Editor’s Note: This story was originally published on July 20. The NBA released the three finalists for each of the six major individual awards on Saturday.
The NBA told teams last month that none of the seeding games inside the Orlando, Florida, bubble will count toward individual regular-season honors.
That means Zion Williamson won’t get the chance to beat the odds and challenge front-runner Ja Morant for the Rookie of the Year crown, and LeBron James won’t get to pick up his chase of Giannis Antetokounmpo for MVP.
But the league’s announcement does mean we get to reveal our experts’ awards picks a bit early.
So who will win top individual honors for the 2019-20 season? Let’s run down the list.
MORE: Zach Lowe’s 13 most fascinating lineups to watch in Orlando
Rookie of the Year
Kevin Arnovitz: Ja Morant
Jerry Bembry: Ja Morant
Nick DePaula: Ja Morant
Nick Friedell: Ja Morant
Kirk Goldsberry: Ja Morant
Andrew Han: Ja Morant
Chris Herring: Ja Morant
Andrew Lopez: Ja Morant
Tim MacMahon: Ja Morant
Jackie MacMullan: Ja Morant
Bobby Marks: Ja Morant
Dave McMenamin: Ja Morant
Kevin Pelton: Ja Morant
Omar Raja: Ja Morant
Jorge Sedano: Ja Morant
Andre’ Snellings: Ja Morant
Marc Spears: Ja Morant
Eric Woodyard: Ja Morant
Royce Young: Ja Morant
Ohm Youngmisuk: Ja Morant
Final tally: Ja Morant (20 votes)
Coach of the Year
Kevin Arnovitz: Nick Nurse
Jerry Bembry: Nick Nurse
Nick DePaula: Nick Nurse
Nick Friedell: Frank Vogel
Kirk Goldsberry: Nick Nurse
Andrew Han: Nick Nurse
Chris Herring: Nick Nurse
Andrew Lopez: Frank Vogel
Tim MacMahon: Nick Nurse
Jackie MacMullan: Nick Nurse
Bobby Marks: Nick Nurse
Dave McMenamin: Nick Nurse
Kevin Pelton: Mike Budenholzer
Omar Raja: Nick Nurse
Jorge Sedano: Nick Nurse
Andre’ Snellings: Nick Nurse
Marc Spears: Billy Donovan
Eric Woodyard: Mike Budenholzer
Royce Young: Nick Nurse
Ohm Youngmisuk: Nick Nurse
Final tally: Nick Nurse (15 votes); Mike Budenholzer (2); Frank Vogel (2); Billy Donovan (1)
Defensive Player of the Year
Kevin Arnovitz: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Jerry Bembry: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Nick DePaula: Bam Adebayo
Nick Friedell: Anthony Davis
Kirk Goldsberry: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Andrew Han: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Chris Herring: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Andrew Lopez: Anthony Davis
Tim MacMahon: Rudy Gobert
Jackie MacMullan: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Bobby Marks: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Dave McMenamin: Anthony Davis
Kevin Pelton: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Omar Raja: Anthony Davis
Jorge Sedano: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Andre’ Snellings: Rudy Gobert
Marc Spears: Anthony Davis
Eric Woodyard: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Royce Young: Bam Adebayo
Ohm Youngmisuk: Anthony Davis
Final tally: Giannis Antetokounmpo (10 votes); Anthony Davis (6); Bam Adebayo (2); Rudy Gobert (2)
Sixth Man of the Year
Kevin Arnovitz: Montrezl Harrell
Jerry Bembry: Dennis Schroder
Nick DePaula: Montrezl Harrell
Nick Friedell: Lou Williams
Kirk Goldsberry: Dennis Schroder
Andrew Han: Montrezl Harrell
Chris Herring: Montrezl Harrell
Andrew Lopez: Montrezl Harrell
Tim MacMahon: Montrezl Harrell
Jackie MacMullan: Montrezl Harrell
Bobby Marks: Dennis Schroder
Dave McMenamin: Lou Williams
Kevin Pelton: Montrezl Harrell
Omar Raja: Dennis Schroder
Jorge Sedano: Montrezl Harrell
Andre’ Snellings: Dennis Schroder
Marc Spears: Lou Williams
Eric Woodyard: Dennis Schroder
Royce Young: Dennis Schroder
Ohm Youngmisuk: Lou Williams
Final tally: Montrezl Harrell (9 votes); Dennis Schroder (7); Lou Williams (4)
Most Improved Player
Kevin Arnovitz: Brandon Ingram
Jerry Bembry: Brandon Ingram
Nick DePaula: Devonte’ Graham
Nick Friedell: Brandon Ingram
Kirk Goldsberry: Bam Adebayo
Andrew Han: Bam Adebayo
Chris Herring: Brandon Ingram
Andrew Lopez: Brandon Ingram
Tim MacMahon: Bam Adebayo
Jackie MacMullan: Bam Adebayo
Bobby Marks: Jayson Tatum
Dave McMenamin: Bam Adebayo
Kevin Pelton: Devonte’ Graham
Omar Raja: Bam Adebayo
Jorge Sedano: Bam Adebayo
Andre’ Snellings: Devonte’ Graham
Marc Spears: Brandon Ingram
Eric Woodyard: Devonte’ Graham
Royce Young: Bam Adebayo
Ohm Youngmisuk: Bam Adebayo
Final tally: Bam Adebayo (9 votes); Brandon Ingram (6); Devonte’ Graham (4); Jayson Tatum (1)
MVP
Kevin Arnovitz: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Jerry Bembry: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Nick DePaula: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Nick Friedell: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Kirk Goldsberry: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Andrew Han: LeBron James
Chris Herring: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Andrew Lopez: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Tim MacMahon: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Jackie MacMullan: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Bobby Marks: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Dave McMenamin: LeBron James
Kevin Pelton: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Omar Raja: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Jorge Sedano: LeBron James
Andre’ Snellings: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Marc Spears: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Eric Woodyard: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Royce Young: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Ohm Youngmisuk: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Final tally: Giannis Antetokounmpo (17 votes); LeBron James (3)
