Defensive player of the year

1. Draymond Green, forward, Golden State Warriors

2. Rudy Gobert, center, Utah Jazz

3. Kawhi Leonard, F, San Antonio Spurs

After narrow losses to Leonard the past two years, Green gets the edge in an equally narrow decision over Gobert, who has been fantastic for the Jazz. While Gobert is as dominant a force at the rim as his 7-foot-3 frame would suggest, Green gets the nod for his versatility as the Warriors will finish first or second in defense again this season. Leonard, meanwhile, gets third place because he remains the best perimeter defender in the league by leaps and bounds.

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Rookie of the year

1. Malcolm Brogdon, guard, Milwaukee Bucks

2. Dario Saric, F, Philadelphia 76ers

3. Jamal Murray, G, Denver Nuggets

My thinking behind choosing Brogdon was spelled out in this week’s Monday Morning Post Up. Do yourself a favor and subscribe if you have not already by clicking here. Saric gets second place because he’s producing more than everyone else, even if his team is lousy, while Murray has shown longer and more extended flashes than, say, Buddy Hield, to get the third spot.

Before you ask, 76ers center Joel Embiid isn’t mentioned because he should either win the award or not be eligible. And, for this ballot, that he played 18 percent of Philadelphia’s minutes leaves him out of the running.

Sixth man of the year

1. Andre Iguodala, F, Golden State Warriors

2. Eric Gordon, G, Houston Rockets

3. Greg Monroe, C, Milwaukee Bucks

Iguodala is simply the best bench player in the league, so while his stats aren’t as gaudy as Gordon’s or Lou Williams’s, his contributions put him in the top spot. That’s been especially true during the past few weeks, when Iguodala has been a huge part of Golden State’s 14-game winning streak, which has been accomplished almost completely with Kevin Durant sidelined. Gordon finishes second for his impressive contributions for the Rockets this season, while Monroe gets the nod for being an offensive fulcrum off the bench for the Bucks, a role he’s taken to quite nicely.

Most Improved Player

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, F, Milwaukee Bucks

2. Rudy Gobert, C, Utah Jazz

3. Bradley Beal, G, Washington Wizards

Antetokounmpo’s rise from promising talent to All-Star Game starter and all-NBA lock makes him a runaway pick for the top of this ballot. Gobert’s remarkable leap forward offensively this season makes him an equally easy pick for second, while Beal’s impressive season for the Wizards — completely proving himself worthy of the max contract he picked up this past summer — slots him into third.

Coach of the Year

1. Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs

2. Mike D’Antoni, Houston Rockets

3. Erik Spoelstra, Miami Heat

Popovich can win this award every year, but he should especially win it this season given the amount he’s coaxed out of this roster, outside of Leonard, to get it past 60 wins yet again. That, combined with some late slippage from the Rockets, has Pop just ahead of D’Antoni, who has done an excellent job rebooting Houston after last year’s disappointment. Spoelstra has done a remarkable job in getting the Heat turned around after an 11-30 start to give the team a chance to make the playoffs on the final day of the regular season.

All-NBA first team

James Harden, G, Houston Rockets

Russell Westbrook, G, Oklahoma City Thunder

Kawhi Leonard, F, San Antonio Spurs

LeBron James, F, Cleveland Cavaliers

Rudy Gobert, C, Utah Jazz

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These choices were all simple. Harden, Westbrook, Leonard and James were all automatic choices as the top four spots on my MVP ballot. Gobert has been excellent this season for Utah, combining his excellent defense with a burgeoning offensive game — a combination that placed him second on both my defensive player of the year and most improved ballots.

All-NBA second team

Stephen Curry, G, Golden State Warriors

John Wall, G, Washington Wizards

Kevin Durant, F, Golden State Warriors

Giannis Antetokounmpo, F, Milwaukee Bucks

DeAndre Jordan, C, Los Angeles Clippers

This was where things begin to get interesting. Curry is an easy choice for the first of the two guard spots, as is Antetokounmpo for the first of the two forward spots and Jordan at center. That leaves one guard spot and one forward spot open for debate, with multiple names in play for both. In the end, Wall gets the guard spot thanks to his exemplary play for the Wizards this season (he also was sixth on my MVP ballot), and Durant gets the nod for his metronomic consistency and production with the Warriors this season, even after missing a quarter of the season because of a knee injury.

All-NBA third team

Chris Paul, G, Los Angeles Clippers

Isaiah Thomas, G, Boston Celtics

Draymond Green, F, Golden State Warriors

Anthony Davis, F, New Orleans Pelicans

Karl-Anthony Towns, C, Minnesota Timberwolves

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The guard choices here were easy. Thomas has provided an exemplary offensive presence this season for the Celtics, while Paul has missed time with a hand injury but otherwise has been magnificent. Klay Thompson also earned consideration, but comes in some distance behind Thomas and Paul. Green earned his way into the all-NBA discussion with his defense, while Davis — who some label a center, but in this exercise is a forward — beats out Paul George and Jimmy Butler for that final spot. Center is where things get interesting. Although several candidates, including Marc Gasol and Nikola Jokic, were considered, the incredible numbers Towns put up this season in Minnesota were too much to overlook.