Trends: Picks for 2023-24 NBA award winners

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Periodically, NBA.com writers will examine key stories or trending topics around the league.

With just a few days left in the regular season, make your picks for the 2023-24 NBA award winners.

Steve Aschburner

Voter fatigue? More like a voter tradition, recognizing Denver’s Nikola Jokic as the league’s best player again. The eye test is enough, but his on/off impact for the Nuggets is greater than in the previous two MVP seasons. Victor Wembanyama finally walked away with the ROY and, in no time, he will have his name on the awards immediately above and below him on our lists.

My closest call was Oklahoma City’s Mark Daigneault, who hit Minnesota’s Chris Finch in the COY.

• Kia MVP = Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
• Kia Rookie of the Year = Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
• Kia Defensive Player of the Year = Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves
• The Kia Sixth Man of the Year = Naz Reid, Minnesota Timberwolves
• The most improved Kia 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

I have two players joining exclusive clubs with their latest accolades. Nikola Jokic surpasses Luka Doncic to become the seventh player to win three Kia MVPs in four seasons. 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 the feat.

Rudy Gobert holds off France’s Victor Webanyama to win his fourth Kia Player of the Year award, tying Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace for the most. Wemby, however, might have something to say about Gobert trying to be a top five.

• Kia MVP = Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
• Kia Rookie of the Year = Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
• Kia Defensive Player of the Year = Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves
• The Kia Sixth Man of the Year = Malik Monk, Sacramento Kings
• The most improved Kia player = Jalen 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 Schuman

The first three awards listed below were relatively easy choices. Bogdanovic has the box score numbers and the Hawks have been much better with him on the floor. Most Improved was the toughest pick, but Williams has seen a big jump in his per-36 numbers and improved his efficiency.

Gilgeous-Alexander has shot 57% in the clutch, with the Thunder 22-11 in clutch games he has played. Daigneault, meanwhile, has a top-six team on both ends of the floor, getting 41% of its minutes (fourth-highest in the league) from rookies or second-year players.

• Kia MVP = Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
• Kia Rookie of the Year = Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
• Kia Defensive Player of the Year = Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves
• The Kia Sixth Man of the Year = Bogdan Bogdanovic, Atlanta Hawks
• The most improved Kia player = Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder
• Kia Clutch Player of the Year = Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
• NBA Coach of the Year = Mark Daigneault, Oklahoma City Thunder

Sean Powell

There aren’t many sleepless night options this season, though in the case of Joel Embiid (MVP) and Alperen Sengun (Most Improved), the new 65-game minimum for eligibility probably cost them some hardware and would have cost me some Zs.

With a third MVP in four seasons, Jokic would break the company of Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, LeBron James, Moses Malone and Michael Jordan for the most yards since the ABA-NBA merger in 1976. Gobert earning a fourth DPOY would tie him he tied Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace for most ever and punched his ticket to the Hall of Fame.

And Curry needs the Clutch Award because really, what else has he done in his career?

• Kia MVP = Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
• Kia Rookie of the Year = Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
• Kia Defensive Player of the Year = Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves
• The Kia Sixth Man of the Year = Malik Monk, Sacramento Kings
• The most improved Kia player = Coby White, Chicago Bulls
• Kia Clutch Player of the Year = Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
• NBA Coach of the Year = Chris Finch, Minnesota Timberwolves

Michael C. Wright

The MVP seemed obvious, as Jokic looks poised to take another one. Defensive Player of the Year, Clutch Player and NBA Coach of the Year were tougher. Gobert gets the DPOY nod for now, but Wembanyama has a legitimate case as a rookie and could end up swaying my vote. Curry and DeMar DeRozan are neck and neck for the Clutch. Chris Finch and Jamahl Mosely also deserve serious consideration for coach of the year.

• Kia MVP = Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
• Kia Rookie of the Year = Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
• Kia Defensive Player of the Year = Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves
• The Kia Sixth Man of the Year = Malik Monk, Sacramento Kings
• The most improved Kia player = Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers
• Kia Clutch Player of the Year = Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
• NBA Coach of the Year = Mark Daigneault, Oklahoma City Thunder