Individual Basketball Awards

Every year, individual distinctions are awarded to the players who left the biggest mark on the year in various categories. Among them is the MVP title, which rewards THE best player of the regular season, but others, though less famous, are equally important. We present to you the main individual awards (besides MVP) handed out every year, along with our predictions, just a few weeks before the winners for the 2024/2025 edition are announced. (At the time of writing this article, the 3 finalists for each category have not yet been revealed by the NBA)

The Rookie of the Year (ROTY)

Alright, let’s start at the beginning with the most prestigious of these distinctions: Rookie of the Year. This title rewards the best young player in the league. Only players playing their very first season in the NBA are eligible to receive votes. And this year, the race for Rookie of the Year is going to be tough in the big league, even if one favorite clearly stands out among all this talent:

Stephon Castle (San Antonio Spurs): Since his arrival at the Spurs, the team has transformed. Forming a duo with Victor Wembanyama, the rookie was already having a monstrous season for his first year in the NBA. But since his injury return, the high-flying Texan guard has only progressed at lightning speed. Averaging 14.7 points and 4 assists, the 2025 Dunk Contest finalist is the overwhelming favorite to win ROTY. Some even think he will be elected unanimously, even though he is being closely trailed by our Frenchie, Zaccharie Risacher.

On the Euroleague side, the winners have already started to be announced. And this year, the ROTY—or rather the “Rising Star”—is none other than our Parisian Nadir Hifi! A well-deserved reward for the Prince of Paris, who hasn’t stopped dazzling Europe with his talent this year.

The Most Improved Player (MIP)

Next comes the Most Improved Player trophy, an honor rewarding the best progression of the year by a player. It’s a fairly coveted trophy as it often represents the explosion of a talent in the eyes of the world. And this year, there are many contenders for this title, but two players stand out and should battle for the trophy:

Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons): Surely the most logical answer. To go from last place in the East and the worst losing streak in NBA history to a 6th place that qualifies directly for the playoffs, a shock to the system was needed. And it was indeed their franchise player, Cade Cunningham, who took charge of waking up the pack. The proof is there: he improved in every statistical category possible.

• Points: 22.7 (2023/2024) → 26.1 (2024/2025)
• Assists: 7.5 → 9.1
• Rebounds: 4.3 → 7.1

Dyson Daniels (Atlanta Hawks): The people’s choice. But unfortunately, the Hawks’ record might work against him. Despite everything, Dyson impressed this year. In a fairly unstable franchise that saw departures and arrivals mid-season, Atlanta never managed to find its rhythm, but not Dyson Daniels. Monstrous on defense and in the race for DPOY (we’ll come back to that), his offensive development makes him a more than serious candidate for the MIP title.

• Points: 5.8 → 14.1
• Assists: 2.7 → 4.4
• Rebounds: 3.9 → 5.9

The Coach of the Year (COTY)

Okay, on this one, it’s pretty simple to understand. This distinction rewards the best coach of the season, the brain of the group. A vote based on his team’s record, his ability to make adjustments in heated moments, etc. And this year in the NBA, the probable winner of COTY has been known for a good number of weeks, so large is his lead over his competitors:

Kenny Atkinson (Cleveland Cavaliers): At the helm of the season’s biggest surprise, Kenny Atkinson should logically be elected Coach of the Year. With a record of 64 wins and 18 losses—the best regular season in their history—the Cavs finished first in the Eastern Conference and position themselves as favorites to chase the NBA title this season.

In the Euroleague, our coach Tiago Splitter, who led Paris Basketball to the playoffs in the club’s very first season on the biggest European stage, was among the nominees. But unfortunately, it was Saras Jasikevicius, coach of Fenerbahçe, who was crowned. However, the opportunity for our coach to get his revenge will come quickly, as Fener is Paris’s future opponent in the Euroleague quarterfinals.

The Defensive Player Of the Year (DPOY)

Here, just like for the MIP title, there’s going to be a debate. As you’ve gathered, the DPOY rewards the best defender in the league. And this season, many have made a name for themselves thanks to their ability to steal balls, protect the paint, or even do both at the same time. Right now, there are three of them for a single trophy:

Luguentz Dort (Oklahoma City Thunder): He’s our favorite. The defensive leader of the best defense in the NBA, Lu Dort checks all the boxes for the perfect DPOY. Aggressive, crafty, and always in the mix for the good plays (and the bad), Lu has a more than solid case to snag the first DPOY of his career. And an impressive stat might just work in his favor: This season, the best player of every opposing franchise saw their point total cut in half! The ultimate proof of high-quality defensive work.

