We’re getting close! With training camps and media days right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to dive into some early predictions…before our timelines and articles get flooded with fresh updates and quotes.
That’s right, it’s Prediction Week here at Bright Side, and we’re kicking things off by taking a big-picture look at the entire league. While no one steps on the court just for the accolades, success often brings recognition. And that’s exactly where we’ll begin our two-part series: NBA awards.
Who wins the 2024-25 NBA MVP? Do any members of the Suns stand a chance, and if so, where do they end up in MVP voting?
SunsRealityCheck: This year, Luka will break through. He’s been hanging around in the top 4 and the Finals run, paired with a season with his new teammates from the deadline, will push him over the top, becoming the first guard to win the award since James Harden.
Brandon Duenas: It’s between Luka and SGA for me. I believe the Thunder will finish at the top of the West again, which will help Shai’s case, but Luka’s counting stats should make it a battle of the narratives. I don’t think the Suns will have anyone in serious discussion, though I would not be shocked if Book or KD received top 7 votes.
Elbow Jumper: I feel like the OKC Thunder will be media darlings this year as they look to build on a terrific 2023/24 regular season. SGA puts up numbers. And the team is so young that the depth on that squad won’t be held against SGA’s case for MVP.
Unfortunately, the Suns (and Booker) could have all the success in the world, but because of Durant and Beal’s presence, Booker may not get the props deserved/required for enough first-place votes. At the end of the day, it’ll be about the narrative!
Holden Sherman: Give me SGA. Their team is far and away the best in the West. All their young players are only going to get better, and Hartenstein and Caruso were great additions because they fill positions of need, and they don’t need the ball in their hands to be productive.
If anyone has a chance to win MVP on the Suns, I’d go with Booker, but I think it’s unlikely. Him over KD because I bet he has the ball in his hands more. A lot of the award is about how much better you are than the second-best player on your team, and him and KD are too close in talent level.
John Voita: I think the NBA is ready for a non-center to win the award. It’s been four years of centers — 3 for Jokic and 1 for Embidd — with Giannis winning the two prior to that. It’s been since 2018 when James Harden won the award at guard. That changes in 2025. I’m following the trend, with Luka Doncic winning the award this season.
Booker, like most say above, has a shot. Although I am wary of him playing out of position this season. Therefore, I think Durant will get some votes, coming in at 9th on the MVP ballots.
SirHammo: This could be the year for Devin Booker to finally get his flowers. Coming off the red-hot run in the Olympics, his game is at the highest level it has ever been. I also wouldn’t count out Kevin Durant having a stellar season and being considered in the voting race.
Manny Loera: I am taking a flyer here. Jalen Brunson will win the MVP this year. He is the engine that runs the Knicks and he put up MVP-like stats. 28.7 ppg and 6.7 apg. A 30 and 10 season could happen.
DBook will have a stellar season and finish in the top 5 for MVP this year. KD will also finish top 10.
Matthew Lissy: I’ve got the Dallas Mavericks locking down the second seed in the West, with Luka Doncic actually showing up ready to play from day one. The league’s been practically gift-wrapping the MVP for him, just waiting for Luka to take it. If he can drag the Mavs to a top seed out West and ride the momentum of a finals run, they might as well hand him the trophy the minute he steps off the court.
If the Suns reach a top-3 seed, they still have too much talent to decipher who is the MVP.
And the winner of the 2025 Rookie of the Year is…
SunsRealityCheck: Zach Edey will be a starter and part of the Grizzlies’ redemption season after being not so-fine in the West for the last 2 seasons. He will be impactful on defense and allow Jaren Jackson to prowl the weak side again as God intended.
Brandon Duenas: Reed Sheppard is going to be a stud. I’m rolling with him. The buzz he is generating in Houston is just getting started — that’s going to be a tough team. Zach Edey will likely challenge him, but with the way the game is played today I think the “flash” of Reed will separate him.
