ESPN’s Summer Forecast panel predicts Nikola Jokic (MVP), Cooper Flagg (Rookie of the Year), and Victor Wembanyama (Defensive Player of the Year) as heavy favorites, with Amen Thompson, Alex Caruso, and Jamahl Mosley leading other major award races for 2025-26.
As the 2025-26 NBA season approaches, ESPN’s Summer Forecast panel of reporters, editors, and analysts has voted on the league’s six major awards.
The panel sees Nikola Jokic, Cooper Flagg, and Victor Wembanyama as runaway favorites in their categories, each far outpacing the field.
Meanwhile, Sixth Man and Coach of the Year appear more competitive, with Caruso and Mosley leading but not by overwhelming margins. Overall, the forecast suggests a mix of established superstars (Jokic, Wembanyama) and rising talents (Flagg, Amen Thompson) shaping the award landscape in 2025-26.
First-place votes were weighted at five points, second-place at three, and third-place at one.
Here are the results:
MVP
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets— 83 points
Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers — 62 points
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder — 46 points
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks / Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves — 9 points
Kevin Durant, Houston Rockets — 8 points
Jokic nearly doubled SGA’s total, showing strong confidence in his consistency and team impact. Doncic’s improved conditioning made him a solid second, while Edwards and Antetokounmpo drew only scattered support.
Rookie of the Year
Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks — 121 points
Dylan Harper, San Antonio Spurs — 38 points
VJ Edgecombe, Philadelphia 76ers — 25 points
Kon Knueppel, Charlotte Hornets — 18 points
Ace Bailey, Utah Jazz — 16 points
Flagg was a runaway winner, earning more than triple the votes of Harper. Analysts highlighted his NBA-ready game and key role in Dallas’ rotation. Harper and Edgecombe are expected to push but lack Flagg’s guaranteed minutes.
Defensive Player of the Year
Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs — 95 points
Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers — 31 points
Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder — 20 points
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks — 16 points
Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves — 14 points
Wembanyama was the overwhelming choice. Voters believe that if he clears the 65-game threshold, the award is his to lose. Mobley and Holmgren are next in line but trail by a wide margin.
Sixth Man of the Year
Alex Caruso, Oklahoma City Thunder — 66 points
Naz Reid, Minnesota Timberwolves — 52 points
Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Atlanta Hawks — 39 points
Payton Pritchard, Boston Celtics — 18 points
Ty Jerome, Memphis Grizzlies — 17 points
Caruso edged Reid in a competitive field despite modest scoring averages, reflecting how voters valued his defense and winning intangibles. Reid’s scoring punch kept him close, while Alexander-Walker drew steady support.
Most Improved Player
Amen Thompson, Houston Rockets — 59 points
Andrew Nembhard, Indiana Pacers — 40 points
Ausar Thompson, Detroit Pistons — 18 points
Deni Avdija, Portland Trail Blazers — 14 points
Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks — 14 points
Amen Thompson stood out as the clear favorite, credited for his elite defense and budding offensive growth. Nembhard’s expanded role in Indiana made him the panel’s second choice.
Coach of the Year
Jamahl Mosley, Orlando Magic — 48 points
Quin Snyder, Atlanta Hawks — 24 points
Ime Udoka, Houston Rockets — 22 points
Mike Brown, New York Knicks — 21 points
Mitch Johnson, San Antonio Spurs — 16 points
Mosley leads the race thanks to Orlando’s projected rise in the Eastern Conference. Snyder and Udoka are seen as strong alternatives if their teams break into the East elite.
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