Once the NBA regular season ends on Sunday, NBA writers from the Post choose winners. Let's go:
MVP
Stephen Bondy: Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets. Throws along with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but Jokic doesn't have much help and is a triple double with ************.
Brian Lewis: Shy Gilgaus Alexander, Thunder. The Oklahoma City Guards have taken Jokic by releasing Jokic, who won three of his past four awards, leaving Jokic by scoring and leading the Thunder to the top of the rankings.
Mike Vaccaro: Jokic. Thinly razor between In and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but I keep asking myself. For me, it closed it down for a joke.
This year's defensive player
Bondy: Amen Thompson, the Rockets. Just a pest and the primary reason why the Rockets transformed into a top five defensive team.
Lewis: Evan Mobley, the Cavaliers. Draymond Green is huge for Golden State and is openly campaigning, but Mobley's 1.6 blocks, 0.9 steel and Cleveland's one-year consistency is just too impressive to ignore.
Vaccaro: Mobley. In another thing that's too crowded on the green, this goes to a better team player (as you can't go to Victor Wenbanyama).
This year's coach
Bondy: Kenny Atkinson, the Cavaliers. A simple vote. Those considering nodding to JB Bickerstaff should consider this. Atkinson took over the same roster as last season and clearly improved that.
Lewis: Atkinson. The Long Islander was fired by Brooklyn, wisely avoiding Charlotte's trash fire, and in his first year in Cleveland he led the cab to the highest record in the East.
Vaccaro: Atkinson. And this would be a runaway pick, ironically, except for JB Bickerstaff, who did the incredible job of reviving Detroit for the men Atkinson was replaced.
Rookie of the Year
Bondy: Stephon Castle, Spurs. Though he's the dominant 2025 rookie class top, his uneven 3-point shooting needs to be improved to reach the next level.
Lewis: castle. His work after Wenbanyama's blood clots places him clearly above a poor newcomer class, including Zaccharie Risacher and Zach Edey.
Vaccaro: castle. He will replace his teammate Wenbanyama, and the two will begin giving the remaining league fits from next year.
The 6th Man of the Year
Bondy: Malik Beasley, Pistons. His elite three-point shooting was a big part of Detroit's comeback this season.
Lewis: Payton Pritchard, Celtics. There were plenty of candidates from Beasley to Russell Westbrook, but Pritchard had a career-high 13.9 points, 40.6% from a deep victory.
Vaccaro: Beasley. This is a lost vote because it appears that Pritchard is being given that he is trying to get it, but Beasley was just as important as the one who rejuvenated Motown.
Most Improved Player
Bondy: Dyson Daniels, Hawks. The stupidest award of the NBA postseason awards will go to Atlanta's top boundary defenders.
Lewis: Daniels. Entering Friday, he tripled his points to almost 14.3 points, averaging 5.8 boards, 4.3 assists and a league-leading three steals.
Vaccaro: Cade Cunningham, piston. Cunningham took a step at the level as a player, and as a result, the piston jumped over multiple levels. And maybe more.
