Mon Mar 31 06:20:00 UTC 2025: ## NBA Awards Race Heats Up as Regular Season Concludes

**New York, NY** – With the NBA regular season nearing its end, the race for coveted awards is intensifying, leaving experts divided on the likely winners. The MVP race is a particularly close contest between two Western Conference superstars: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) of the Oklahoma City Thunder and three-time reigning MVP Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets.

While SGA boasts league-leading scoring and a superior team record, Jokic continues to impress with arguably his best basketball yet. ESPN analysts like Zach Kram highlight SGA’s superior advanced metrics, while others like Chris Herring acknowledge Jokic’s immense value to the Nuggets, even considering his team’s superior performance with him on the court. The consensus is that both players deserve the award, making the choice exceptionally difficult.

The Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) award is even more unpredictable. While Luguentz Dort of the Thunder receives praise for his defensive impact, the award seems wide open, with contenders including Evan Mobley, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Draymond Green. The Thunder’s collective defensive strength may hinder any single player’s chance at winning, making it hard to predict a winner.

The Sixth Man of the Year award also lacks a clear favorite. While Payton Pritchard is mentioned as a likely winner, analysts are divided, with other players like Naz Reid and Cade Cunningham mentioned as potential dark horses, although there is debate on whether a player of Cunningham’s caliber should even be in the running. The “Most Improved Player” award is similarly contested, with Cade Cunningham and Evan Mobley as top contenders, although the debate centers on whether players already considered stars should be eligible.

Finally, a significant debate surrounds the 65-game minimum requirement for award eligibility. Many analysts argue this rule should be abolished, particularly for awards like All-Defensive and All-NBA teams, as it disproportionately impacts defensive specialists and high-value players who may miss games due to rest or injury.

The upcoming announcement of the awards will undoubtedly provide clarity to these hotly debated predictions.

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