Elbow Jumper: I think Zach Edey has a great opportunity here. The narrative of a resurgent Memphis Grizzlies team will be a joyous tale to tell. The Big-E will average a double-double for sure. My dark horse choice for ROY is Rob Dillingham; I see a scenario where Rob slides into the starting PG role for the Timberwolves, successfully mentored by the great (and supremely underrated) Mike Conley.
John Voita: I’m giving it to the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Rob Dillingham out of Kentucky. Talent meets opportunity, and I believe that he will have a chance to contribute to a quality team that will be playing on the big stage plenty this season.
SirHammo: Zach Edey, at this stage, is the clear front-runner, but you can never really tell how their game will translate until you see it.
Manny Loera: Edey will get the most playing time and he will shine. I see a 17 ppg and 12 rpg rookie season with a high shooting percentage.
Matthew Lissy: Zach Edey. No-brainer. He’s a perfect fit for the Grizzlies’ system on both ends of the floor. Offensively, he’s going to feast on rebounds like they’re appetizers, and defensively, he’ll be right where they need him. With him in the mix, Memphis is cruising to a top-3 seed this season, no doubt about it.
Who is getting Defensive Player of the Year?
SunsRealityCheck: Aren’t they engraving Wembanyamas name on a trophy as we speak? He’s the clear betting favorite and the eye test will be intoxicating. The thing is, the Spurs will need to have an actual good defense right? They were 22nd last season. How far can Wemby take them as a team is an unanswered question, so I will Zag and go with a bold declaration of Chet Holmgren. He will play less center and the team defense will be solid around him, and I believe, is poised to take a leap as a weak-side defender with Hartenstein in the middle.
Brandon Duenas: Evan Mobley has his best season yet and gets awarded for it. Chet, Wemby, and Mobley are my top 3 here. The size and versatility those three offer are unlike your grandpa’s bigs.
Elbow Jumper: I feel like this award is Jaren Jackson Jr’s. Again. Bake in an actual winning season for the Grizzlies and his defensive presence will look even more impactful. My outside pick is Bam Adebayo, and the guy with his name stenciled in already is Wemby (but in a smaller font choice than usual).
Holden Sherman: It’s Wemby time. He was already first-team All-Defense as a rookie. I think the Spurs will be better this year and from what he showed in the Olympics, he’s already better than he was a season ago.
John Voita: Are you ready for Wemby to rattle off four of these? Did you know that only one player (Dwight Howard) has ever won it in three consecutive seasons? Wemby will be the first to four consecutive DPOY’s, and it starts this season.
SirHammo: Wemby. Yep, it’s that easy. How can he not be? Holmgren could be close but Wemby will take the prize.
Manny Loera: Of course it is Wemby, no doubt. Going to give some love to Mikal, now that he doesn’t have to do so much scoring he can go back to being a great two-way player.
Matthew Lissy: It should’ve been his last year, and it’s probably going to be Wemby’s this year. For the next 10+ years, it’s his for the taking.
As for Most Improved Player, who wins it? And do any Suns stand a chance?
SunsRealityCheck: I completely disagree with the idea that Wemby could even qualify for this award, so I’ll go with Jalen Johnson. He’s been getting a lot of buzz around NBA circles. He’s entering his 4th season and it sure seems like the Hawks are going to give him every opportunity to succeed in Atlanta.
Brandon Duenas: I’m going with Jalen Williams of OKC. The Thunder are going to be a force next season and he will be a huge reason why. Another massive leap is coming, with Giddey out of the way and Caruso being more of an off-ball guy, there will be plenty of opportunity for him to shine as one of the best second options in the league next season.
Elbow Jumper: As far as Suns players? The one guy that has the potential and opportunity here is Bol Bol. A sharp uptick in minutes, coupled with a consistent role, would easily put him in a position to rebound, block, and make shots.
