With the NBA All-Star Game rapidly approaching, it’s time to take a look back and make some picks for our midseason awards.

MVP: Kyrie Irving
Other nominees: LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and James Harden
This may be a controversial pick, but hear me out. Last year, there was a clear frontrunner for MVP in Russell Westbrook, who averaged a triple double for the season, a feat only accomplished one other time in NBA history (Oscar Robertson for the Cinncinati Royals in the 1961-62 season). This year, however, is much different. The debate for MVP has never been more open, which makes my choice extremely difficult. There are so many factors to take into account (team record, individual stats, etc.) But the hard part about picking an MVP is that the vote often comes down to what you don’t see on the stat sheet. Things like basketball IQ, split-second decisions, and team leadership aren’t reflected on the scoreboard, but they often make the difference. For me, it has to be Kyrie Irving. After moving to Boston this offseason in a blockbuster deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Irving has thrived, leading a young group of core players who are hungry for the team’s first title since 2009. Not only do the Celtics currently sit atop the Eastern Conference standings, but they are doing it all without guard Gordon Heyward, a highly coveted free agent who signed with Boston for $128 million, who broke his ankle in the team’s season opener. Boston certainly looks like it will be the team to beat in the East for years to come, thanks in no small part to Irving.

When the season started, I probably would’ve had LeBron, Durant, and Harden over Irving, but things have certainly turned out differently than anticipated. The Cavs level of play has been extremely underwhelming this season, and although they are currently third in the East, I don’t think they would stand a chance against the likes of Golden State, Houston, Toronto, and Boston. Harden, who currently leads the league with 31.5 points per game, is without a doubt one of the most lethal offensive weapons in the league. However, his lack of effort on defense makes it extremely hard for me to pick him. And while Durant has been playing phenomenally on both sides of the ball, the Warriors could still thrive without him behind the play of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. The MVP is the player who is the most valuable to his team (that is, his team would the least successful without him) and raises the level of play of those around him; this year, that player is clearly Irving.

Most Improved Player: Joel Embiid
Other Candidates: Demar DeRozan, LaMarcus Aldridge
This one was also a tough decision. While both Aldridge and DeRozan were already established players heading into this season, they have truly emerged as some of the league’s premier, earning each of them a starting spot on their respective All-Star teams. However, I give the edge to Embiid due to the uncertainty that surrounded him before the season even started. Embiid, just the third Cameroon-born player in NBA history, was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the third overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. Due to injuries, Embiid didn’t even suit for a game until the 2016-17 season, three years after he was drafted, and only played in 31 games last year due to a lingering back problem. However, he showed extreme promise in his short time on the court last year, which prompted the Sixers to offer Embiid a five-year, $148 million contract. And so far, he has proved worth every penny. Embiid, along with other young stars such as Australian native Ben Simmons and Croatian-born Dario Saric, the Sixers currently sit sixth in the Eastern Conference standings. This is a major step up from previous season for the Sixers, who haven’t reached 30 wins since the 2012-13 season, and in 2015 set the record for most consecutive losses by a team in the four professional sports (27 straight losses, including 17 straight to start the 2014-15 season). Without Embiid, the Sixers would be a decent team at best, with no shot at the playoffs, looking to rebuild once again.

Rookie of the Year: Jayson Tatum
Other Candidates: Donovan Mitchell, Dennis Smith Jr., Lonzo Ball
For me, this is a no-brainer. Coming into the season, everyone thought that Ball would runaway with this award, bringing the Lakers, one of the league’s greatest all-time franchises, out of the gutter. However, things don’t always go as planned, and the flailing Lakers currently sit in 11th place in the West, six games out the last playoff spot. Tatum, the third overall pick out of Duke University, has been absolutely lights out for the Celtics thus far. After shooting just 34.2% on three-pointers at college last year, Tatum currently leads all players with a 45.7% from three this year, and is also averaging 13.8 points per game, 5.4 rebounds per game, and is shooting just under 50% from the field. Couple that with his tenacious defense and highlight-reel dunks, Tatum has proven vital to the success of the Celtics, and, barring injury, should easily take home Rookie of the Year.