NBA's MVP race heats up: Our experts' picks for all the first-half NBA award winners

Three months into the NBA season, three months left.

The league is at the midway point with the trade deadline (Feb. 10), All-Star Game (Feb. 20), playoff push and postseason remaining.

The 2021-22 season has been marked by standoffs (Ben Simmons and the Philadelphia 76ers), returns (Klay Thompson, Kyrie Irving), an onslaught of players entering the NBA’s COVID health and safety protocols, resulting in postponements and depleted rosters, one coach fired (Sacramento’s Luke Walton), and, of course, the play on the court.

We canvassed USA TODAY Sports' Jeff Zillgitt, Matt Eppers and Larry Starks and USA TODAY Sports Media Group staffers Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic, Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Marla Ridenour of the Akron Beacon Journal, Joe Mussatto and Berry Tramel of the Oklahoma City Daily Oklahoman and Bryan Kalbrosky of Hoops Hype for their midseason awards – from MVP to coach of the year to most surprising and disappointing teams.