Victor Wenbanyama and Nikola Jokic were unanimously selected by the writers as Kia Rookie of the Year and Kia MVP, respectively.
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Regularly, NBA.com writers weigh in on important stories and trending topics from around the league.
With only a few days left in the regular season, make your list of possible 2023-24 NBA award winners.
steve ashburner
Voter fatigue? It’s almost a capitulation by voters, once again recognizing Denver’s Nikola Jokic as the best player in the league. The eye test is good enough, but his on-off impact against the Nuggets is greater than his last two MVP seasons. Victor Wenbanyama ultimately ran away with ROY and will soon see his name on the awards list just above and below our list.
The closest I thought was Oklahoma City’s Mark Daigneault beating Minnesota’s Chris Finch in COY.
- Kia MVP = Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
- Kia Rookie of the Year = Victor Wembaneyama, San Antonio Spurs
- Kia Defensive Player of the Year = Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves
- Kia Sixth Man of the Year = Naz Reid, Minnesota Timberwolves
- Kia most improved player = Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers
- Kia Clutch Player of the Year = DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls
- NBA Coach of the Year = Mark Daigneault, Oklahoma City Thunder
brian martin
Two players have joined exclusive clubs with the latest honours. Nikola Jokic became the seventh player to win Kia MVP three times in four seasons, ahead of Luka Doncic. In doing so, Jokic joins Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and LeBron James as the only players to accomplish that feat.
Rudy Gobert beat fellow Frenchman Victor Wembaneyama to win the Kia Defensive Player of the Year Award for the fourth time, joining Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace for the most wins in history. But Wenby may have something to say about Gobert trying to go from No. 1 to No. 5.
- Kia MVP = Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
- Kia Rookie of the Year = Victor Wembaneyama, San Antonio Spurs
- Kia Defensive Player of the Year = Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves
- Kia Sixth Man of the Year = Malik Monk, Sacramento Kings
- Kia most improved player = Jaylen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder
- Kia Clutch Player of the Year = DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls
- NBA Coach of the Year = Mark Daigneault, Oklahoma City Thunder
John Schumann
The first three awards listed below were chosen relatively easily. Bogdanovic has box score numbers and the Hawks are much better with him on the floor. Most Improved was the toughest pick, but Williams improved significantly with his 36 par numbers and improved efficiency.
Gilgeous-Alexander shot 57% in the clutch, and the Thunder were 22-11 in clutch games in which he appeared. Dino, on the other hand, has a top-six team on both ends of the floor and is getting 41% of the minutes (the fourth-highest percentage in the league from rookies or second-year players).
- Kia MVP = Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
- Kia Motors Rookie of the Year = Victor Wembaneyama, San Antonio Spurs
- Kia Defensive Player of the Year = Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves
- Kia Sixth Man of the Year = Bogdan Bogdanovic, Atlanta Hawks
- Kia most improved player = Jaylen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder
- Kia Clutch Player of the Year = Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
- NBA Coach of the Year Award = Mark Daigneault, Oklahoma City Thunder
Sean Powell
There aren’t many options for sleepless nights this season, but in the case of Joel Embiid (MVP) and Alperen Sengun (Most Valuable Player), the new minimum of 65 games to qualify will probably be the hardware. would have cost me some Z as well.
Jokic, who won his third MVP in four seasons, led a team that included Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, LeBron James, Moses Malone and Michael Jordan in the largest span since the ABA-NBA merger in 1976. It will be destroyed. Gobert’s fourth DPOY would tie the score. He achieved the all-time record with Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace, earning him a ticket to the Hall of Fame.
And Curry needs a clutch award. Because what else has he done in his career?
- Kia MVP = Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
- Kia Motors Rookie of the Year = Victor Wembaneyama, San Antonio Spurs
- Kia Defensive Player of the Year = Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves
- Kia Sixth Man of the Year = Malik Monk, Sacramento Kings
- Kia most improved player = Coby White, Chicago Bulls
- Kia Clutch Player of the Year = Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
- NBA Coach of the Year Award = Chris Finch, Minnesota Timberwolves
Michael C. Wright
The MVP seemed obvious, as Jokic seemed poised to win a new MVP. Defensive Player of the Year, Clutch Player of the Year and NBA Coach of the Year were even tougher. Mr. Gobert is the DPOY candidate for now, but Mr. Wenbanyama has a legitimate case as a newcomer that could ultimately sway my vote. Curry and DeMar DeRozan are evenly matched in the clutch. Chris Finch and Jamal Moseley also deserve serious consideration for Coach of the Year.
- Kia MVP = Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
- Kia Rookie of the Year = Victor Wembaneyama, San Antonio Spurs
- Kia Defensive Player of the Year = Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves
- Kia Sixth Man of the Year = Malik Monk, Sacramento Kings
- Kia most improved player = Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers
- Kia Clutch Player of the Year = Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
- NBA Coach of the Year Award = Mark Daigneault, Oklahoma City Thunder
