NBA Final Awards Ballot: Who gets to bring home the hardware?

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 11: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets reacts following a call during the second quarter of their game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center on May 11, 2021 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /

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In what has been one of the weirdest seasons NBA fans are likely to see, most of the awards races have left camps divided. A few awards (Most Improved Player, Rookie of the Year and Sixth Man) have been decided for a while, with a few players making a late push to try to close the gap. Others are a matter of preference.

The story of this season has been told by the races for the awards every step of the way. Every week there was a new favorite for the MVP award until injuries knocked out the primary contenders. Stephen Curry and Chris Paul have made late pushes to be included on the ballot (at least if you listen to certain sports news networks). The presumptive favorite for the Rookie of the Year award missing time in the later stages of the season has allowed for fans outside of Minnesota to enjoy the rise of Anthony Edwards.

After a tremendously strange NBA season, it is time to make one final check on each of the award’s races and list two honorable mentions for each.

For each award, we will look back at the selections made here at the quarter, halfway and three-quarter mark to see how the race has developed (or held to form) along the way. We will also discuss the two honorable mentions for each award, as will be listed on the final awards when they are announced. Some awards will be easy to cut to a top three. Others could go to 10 and it still would not feel like enough.

Let’s get started.