Dyson Daniels (Atlanta Hawks): MIP and DPOY, a winning double? In any case, that’s what the Atlanta wing can aim for. The league’s steals leader with an average of 3 steals per game, the 23-year-old is the pillar of the Hawks’ defense and tried everything to hold down the fort… But without a substantial supporting cast, it’s hard to be solid on all levels. The Hawks’ record should also work against him, with the Georgia franchise finishing 8th in the Eastern Conference with a losing record.

Draymond Green (Golden State Warriors): He is the bookmakers’ favorite. However, a season is long. And unlike the two players mentioned previously, Draymond Green only raised his defensive level after the All-Star break. But on the other hand, it’s hard to say he doesn’t deserve it. The boss of the Warriors’ defense, he rattled so many teams with his defensive intensity and his trash talk. Uncle Draymond pulled out all the stops to try and turn the situation around. And a few days before the official DPOY announcement, he is indeed positioning himself as the number 1 favorite according to the predictions.

The Sixth Man Of the Year (6MOY)

The Sixth Man of the Year is a trophy dedicated solely to substitutes, but not just anyone. In basketball, the sixth man is the first player from the bench to enter the rotation. His role can sometimes be as important as a starter’s and can allow the team to get out of complex situations, limit the damage when the starters are resting, or conversely, increase his franchise’s lead if he possesses an interesting scoring ability. This year, it is difficult to predict who will win the trophy. Even among bookmakers, uncertainty dominates between the two favorites who are neck and neck:

Payton Pritchard (Boston Celtics): Author of a completely crazy start to the season and absolutely insane shooting accuracy from behind the arc, Payton Pritchard quickly took the reins of the race for the 6MOY. But unfortunately, what could cost him this title is the fact that he plays in Boston. With Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, and so on, it is difficult to make a place for yourself in this roster and manage to get noticed. Nevertheless, his buzzer-beater mixtapes from mid-court during the regular season as well as his team record are his main advantages over his number 1 competitor.

Malik Beasley (Detroit Pistons): Just think, this player comes off the bench, started only 18 times this season, and is his franchise’s second-leading scorer behind Cade Cunningham. Who can boast of being as impactful as him coming off the bench? Not many people, except perhaps Payton Pritchard. Furthermore, this season, the Pistons’ shooting wing is putting up a historic performance. He enters the top 10 all-time in terms of 3-pointers made in a single season, placing himself alongside Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Anthony Edwards, and James Harden… Look, we’re not going to lie, he is clearly the overwhelming favorite. He should logically win the 6MOY, but watch out. In recent years, the NBA has offered us a good number of surprises.

Clutch Player of the Year (CPOY)

The newest award created by the NBA, the Clutch Player of the Year rewards the player who was the most “clutch” of the year—that is to say, the one who was the most impactful during the ends of games. Difficult shots, highly important 3-pointers, decisive defensive plays… Absolutely everything is taken into account. And this year, the list of finalists is long, but above all, exceptionally high-level. Yet, two of them stand out from the rest and should take this title, succeeding Stephen Curry:

Darius Garland (Cleveland Cavaliers): A symbol of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ immense regular season, Darius Garland distinguished himself by his ability to lead his teammates to victory on numerous occasions this year. Drives, long-distance shots, clutch plays, decisive interceptions—Darius met all the conditions to win this trophy and, above all, has a major asset in his pocket. He is the one who managed to protect the longest winning streak in Cleveland Cavaliers history by getting them out of difficult situations in the final seconds multiple times. So for that alone, he should be named CPOY* for the first time in his career. *(Note: The original text had a typo saying “6MOY”, corrected here to CPOY for context)

Anthony Edwards: The young leader of the Minnesota wolf pack is on a mission. This season, Ant-Man distinguished himself by his aptitude to be more than present in scoring during decisive moments. And the Denver Nuggets won’t say otherwise, having suffered the Timberwolves’ law after overtime. An ability to be clutch and a composure worthy of the greats that might well allow him to sweep up the first individual trophy of his career, after missing out on Rookie of the Year in 2021 to LaMelo Ball.