NBA awards 2026: Bontemps' ballot for MVP, top rookie, every honor
Which award battles are too close to call? Tim Bontemps unveils his official ballot for MVP, All-NBA, Sixth Man and every major honor.
www.espn.comThe latest NBA awards-voting news is that the league has already announced the finalists, and the biggest headline is Victor Wembanyama winning Defensive Player of the Year unanimously. The voting itself has also been in the spotlight because Luka Dončić and Cade Cunningham successfully challenged the 65-game eligibility rule for major postseason awards this season.[1][2]
What changed recently
The NBA released its awards finalists on April 19, with the top three vote-getters listed for each major category, including MVP, DPOY, Rookie of the Year, Coach of the Year, Sixth Man, Most Improved, and Clutch Player. Reported coverage says the vote totals are now in, and the winners are expected to be revealed during the playoffs rather than immediately after the regular season.[4][5]
Biggest voting story
Wembanyama’s DPOY win stood out because he became the first unanimous winner in the award’s history. The NBA said a global media panel of 100 voters selected him, and the league’s release noted that no player had ever won the award unanimously before.[2]
Eligibility controversy
A major subplot this year was the 65-game rule for awards eligibility. ESPN reported that Dončić and Cunningham won their challenge to have the rule applied in their favor, which affected the final awards ballot process and helped set the official voting slate.[1]
What people are watching
The MVP race is being described as extremely tight, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokić, and Wembanyama among the finalists. Coverage from multiple outlets also says voters have been publishing ballots and debating how to handle close calls across the major awards.[5]
Would you like a quick rundown of the current finalists by award?