In terms of who I think might take this one? Immanuel Quickley will have the minutes to put together a case. Josh Giddey will have the ball in his hands enough to make a case (just no one to pass to). And yet, I think it will be Nikola Jovic (Miami Heat). He’ll get the starting nod out of the gates at the 4-spot, building on last season’s averages of 7.7ppg and 4.2rpg (19.5mpg).
John Voita: Looking at the DraftKings odds, there aren’t many players at the top of the list who catch my eye for the award. So, I’m going further down and picking OKC’s Chet Holmgren at +4000. OKC is poised for a stellar season, and they could become the first team since the 2015-16 Warriors to repeat as the top seed in the Western Conference. A big part of that will be due to Chet Holmgren’s development.
As for Suns? If anyone is going to win it, it’d be Bradley Beal. Just imagine how it could happen…goes full-on “leader mode”. Dominates as a Sun. Phoenix has the best record as a result. The odds? I’m guessing +60000. Because he ain’t listed on DraftKings.
SirHammo: I’ll go out on a limb and say that Mikal Bridges with the Knicks unlocks his full potential. I expect a huge season from him. In terms of Suns players, Bol Bol would be the best chance.
Manny Loera: I’m going Cade Cunningham here. I think we will flourish under Bickerstaff. He did average almost 23 ppg last season, so MIP may be a tough task.
In terms of the Suns, Bol Bol is a good choice. I will throw out a name since he can only get better: Josh Okogie. Yes, I said it! JO for MIP.
Matthew Lissy: I’m rolling with Jalen Williams of the Oklahoma City Thunder. He’s got a legit shot at making the All-Star game this year, and with Josh Giddey stepping aside, Williams is about to get all the touches he can handle. If he capitalizes, watch out.
On the flip side, Bradley Beal has a strong case for the award too…if he can stay healthy. If Beal manages to outshine Devin Booker and become the Suns’ best player, things could get really interesting.
Who is winning the Sixth Man of the Year?
SunsRealityCheck: Grayson Allen has a chance, but I don’t think he’ll have enough points off the bench to keep up with the microwave scorers he’ll be competing against. I think Malik Monk or Donte DiVincenzo will get some shine after last season and it has felt like Monk should have had it by now. He’s the scariest bench guy in the league to me.
Brandon Duenas: Repeating a 6MOY doesn’t happen very often, but it does happen. I think Naz Reid is going to do it again in Minnesota. Their bench isn’t super deep, and he will get the opportunity to display how talented he is on a great team. He knows his role and thrives in it, especially should KAT or Gobert miss any time.
Elbow Jumper: I’ve never liked this award (actually, I take that back—I was a HUGE Toni Kukoc stan back in the day) as it always seems to fall to whoever scores the most points amongst players who aren’t named during the starting lineup announcements. I want to think Grayson Allen has a shot here, but his output won’t look sexy for the official voters.
Curiously, I’d watch Russell Westbrook in this space. He’ll be welcome to go all-out in the non-Jokic/Murray minutes and will benefit from having solid playmaking and team structure around him.
Holden Sherman: Give me Malik Monk. Adding Derozan should boost Sacramento in the win column, making their players more prevalent for awards. Monk’s ability to score from all three levels, combined with his explosive scoring bursts make him the top candidate to take home the award in the 2024-2025 season.
John Voita: There’s a lot of love for Malik Monk (+450) on DraftKings, but I think it’ll be Josh Hart this year. The narrative is there, and I’m picking the Knicks to be the best team in the East. Hart, who you can get right now at +1800 odds, is another one of those Villanova Knicks who fits from a chemistry standpoint, and he’ll feast off the bench.
Grayson Allen may have a chance to contend, and it’ll be interesting to see how he performs coming off the bench after a season of starting for Phoenix. Regression will happen. Will we be able to handle it?
SirHammo: Going all in on Grayson Allen for this. He is going to bring that energy in the times when we need it and he will be a pest for our opponents. Lock it in now!
