NBA Awards Predictions 2026-27: MVP, Rookie of the Year & More

The Award Season Countdown Starts Now

Even before opening night tips off, the NBA award conversation is already in full swing. ESPN's annual summer forecast is out, breaking down who's positioned to win MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Sixth Man, Most Improved, and Coach of the Year for 2026-27 — and while the source details are still coming together, the bigger picture is clear: this season's races look wide open.

Why MVP Is Always the Headline Race

Every summer, the MVP conversation kicks off with the same short list of superstar names — guys who've either won it before or been runner-up multiple times. What makes this year interesting is the number of teams that reshuffled their rosters this offseason, which means new contenders could push their way into the mix if their team wins big early. Voters love a great story, and a surprise team surging in the standings usually drags a player into the MVP spotlight who wasn't there the year before.

Rookie of the Year and Most Improved: The Fun Categories

ROY and Most Improved are always the most fun to track because they're less predictable than MVP. A rookie who barely gets buzz in October can be the runaway favorite by February if their role expands. Most Improved is similar — it's less about talent and more about opportunity. Players who get more minutes, more shots, or a bigger role on a new team tend to jump into that conversation fast.

Defensive Player of the Year and Coach of the Year: The Underrated Battles

DPOY tends to reward players anchoring elite defenses, especially rim protectors and versatile switchable defenders who can guard multiple positions. Coach of the Year, meanwhile, almost always goes to whoever exceeds preseason expectations the most — it's less about the best coach and more about the biggest surprise team.

What to Watch For

Award predictions made in August are really just educated guesses. History shows the eventual winners are often players who weren't even in the preseason top five — injuries, trades, and breakout stretches reshape these races constantly. The fun part of the NBA offseason is watching these predictions age in real time once the games actually start counting.

Bottom Line

Treat early award predictions as a conversation starter, not gospel. The real races will take shape once the season is a few months deep and the standings start sorting out who's actually rising and who's falling.