NBA Swing: One Month In — Awards Race Sees New Contenders and Familiar Faces

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With the 2025-26 NBA season approximately 20% complete, the early-season award conversations are in full swing. This season has introduced a surprising frontrunner in the Eastern Conference, driven by the emergence of young talent and the continued dominance of league giants. As of November 22, 2025, here is a look at the top contenders for the major awards.

Coach of the Year: J.B. Bickerstaff

No team has been a bigger surprise one month into the 2025-26 season than the Detroit Pistons. Following a disastrous 16-68 season in 2023-24, the Pistons made a huge jump to a 44-38 record last year. This season, the team’s ascension is historic. As of November 22nd, Detroit sits at a staggering 13-2 and holds the first seed in the Eastern Conference, powered by an 11-game winning streak.

Head Coach J.B. Bickerstaff deserves massive credit for this rapid turnaround. He has overseen a defensive transformation, with the Pistons ranking 2nd in the NBA in Defensive Efficiency (1.067 Defensive Rating). Last year’s Coach of the Year runner-up has successfully maximized the potential of his young core, making him the definitive favorite if this success continues.

Wilt Chamberlain Trophy / Rookie of the Year: Cooper Flagg

The 2025 rookie class is living up to its hype, with eight rookies averaging double figures early on. The most talked-about name remains Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks. Despite a rough start in Dallas, Flagg is putting together a strong debut. In his first 16 games, Flagg has averaged 16.4 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 3.3 APG, and 1.3 SPG. He had a career-best 29 points to go with seven rebounds and five assists in last night’s win over the Pelicans. While his three-point percentage is still developing at 29%, his overall shooting splits are a respectable 45% from the field and 78% from the free-throw line, keeping him atop the Rookie of the Year conversation.

Jerry West Trophy / Clutch Player of the Year: Cade Cunningham

The Clutch Player of the Year award continues to be a point guard’s domain. The Detroit Pistons’ success has provided ample opportunity for Cade Cunningham to shine in pressure moments. Detroit has played nine games in the clutch so far this season, going 7-2, with Cunningham participating in eight of those contests. In clutch situations, Cunningham is averaging 4.6 PPG while shooting around 48% from the field. His emergence as the team’s primary clutch scorer, coupled with his overall leap to 9.9 APG (2nd in the NBA), makes him the early frontrunner.

John Havlicek Trophy / Sixth Man of the Year: Jamie Jaquez Jr.

Shifting injuries across the league have opened up the Sixth Man of the Year race. Miami Heat forward Jamie Jaquez Jr. has started the season strong, coming off the bench. Jaquez, who started 15 or more games in his first two seasons, has excelled in his role leading the second unit this year. In his 16 bench appearances, he is posting career-highs across the board: 16.4 PPG, 6.8 RPG, and 5.4 APG while shooting over 50% from the field. His consistent and complete play makes him a leading candidate, rivaled by players like Philadelphia’s Quentin Grimes and Atlanta’s Onyeka Okongwu.

Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy / Defensive Player of the Year: Victor Wembanyama

The Defensive Player of the Year race is once again centered on Victor Wembanyama. Through 12 games, the San Antonio Spurs center has proven to be a generational defender, averaging a league-leading 3.6 BPG and a near-league-leading 12.9 RPG (2nd in the NBA). Wembanyama’s presence is the driving force behind the Spurs having the fifth-best defense in the league one month into the season.

The major threat to his candidacy is the league’s 65-game eligibility requirement. Wembanyama is currently suffering from a calf strain and is expected to miss several weeks, putting him dangerously close to the games-played threshold. If he is ultimately ineligible, the award conversation shifts to contenders like OKC’s Chet Holmgren and last year’s DPOY, Evan Mobley.

George Mikan Trophy / Most Improved Player: Jalen Duren

Detroit’s Jalen Duren is a strong early candidate for Most Improved Player, embodying the award’s spirit of a significant statistical leap. Duren has been pivotal to the Pistons’ success alongside Cade Cunningham.

Season	PPG	RPG	FG%
2024-25	11.8	10.3	69.2%
2025-26	20.6	11.9	67%

His current average of 20.6 PPG is an astronomical leap for a player who was not primarily known as a scorer, and his 11.9 RPG ranks 5th in the NBA. Duren’s defensive impact is also critical to the Pistons’ 2nd-ranked defense, making his improvement one of the biggest reasons for Detroit’s shocking start.

Michael Jordan Trophy / Most Valuable Player: Nikola Jokic

The Most Valuable Player race will feature the familiar titans of the league: Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Luka Dončić. However, Jokic is making a dominant case to reclaim the award. The three-time MVP is somehow outperforming his previous seasons. In 14 games, he is averaging 29.1 PPG (7th in the NBA), a league-leading 13.2 RPG, and a career-high and league-leading 11.1 APG. He is achieving these numbers on hyper-efficient shooting splits of 64% from the field and 40% from three. With Jokic on the floor, the Denver Nuggets have an Offensive Rating of 124.9, the best in the league. Despite potential voter fatigue, Jokic’s unprecedented statistical output puts him on pace for his fourth MVP award.