Who did the experts at ESPN pick as the MVP for the upcoming NBA season?

Every year, as the new NBA season approaches, it’s time for predictions. These predictions vary widely and often don’t turn out to be accurate. Many people pay close attention to the ESPN panel of experts’ predictions, which include team performances and individual awards for the upcoming season.

When considering the potential outcomes for the conference finals and the NBA Finals, it’s clear that the defending champions, the Boston Celtics, are heavily favored to repeat. They are expected to dominate the Eastern Conference and have a strong chance of winning the Finals again. Other strong contenders in the East include the Philadelphia 76ers and the New York Knicks, who have made significant efforts in free agency to compete at the highest level. Additionally, they seem ahead of the Milwaukee Bucks, considered the second favorite last year. This is especially true given the challenging first season of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard playing together.

The Mavericks made it to the finals in the Western Conference but are not considered the most trusted team in the West. The Thunder, who lost to the Texans in the second round, are favorites to win the conference and have the second-highest number of votes to win the title. The Wolves are ahead of the Mavericks and Nuggets (the last two finalists in the West), while Luka Doncic’s team does not even appear in the top five for the title. After the Celtics and Thunder, the Sixers and Nuggets are next in line, with the Bucks and Knicks tied for fifth place.

WINNER OF THE EAST CONFERENCE

WESTERN CONFERENCE WINNER

NBA WINNER 2024-25

Doncic is performing exceptionally well individually. The Slovenian is currently the favorite to win the MVP for the first time, with a clear lead over Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. These three are the final candidates for the award, but the rankings have changed. Doncic has moved up from third to first place, and if Jokic doesn’t win, he will miss out on his chance for a fourth Best Player award. Only five players in history have achieved this feat: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (six), Michael Jordan, and Bill Russell (five each), and Wilt Chamberlain and LeBron James (four).

Victor Wembanyama’s performance is remarkable. He won Rookie of the Year in his first season and is expected to be named ESPN’s Best Defender and Most Improved Player in his second season. Surprisingly, the top two picks, Frenchmen Zacharie Risacher and Alex Sarr are not among the top five favorites for Rookie of the Year.

MVP

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

DEFENDER OF THE YEAR

BEST SIXTH MAN

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER

COACH OF THE YEAR