Every major award in the 2024-25 season (MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Most Improved Player, Rookie of the Year, Sixth Man of the Year, Clutch Player of the Year and Coach of the Year) went to first-time winners. That was the first time that had happened since the 2014-15 season. Last year did give us one second-time victor: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for MVP.
Otherwise, it was all newbies. Six out of our 15 All-NBA selections were also new: Jalen Duren, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Johnson, Jamal Murray, Tyrese Maxey and Cade Cunningham were all honored for the first time. Should we treat this as the new normal?
Perhaps not in every context. Nobody can likely catch Victor Wembanyama for Defensive Player of the Year if he's healthy, for instance, but there's something to the concept of cycling through new award winners in today's day and age. The 65-game rule winnows down the field.
Apron-induced roster churn puts practically the entire league into new roster circumstances with each passing year. Younger players get more chances as the 82-game season wears on their older counterparts. The NBA has tried to create parity in the standings, but perhaps inadvertently has done so everywhere else.
We live in a world with a mostly flat lottery, potentially flat standings and the realistic expectation of new award winners each season. So who's taking home this year's trophies? That's what we've gathered here to find out.
Below are the awards picks made by the CBS Sports NBA staff, covering all season of the individual honors referenced above. Brad Botkin: Wemby will officially take over the league this year. Both of those awards could be unanimous, though that's unlikely for MVP.
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