NBA Awards: Staff Picks for MVP, Top Rookie, Sixth Man

Who should win individual honors this season? The Crossover makes its selections.

Who was the NBA MVP this season? Coach of the year? Here are our awards picks for 2021–22:

MVP

Howard Beck: Giannis Antetokounmpo
John Gonzalez: Joel Embiid
Jarrel Harris: Nikola Jokić
Chris Herring: Nikola Jokić
Robin Lundberg: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Chris Mannix: Joel Embiid
Ashley Nicole Moss: Nikola Jokić
Rohan Nadkarni: Nikola Jokić
Ben Pickman: Nikola Jokić
Michael Pina: Nikola Jokić
Michael Shapiro: Nikola Jokić
Elizabeth Swinton: Nikola Jokić
Jeremy Woo: Nikola Jokić
Kyle Wood: Nikola Jokić

Rookie of the Year

Beck: Scottie Barnes
Gonzalez: Evan Mobley
Harris: Evan Mobley
Herring: Scottie Barnes
Lundberg: Scottie Barnes
Mannix: Evan Mobley
Moss: Evan Mobley
Nadkarni: Cade Cunningham
Pickman: Evan Mobley
Pina: Cade Cunningham
Shapiro: Scottie Barnes
Swinton: Evan Mobley
Woo: Evan Mobley
Wood: Scottie Barnes

Most Improved Player

Beck: Jordan Poole
Gonzalez: Ja Morant
Harris: Jordan Poole
Herring: Dejounte Murray
Lundberg: Darius Garland
Mannix: Jordan Poole
Moss: Darius Garland
Nadkarni: Jordan Poole
Pickman: Ja Morant
Pina: Dejounte Murray
Shapiro: Ja Morant
Swinton: Darius Garland
Woo: Desmond Bane
Wood: Ja Morant

Coach of the Year

Beck: Taylor Jenkins
Gonzalez: Monty Williams
Harris: Monty Williams
Herring: Taylor Jenkins
Lundberg: Monty Williams
Mannix: Monty Williams
Moss: Taylor Jenkins
Nadkarni: Monty Williams
Pickman: Monty Williams
Pina: Taylor Jenkins
Shapiro: Monty Williams
Swinton: Monty Williams
Woo: Monty Williams
Wood: Taylor Jenkins

Defensive Player of the Year

Beck: Marcus Smart
Gonzalez: Bam Adebayo
Harris: Bam Adebayo
Herring: Marcus Smart
Lundberg: Marcus Smart
Mannix: Marcus Smart
Moss: Bam Adebayo
Nadkarni: Bam Adebayo
Pickman: Bam Adebayo
Pina: Marcus Smart
Shapiro: Marcus Smart
Swinton: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Woo: Bam Adebayo
Wood: Marcus Smart

Sixth Man of the Year

Beck: Tyler Herro
Gonzalez: Tyler Herro
Harris: Tyler Herro
Herring: Tyler Herro
Lundberg: Tyler Herro
Mannix: Tyler Herro
Moss: Tyler Herro
Nadkarni: Tyler Herro
Pickman: Tyler Herro
Pina: Tyler Herro
Shapiro: Tyler Herro
Swinton: Tyler Herro
Woo: Tyler Herro
Wood: Tyler Herro