ESPN has its Summer Forecast panel making predictions and answering questions about the upcoming NBA season. In an article published Tuesday, they were asked to name the award winners they think will be in the 2024-25 season. Each “expert” gave their top three suggestions. First place was worth five points, second place was worth three, and third place was worth one. Here are the results.

ESPN predicts NBA award winners for 2024-25 season

MVP – Luka Doncic (61 points)

Luka Doncic is only 25 years old and has been in the running for MVP for some time, but has yet to win the award. His best finish was third last season, and he finished between fourth and eighth in the previous four years. After a scoring title and an NBA Finals appearance, this could be the season Doncic finally wins.

Other votes received: Nikola Jokic (40), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (37), Anthony Edwards (15), Giannis Antetokounmpo (13), Joel Embiid (8), Jayson Tatum (5), Anthony Davis (3), Ja Morant (2), Kevin Durant (1)

Rookie of the Year – Reed Sheppard (74 points)

Reed Sheppard was selected third overall in the 2024 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets. He won that vote quite easily, although it looks like he won’t be in the starting lineup, at least to start the season. The 20-year-old shot an incredible 52.1% of his three-point shots in his first year as a college player at Kentucky.

Other vote recipients: Zach Edey (40), Donovan Clingan (27), Stephon Castle (23), Rob Dillingham (10), Alex Sarr (8), Zaccharie Risacher (8)

Defensive Player of the Year – Victor Wembenyama (76 points)

As a 19/20-year-old rookie, Victor Wembanyama finished second in the Defensive Player of the Year voting last season. The 7-foot-4 pogostick led the league with an average of 3.6 blocks per game. Wembanyama finished second in the NBA with his defensive rating of 105.8 and fifth with 4.4 defensive win shares.

Other votes received: Rudy Gobert (29), Bam Adebayo (26), Anthony Davis (14), Mikal Bridges (10), Jrue Holiday (8), Joel Embiid (5), Draymond Green (4), OG Anunoby (4 ), Alex Caruso (3), Jaren Jackson Jr. (3), Evan Mobley (3), Herbert Jones (1), Jaylen Brown (1), Chet Holmgren (1)

Sixth Man of the Year – Malik Monk, Alex Caruso (38 points)

Malik Monk may have been the favorite for the award last season, until an MCL sprain sidelined him for the Sacramento Kings’ final eight games. He still finished second and was fifth in the 2022-23 balloting.

It’s unclear if Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigenault will add newcomers Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein to the starting lineup. If the Thunder keep Luguentz Dort in the starting lineup, Caruso can handle the ball more often in the second unit. He’s also one of the best defensive backcourt players currently playing.

Other vote recipients: Naz Reid (29), Jaime Jaquez Jr. (18), TJ McConnell (13), Bobby Portis (11), Russell Westbrook (7), Bogdan Bogdanovic (7), Jose Alvarado (6), Norman Powell ( 6), Josh Hart (5), Austin Reaves (5), Bojan Bogdanovic (3), CJ McCollum (3)

Players with the greatest improvement in performance – Victor Wembanyama, Jalen Williams (26)

Victor Wembanyama has been talked about a bit already, and all we can say is that if he improves enough to win this award, the entire NBA will be in big trouble.

Jalen Williams was a near All-Star last season, arguably the second-best player on an Oklahoma City team that was ranked first in the Western Conference playoffs. In his third season, Williams could take another step forward and lead the Thunder to the NBA Finals.

Other vote recipients: Coby White (25), Cade Cunningham (22), Cam Thomas (14), Devin Vassell (12), Alperen Sengun (12), Tyrese Haliburton (11), Jonathan Kuminga (10), Jalen Suggs (7), RJ Barrett (5), Jalen Johnson (5), Jalen Green (5)

Coach of the Year – Tom Thibodeau (29 points)

Tom Thibodeau has been named Coach of the Year twice, winning in his first season as head coach with the Chicago Bulls in 2010-11 and his first year with the New York Knicks in 2020-21. The Knicks were already the second pick in the Eastern Conference playoffs last season, so it would take a truly special season for Thibodeau to win the award again.

Other vote recipients: Mark Daigenault (24), Joe Mazzulla (22), Gregg Popovich (18), Kenny Atkinson (16), Nick Nurse (15), Taylor Jenkins (14), Erik Spoelstra (13), Ime Udoka (12), Jamahl Mosley (8)