Fewer than 30 regular season games remain for every team in the Association. Here’s a look at the way individual awards appear to be shaking down heading into the home stretch:

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (-500)
Nikola Jokic (+350)

If not this year for Gilgeous-Alexander, then when? He is the best player on the best team in the best conference, and he can just about do whatever the heck he wants to do on the court. He leads the league in scoring, he’s second in assists, he’s a willing passer and for good measure he blocks shots. And . . .  in an era of load management and teams lying about injuries, he has played in all but one of OKC’s 54 games.

Then again, the case for Jokic can easily be made. He’s clearly the best-passing big man in league history. He has won the award three times, including last year, and in just about every statistical category he is exceeding what he did in the years when he did win it (2021, 2022 and 2024). In any other year he would be a unanimous winner, but voters might just be tired of him winning and looking for fresh blood. You can imagine OKC without SGA being a contender, but Denver would be in the lottery with Jokic.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Stephon Castle (-160)
Kel’el Ware (+600)

Castle showed his stuff at All-Star weekend by winning the Rising Stars MVP, and barring injury he will make it back-to-back ROTY winners for the Spurs, after Victor Wembanyama took the trophy last season. Castle benefits from the fact that there is no franchise-changing rookie this year.  The Heat love what they have in Ware, whose emergence has allowed Bam Adebayo to operate a little further away from the rim. But Miami’s slide (and San Antonio’s rise) should give the award to Castle.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jaren Jackson (-105)
Evan Mobley (+130)

Before Thursday's announcement, it was hard to see anyone else winning this award this year, and for the foreseeable future. Assuming good health, Wembanyama could win this thing plenty of times before the end of his career.  He can do things on the perimeter that smaller players can do, and still protect the rim (four blocks a game). Having said that, he's out for the season and will not be eligible for this years award. Jackson is a solid defender and is the slight favorite now with Mobley on his heels.

6TH  MAN OF THE YEAR
Payton Pritchard (-150)
De’Andre Hunter (+280)

Wasn’t that long ago that Pritchard was buried on the Celtics’ bench, out of the rotation and asking for a trade. Dealing Marcus Smart opened the door for more run, and now Pritchard is the solid favorite. He can handle the ball, he can shoot the ball and he defends with intensity. And for good measure he may be the best in the league from beyond halfcourt.

MOST IMPROVED
Norman Powell (-110)
Cade Cunningham (+100)

Cunningham’s rise parallels his team. With Cunningham at the controls, the Pistons have been transformed from one of the worst teams in NBA history to a top-6 team in the East. Powell has done what was thought to be impossible – put up decent numbers in a Clippers backcourt that also includes ball-dominant James Harden. It's going to be exciting to see who wins this award.

COACH OF THE YEAR
Kenny Atkinson (-600)
Ime Udoka (+1200)
JB Bickerstaff (+1500)

Atkinson is favored here even if the Cavs take their foot off the accelerator down the stretch. Cleveland will be the No. 1 seed in the East playoffs, mainly because Atkinson has made effective use of his standout backcourt and front line. Udoka’s Rockets were struggling (3-7 in their last 10) heading into the All-Star break. In Detroit, Bickerstaff has made the Pistons relevant again after the 2023-24 nightmare.