NBA Predictions 2026-27: Who wins MVP? Rookie of the Year? Our experts make their awards picks

With the 2026-27 NBA season here, it’s time to make our awards predictions. Who will take home hardware this season?

Who will be the Rookie of the Year?

Dan Devine: Cam Boozer, Grizzlies. Given the presence of more established All-Stars on their respective rosters, I’m not sure AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson will get the sort of offensive usage that allows them to rack up big numbers right away; Boozer, though, seems poised to step into a central role producing across the board in Memphis.

Advertisement

Nekias Duncan: Cam Boozer. I’m kiiinda on the record with a “Grizzlies will be in the play-in picture” take, and I don’t think they get there without the multifaceted play of Boozer. He’s going to screen and receive screens off the ball, punish mismatches on the block, clean up the glass, and dust bigger players off the bounce. The Memphis context feels like one where he’ll be tasked with a lot, but not truly burdened to carry everything because of the (underrated) talent around him.

Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Basketball league for the 2026-27 NBA season

Tom Haberstroh: Cam Boozer. I think the Grizzlies are going to shock people this season, with the very large caveat that Zach Edey and Ty Jerome are healthy. I can’t believe Boozer is the youngest guy in his class. I said the same about Cooper Flagg last year and he won ROY.

Steve Jones: Cam Boozer. This should be a fascinating race to track over the course of the season. AJ Dybantsa plays with force and won’t be asked to carry playmaking. Darryn Peterson has a context that suits his game on- and off-ball. Caleb Wilson, no matter the adjustment, will compete. But I lean toward Boozer, whose versatility is a hand-and-glove fit with what Memphis wants to run. There are a lot of avenues where he can contribute. 

Advertisement

Kelly Iko: Cam Boozer. I’m not sure if referring to some parts of Boozer’s game as a “more polished Paolo Banchero” is an insult or compliment, but I’m all in on the Grizzlies — for different reasons than others. There’s so much to unlock with him paired with Tuomas Iisalo and his penchant for skilled pseudo bigs, and I think the combination…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/nba-predictions-2026-27-who-wins-mvp-rookie-of-the-year-our-experts-make-their-awards-picks-194701051.html

Author : Yahoo Sports Staff

Publish date : 2026-10-19 19:47:00

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.