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NBA predictions: Top picks for MVP, ROY, COY and more awards

Who should win the major NBA awards this season? Who will win?

Our ESPN Forecast panel gives picks and predictions for MVP, ROY, COY, DPOY, Sixth Man and Most Improved.

Note: Voters gave their top three picks for each award, with five points for first place, three points for second and one point for third.


Rookie of the Year

Ben Simmons says this award is his. Our panel mostly agrees.

Who will win?

  • Ben Simmons: 93.1 percent

  • Donovan Mitchell: 6.9 percent

MORE: 25 under 25: Ranking young superstars by potentialInsider

Coach of the Year

After implementing a revamped Raptors offense and coaching the best bench mob in the NBA, Dwane Casey gets the nod in this year's most hotly contested race.

Who will win?

  • Dwane Casey: 41.4 percent

  • Brad Stevens: 34.5 percent

  • Mike D'Antoni: 19.0 percent

MORE: Behind the numbers on the top COY candidates

Sixth Man of the Year

Sweet Lou couldn't crack the West All-Star squad -- despite his best efforts -- but his superb season makes him a runaway favorite here.

Who will win?

  • Lou Williams: 84.5 percent

  • Eric Gordon: 10.3 percent

MORE: Future Power Rankings: Who will reign for next three years? Insider

Most Improved Player

This list ran 20 deep, but the salary-dump-turned-NBA-superstar doesn't have much competition to snag the title.

Who will win?

  • Victor Oladipo: 77.6 percent

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo: 6.9 percent

  • Clint Capela: 5.2 percent

MORE: From sidekick to All-Star, Victor Oladipo is proving critics wrong

Defensive Player of the Year

The Stifle Tower has been campaigning for this one. He has the numbers to back it up, even after missing time.

Who will win?

  • Rudy Gobert: 81.0 percent

  • Draymond Green: 6.9 percent

  • Anthony Davis: 5.2 percent

MORE: The numbers behind the best defenders in the NBA this season

Most Valuable Player

No suspense here, though The Beard doesn't take the award unanimously after a strong push from LeBron.

Who will win?

  • James Harden: 98.3 percent

  • LeBron James: 1.7 percent

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