better than giving the honor to someone who does most of the same stuff, just over a larger sample of minutes.

Dick shot the ball better in the second half of last season and generally looked more comfortable in a larger role. Ahead of his sophomore campaign, he's flashing some playmaking chops to go with his signature skill, three-point shooting, that should make him the no-brainer fifth starter.

Change of Scenery Award: RJ Barrett

Thirty-two games in Toronto shouldn't outweigh the 297 he played for New York, but Barrett certainly looked like a different player after coming over with Quickley in a midseason trade. Never before had Barrett been so efficient from two-point range (55.3 percent), and his best asset as an offensive player, driving downhill, simply seemed to work better in the Raptors' scheme.

With an average shot distance of just 8.7 feet from the bucket, Barrett blew away his previous career low of 10.2 feet. If his efficiency and attack-mode style persist in 2024-25, Barrett could be in for a career year.

Utah Jazz

MVP: Lauri Markkanen

There won't be much competition here, as every veteran likely to contribute is at risk of being traded, while every young piece of the Utah Jazz's rebuild appears a long way from contributing to winning.

Markkanen got his massive extension over the summer and cannot be dealt until next year, so he's locked in for the relatively long haul. Utah can expect another scoring average in the low-to-mid 20s, elite three-point shooting at high volume and eight or nine boards per game. Another All-Star nod to back up the one Markkanen earned in 2022-23 could be in the offing if the Jazz don't start their tank right away and win enough games early to get voters' attention.

Rookie of the Year: Cody Williams

Drafted 10th out of Colorado, Williams comes with 6'7" size on the wing and the two-way potential every team wants. Raw, extremely lean and probably a year or two away from deserving to start, Williams will nonetheless be in line for a significant role.

Utah should start peeling off veterans from the rotation much earlier than in years past, and any aspirations to tank ought to include tons of playing time for young players like Williams who need reps.

"Hang In There, Pal" Award: Will Hardy

Hardy has shown a knack for getting the most out of whatever collection of players he's charged with presiding over, and that's kind of the problem. Utah missed out on the Wemby sweepstakes in 2023 because it was in the playoff race through the first half of the season.

There was no great prize in last year's draft, but the Jazz operated similarly—succeeding because they were organized and well deployed in the early going before steps were taken to engineer a few more losses.

Now, with Cooper Flagg and another strong class on the way, the front office can't afford to let Hardy keep getting so much out of his players. That'll surely be difficult to endure, but the payoff is high enough to justify sitting or trading veterans.

Don't worry, Coach. Soon enough, you'll be allowed to chase wins every night. Just not this year.

Washington Wizards

MVP: Kyle Kuzma

With Malcolm Brogdon already out following thumb surgery, Kuzma joins Jonas Valanciunas as the only Washington Wizards players who'd have a shot to start for any other team. Odds are Kuzma will be dealt the moment a suitable offer emerges, but as long as he's on the roster, he'll be Washington's top talent.

It's hard to say how deep into the season he'll last, but Kuzma is coming off a zero-stakes 2023-24 in which he averaged 22.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists. If he offers up those numbers for a couple of months, it'll be enough to earn him team MVP honors on a squad that has zero designs on winning.

Rookie of the Year: Alex Sarr

That brutal 22.6 true shooting percentage in summer league is admittedly hard to overlook, but the No. 2 pick's stock has slipped too far. Sarr has the size and athleticism to contribute on both ends, and he's going to get every opportunity to perform for a Wizards team with no reason to hold him back.

And hey, if Sarr is an immensely damaging player, that's not exactly at odds with Washington's broader goals.

No Messing Around Award: Will Dawkins

You don't trade a 23-year-old quality starter on a bargain contract unless you're dead set on a serious rebuild. So when general manager Will Dawkins sent out Deni Avdija for a return package that included a future first-rounder and the No. 14 pick in the 2024 draft, it signaled a level of commitment not seen in Washington, well...maybe ever.

The Wizards are going to take their medicine this season and perhaps for the next several, hoarding assets and piling up losses as they try to construct something that'll last. Credit Dawkins for that initial move, and expect him to make several more future-focused deals going forward.

Stats courtesy of NBA.com, Basketball Reference and Cleaning the Glass. Salary info via Spotrac.

Grant Hughes covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter (@gt_hughes), and subscribe to the Hardwood Knocks podcast, where he appears with Bleacher Report's Dan Favale.