Manny Loera: Go with the old stand-by, Jordon Clarkson. Sixth man is all about points and that is what he brings. Buddy Hield may be a good choice as well.
Grayson will get some love as well. If he averages more than 14 ppg he will get votes.
Matthew Lissy: Malik Monk is too valuable off the bench for the Kings. His absence is always felt, and they rely on him far too much to overlook. He brings instant energy and scoring, making him a key piece of their success. Without him, the offense just doesn’t flow the same, and Sacramento struggles to find that same spark.
How about Coach of the Year? Can Mike Budenholzer win it for the third time?
SunsRealityCheck: I think it’s going to be Jamahl Mosley for the Magic. They’re going to get better and I think they will be a problem in the East. Bud won’t get it because expectations for the Suns were that they’d be very good and they disappointed so much. I think voters will turn their noses up at giving the award for being as good as you were supposed to be.
Brandon Duenas: I’m going with Taylor Jenkins here. Memphis should rebound nicely this season with Ja returning along with reinforcements to a strong core. Coach Bud has a shot, but the Suns will need to win 55+ games and look great doing it for the narrative to shift.
Elbow Jumper: I’d love for Mike Budenholzer to garner this award—but honestly, the Suns would have to be truly special for this to occur—however, the Suns will play incredibly well, and that will have been expected of them anyway. *sad face*
Realistically, it’s about a team that makes a jump. I anticipate the Memphis Grizzlies (Taylor Jenkins) getting a look-in, if not for the simple reason that they’ll be healthy. And, I wonder if the Spurs will significantly improve on their 22-win season last year if Greg Popovich gets a serious look-in?
John Voita: I’m giving this one to Bud. Why? Well, I think the Suns will be better than people think. And Bud will get some recognition for their explosive turnaround.
SirHammo: A finals run for the Suns would secure Coach Budz as the winner. Greg Popovich could always sneak this one in too.
Manny Loera: Going with Coach Thibodeau of NYK. Udoka is another good choice, I think the Rockets will make the playoffs this year.
Coach Bud will get some love but either of the two above will take home the hardware.
Matthew Lissy: If the Suns can overcome the drama between Booker, Beal, and KD, and snag a top-2 seed out West, Bud’s got the Coach of the Year award locked up. That’s my pick for the award, no question.
Last but not least, call your shot: Who is in the NBA Finals, and who wins it all?
SunsRealityCheck: I’m gonna call Suns win in 6 against the New York PhoeKnicks. What a reunion that will be!
Brandon Duenas: I’m going with a Thunder-Knicks NBA Finals matchup. Knicks win it in 6.
Elbow Jumper: Toot Toot! All aboard! Our destination is a Phoenix/New York Finals—have your tickets ready. Phoenix in 7, with Booker hitting the game-winner in NYC in overtime. Book it.
Holden Sherman: Give me the Nuggets over the Celtics in 6. The matchup many of us thought we were getting last year.
John Voita: The Suns are going to the Finals. Book it. Who will they play? Everyone is picking the Knicks. I think the Knicks will have the best record in the East, but the Celtics will return. And Phoenix wins in 7. And that’s +10000 for that exact result.
SirHammo: Phoenix Suns vs New York Knicks. Oh man, could you imagine? Suns take the series in 7 games. Then we can all rest and watch the Sunrise.
Manny Loera: OKC versus the NY Knicks and the Knicks will win it all in a tough 7 game series.
Matthew Lissy: I have the Memphis Grizzlies edging out the Thunder and defeating the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals.
Feel free to let us know your prediction below! Here, I’ll even provide you with a format that you can copy and paste into your comments:
NBA MVP:
ROY:
DPOY:
MIP:
6MOY:
COTY:
NBA Final Matchup/Champion:
Looking forward to what y’all think, who you agree with, and where the differences may lie.
Tomorrow, we will put our lines in the sand as it pertains to the fate of the Phoenix Suns. We’ll see you then, Bright Side.