Hoops Tonight - Mid-season NBA Awards: SGA-Jokic-Cade MVP race, Wemby vs. Chet DPOY, All-NBA teams, 6th man & more

Happy Tuesday. We’re doing a midseason awards check-in across the league, and we’ll save Rookie of the Year for a full scouting dive tomorrow. If you want to get questions in for the mailbag, drop them under the full episodes on YouTube.

MVP first. Who’s out front, and where’s the smart value?

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the clear leader. He’s scoring in the low 30s on elite efficiency, driving winning on both ends, and delivering the most dominant guard season since peak Steph.

Nikola Jokic at plus odds looks tempting, but the 65-game cutoff makes it fragile since two more missed games would disqualify him.

Cade Cunningham is the interesting long shot because Detroit owns the league’s best record, he’s a real two-way engine, and the Pistons have shined in high-profile games; if his scoring ticks up and the gap over OKC widens, that storyline can pop.

Luka Dončić is producing monster numbers, but surpassing Shai without comparable team success is unlikely unless Shai misses real time.

What would it take for Luka to finally win one?

His ceiling is as high as anyone’s, but his floor swings more; he needs fewer live-ball mistakes, sharper shot selection when the threes aren’t falling, and steadier defense so the off nights stop hurting as much.

Defensive Player of the Year?

Victor Wembanyama has been the best defender, but the 65-game rule keeps the door open; with Wemby closer to the limit, Chet Holmgren is the better value play right now.

Wemby can get beat on straight-line drives, but his help, rim deterrence, and ground coverage blow up actions all night; the on-off splits reflect that overwhelming impact.

Coach of the Year?

J.B. Bickerstaff is a runaway pick due to Detroit’s team-wide identity and buy-in; they win the margins with pace, pressure, and drive-and-kick, pile up points off turnovers and in transition, and they’re excellent against top competition.

Give us your All-NBA snapshot.

The 65-game rule could scramble things, but here’s how it looks if everyone finishes healthy. First team: Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Dončić, Anthony Edwards, and Victor Wembanyama. Second team: Cade Cunningham, Jalen Brown, Kawhi Leonard, Jalen Brunson, and Donovan Mitchell. Third team: Tyrese Maxey, Kevin Durant, Jamal Murray, Devin Booker, and Steph Curry.

Most Improved?

Deni Avdija leads on merit right now as a self-creating driver and playmaker, but a recent back issue has slowed him a bit; if that lingers, Jalen Johnson has a live path, with Keonte George as the next name in line.

Sixth Man of the Year?

I lean Keldon Johnson over Naz Reid and Jaime Jaquez; Keldon brings needed power off the bench for San Antonio, finishes plays, knocks down catch-and-shoot threes, and he’s been more dependable late in games.

Tomorrow is a full Rookie of the Year scouting episode, Thursday we’ll hit the top of the draft with AJ Debons and Darryn Peterson, and Friday is the mailbag. Appreciate you rocking with us—see you tomorrow.