The NBA award races? They’re wild right now. For the 2026-27 season that’s kicking off, experts are already unanimous on one thing: Victor Wembanyama is the Defensive Player of the Year. Every single CBS Sports NBA expert picked him for DPOY, making it clear he’s the guy to beat.
Victor Wembanyama’s DPOY Lock, But MVP Is Still Up For Grabs
Look, the experts are saying it: if Victor Wembanyama stays healthy, nobody is catching him for Defensive Player of the Year. That’s a huge statement, especially with the season about to begin. It’s not just a hunch, either, six out of six experts surveyed pegged him as the undisputed DPOY. It’s almost unheard of to have that kind of consensus before the first tip-off! But the MVP race? That’s where things get interesting. While Wembanyama still got a majority of the MVP votes, pulling in four out of six expert picks, it wasn’t a clean sweep. Luka Dončić and last year’s MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, each snagged a vote, showing there’s still a real battle for the league’s top individual honor.
The New Normal: Parity Is Here To Stay
Remember 2024-25? That was nuts! Every single major NBA award, from MVP to Coach of the Year, went to a first-time winner. That hadn’t happened since the 2014-15 season, showing you how much things are changing. Last year, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander broke the streak as a second-time MVP, but other than him, it was all new faces on the awards stage. We even saw six new guys get All-NBA selections: Jalen Duren, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Johnson, Jamal Murray, Tyrese Maxey, and Cade Cunningham. It really feels like the league’s “parity era” has totally taken over the award races.
This isn’t just random, either. The experts point to stuff like the 65-game rule, which shrinks the field for awards, and how the “apron-induced roster churn” basically throws almost every team into new situations every single year. Plus, the grind of an 82-game season opens doors for younger players as the older vets get worn down. The NBA tried to make the standings more even, but they’ve accidentally made every award race a wild card.
Who Else Is Breaking Through In A League Full Of New Faces?
Beyond Wemby, the other award categories show just how wide open things are. For Rookie of the Year, Cameron Boozer is definitely the favorite, with five out of six experts picking him. But AJ Dybantsa and Caleb Wilson also got votes, so it’s not a done deal. Most Improved Player is a total crapshoot, with Ace Bailey, Dylan Harper, Ausar Thompson, Scoot Henderson, and Coby White all getting shoutouts from the experts. No one’s really got a bead on that one! For Sixth Man of the Year, Ajay Mitchell looks like the guy to watch, getting three picks, while Devin Vassell, Ayo Dosunmu, and Daniss Jenkins round out the rest. Coach of the Year is just as fragmented, with Joe Mazzulla and Darko Rajaković each getting two votes, and Mitch Johnson and Will Hardy grabbing one each.
The 2026-27 season is about to tip off, and man, it feels like we’re heading into a completely different NBA landscape for awards. Can Wemby actually bag both MVP and DPOY? Will someone new emerge for MIP or COY? We’re about to find out, and it’s gonna be a wild ride watching it all unfold!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
Leave a Reply