NBA’s 2025-26 Awards Announced

On Tuesday, the NBA revealed its awards for the 2025-26 season, notably highlighting Joe Mazzula from the Celtics as the youngest coach of the year in over five decades.

Among the voters were two California Post staff members—NBA reporter Melissa Rollin and Lakers reporter Kobi Price. Each had a vote contributing to selections for various accolades, including MVP (won by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Thunder), Coach of the Year, All-NBA, and Defensive Player of the Year, awarded to Victor Wembanyama of the Spurs.

1.) Thoughts on MVP Voting and Luka Doncic’s Fourth Place Finish

Price: In terms of transparency, I’d say, well, I had Doncic third on my ballot. So, honestly, his fourth-place finish seems fair enough. Gilgeous-Alexander was the standout on the league’s best team, achieving an impressive season with a league-high of 64 wins. The guy had 83 first-place votes! It was tough deciding how to rank Doncic, Wembanyama, and Jokic for those middle spots. Wembanyama is pretty amazing as a two-way player, but when you look at the numbers—like playing time—Doncic and Jokic had the edge. Jokic’s historical performance and strong start to the season gave him a slight advantage over Doncic for the No. 2 spot.

Rollin: This was quite a tough call. Doncic had an incredible season, averaging 37.5 points, especially his fantastic March that propelled the Lakers to a 15-2 record. Nonetheless, Gilgeous-Alexander led the best team, Wembanyama was a powerhouse, and Jokic delivered video game-level stats. Given everything, Doncic’s fourth-place finish feels justified, especially in such a competitive year.

2.) JJ Redick’s Absence from Coach of the Year Ballot

Price: Well, the coaching landscape is really competitive right now. Redick has positioned himself well, leading the Lakers to 53 wins despite significant injuries to key players. But, typically, Coach of the Year goes to the coach of the top-performing team. Coaches like Mazzula, Bickerstaff, and Johnson really stepped up their game this season and had remarkable results.

Rollin: This was equally challenging to assess. Redick did an impressive job getting big names like LeBron to find their roles, which is no small feat. After injuries to Doncic and Reaves, he still managed to guide the Lakers through the first round of playoffs. But teams like the Celtics and Spurs really exceeded expectations this season, so I placed Mazzula at the top, followed closely by others.

3.) Lakers Players and Award Representation

Price: Honestly, not really. With the injuries to players like Reaves and James, it just didn’t allow for the usual impact expected. It’s not about penalizing anyone; it’s simply a matter of how injuries affect the game.

Rollin: It’s a shame that LeBron’s streak of All-NBA selections ended this year due to the game’s 65-game rule. He had a solid season at 41, averaging 20.9 points. He definitely deserved more recognition for his performance.

4.) Toughest Award to Vote For

Price: I find the All-NBA, All-Rookie, and All-Defense teams the hardest, particularly for the final spots. For Rookie of the Year this season, I voted for Cooper Flagg but kept second-guessing myself, especially with Con Knuppel’s strong season. But Flagg’s influence just edged him out.

Rollin: Yeah, Doncic is definitely in that MVP conversation. The expectations keep rising, which is frustrating. This season’s awards showcased the challenge of balancing statistics, team success, and defense. Various stars were in the mix—Gilgeous-Alexander and Wembanyama stood out for their defensive contributions, which might’ve hurt Doncic and Jokic. He led in many offensive stats, but it still left him in fourth.

5.) Thoughts on 65-Game Eligibility for Major Awards

Price: This is definitely progress, though it needs tweaking. A solid 58 games—around 70% of an 82-game season—seems practical for award qualification. Having a minutes requirement could help recognize players who may not hit the game threshold but had significant contributions.

Rollin: I would actually like to see the rule scrapped. Players shouldn’t be sidelined from awards because of injuries. While it may have aimed to minimize load management, it really punishes individuals for things beyond their control.