Simmons said he originally had Jaime Jaquez Jr. ahead of Keldon Johnson, but after the Miami Heat were eliminated by the Charlotte Hornets in the play-in, he switched his vote to Johnson. He even framed the change around the play-in outcome, saying the league should have let voters decide before those games.
The veteran pundit cited the postseason as a factor that should influence the award, arguing that he preferred a player whose team would be in the playoffs over one that did not advance. He attributed the shift to the league’s procedures rather than to a personal critique of Jaquez.
The voting timeline itself was extended this season after an appeal by Luka Doncic’s agent, which allowed ballots to be filed later than usual. Simmons noted that the extension gave him the chance to reconsider, a possibility that wouldn’t have existed under the previous deadline.
Cade Cunningham and Luka Doncic were also cleared to appear on end-of-season ballots due to meeting a 65-game minimum threshold, with the league granting a broader set of players eligibility. The extra time and the evolving playoff picture potentially influenced several voters beyond Simmons.
The development also raises questions about the Rookie of the Year race, where Kon Knueppel’s late-season performance—two games with limited impact—paired with Cooper Flagg’s strong finish could affect ballots differently in light of post-season context. The situation highlights how play-in outcomes and playoff status can shape awards discussions, even when the rules state otherwise.
