The 2020-21 NBA season coming to a close, it’s time to end the debates for the award winners. With ongoing debates for every major award, here is how I would give out each award.
The NBA has had one of its most difficult regular seasons come to a close.
With some teams dealing with a plethora of injuries, COVID-19 cases, load management, etc. it has become one of the toughest award ballots to pick of all time. What do we do with LeBron James after an injury-plagued season for All-NBA? Is a player leading a team to the eighth seed really worthy of an MVP vote? How do we deal with all of the missed games from the season? While I don’t have an official vote, here are the award winners for the NBA season.
NBA Most Valuable Player – Nikola Jokić
This one might be the easiest to pick the winner. Nikola Jokić has been the best player in the league this season and is putting together one of the most impressive offensive seasons in NBA history. Let’s look at the numbers behind his incredible season.
Jokić’s current PER rating of 31.12 would rank 12th highest in the history of the association. The only players with seasons having a higher PER are LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Stephen Curry, Wilt Chamberlain, and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Speaking of Chamberlain, he’s the only real comparison to Jokić in terms of production from the center position. The Big Dipper is the only other center to average over eight assists a game (Wilt having 8.6 per game, Jokić at 8.4), and Chamberlain had to sacrifice his scoring to do it. Jokić’s scoring has increased to 26.5 points per game this season as he flirts with a 50/40/90 shooting split.
Jokic makes these passes look too easy ???? pic.twitter.com/wjb17Fl00l
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 11, 2021
His defense has improved tremendously (even if it’s not great) and he has the Denver Nuggets in contention despite extended absences from his two best teammates at different points in the season. The most important part of the Joker’s case is availability. He hasn’t missed a game when his competition has.
Jokić is the MVP, any other debate is blasphemous to me.
Through games on May 9, which #NBA players (cough Nikola Jokic cough) have done the most (or least) with their minutes during the 2020-21 season, per TPA (cough Nikola Jokic cough)?
— NBA Math (@NBA_Math) May 10, 2021
Hint: Nikola Jokic has done the most.
(Again, it’s Nikola Jokic. You know, just to be clear.) pic.twitter.com/4J5az2xnFX
Honorable Mention – Stephen Curry, Joel Embiid, Chris Paul, Giannis Antetokounmpo
If I filed out a top-five, Curry would be my second choice. His team is 36-26 with him in the lineup and 1-7 without him. He’s likely to win the scoring title this season despite taking on the most burden of any superstar in the league and has defenses bending to his will.
Embiid might have the strongest case against Jokić, but games played do matter. Missing 20 games hurts your case against a player who hasn’t missed any. Embiid still gets votes because he showed he can be the most dominant player in the NBA on the right night.
Paul continues to show how much influence he can have on a basketball team. After saving the Los Angeles Clippers and Oklahoma City Thunder from mediocrity, the point god has turned Phoenix into the final contender. For that alone, he gets a nod.
The Greek Freak has quietly been nearly as good as ever before. As a two-way tour de force who is as efficient as ever, Antetokounmpo is still quietly dominating the league. The Milwaukee Bucks are still in the title conversation, even if they won’t get the credit for it.
NBA Rookie of the Year – LaMelo Ball
Take the blinders off for a moment and watch the games — Ball has been infinitely more important to his team than Anthony Edwards.
If the competition is close, you go to games played as a tiebreaker. That was the case for Jokić over Embiid. The competition here isn’t close. Ball has been better and more influential to a playoff team than Edwards has been. Nearly no advanced metrics back up Edwards’ case. He’s behind Ball in win shares (despite playing 20 more games), true shooting percentage, box plus/minus, and VORP. The only area Edwards currently excels over Ball is points scored. Even then, Ball’s ability to create his own shot and score is somehow underrated.
The baby sky hook from @MELOD1P! #AllFly | @hornets pic.twitter.com/NgbSS0Jqf6
— Bally Sports: Hornets (@HornetsOnBally) May 9, 2021
I’m optimistic about the future of both players, but Ball looks like a future MVP candidate. Edwards may win a few scoring titles, but I’ve seen enough to give it to the better player in the end.
Honorable Mention – Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton, Immanuel Quickley
This was really only a two horse race by the end of the season. I really like the future of both Haliburton and Quickley, but Haliburton hit a bit of a wall and Quickley didn’t get the minutes and production. Despite that, they’ll get a shoutout for fine seasons.
NBA Coach of the Year – Tom Thibodeau
It’s razor-thin margins at the top of this award ballot. Monty Williams and Quin Snyder have their respective teams in championship contention. They’re both well-deserving choices for the award, not to mention the performances of Nate McMillan, Doc Rivers and Steve Nash.
Full disclosure, I am a New York Knicks fan, but Thibodeau is fully deserving of this award. Nobody has exceeded expectations more than the Knicks, who entered the season with a betting over/under of 21.5. If the Phoenix Suns win out, they’ll be about 13 games over their preseason expectations. The Utah Jazz are in the same boat, about 11 wins over preseason expectations. The Knicks are 20 games over expected wins total preseason.
A team that was 18th in opponents points per game and 23rd in the defensive rating is now first and third in each category, respectively. Thibodeau has fully maximized this team, getting the best out of Julius Randle, Derrick Rose and handled the development of RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley excellently.
When defensive anchor Mitchell Robinson went out with a season-ending injury, Nerlens Noel was plugged in and they didn’t miss a beat. Not many coaches could’ve performed at the level Thibodeau has this season and he is fully deserving of the award.
Honorable Mention – Williams, Snyder, Nash
I give full credit to all three of these coaches. They have their teams in final contention despite expectations. I think Nash’s season has been underrated having to deal with the loss of multiple start throughout the year.
NBA Defensive Player of the Year – Rudy Gobert
Rudy Gobert anchors the Jazz on defense! #NBACourtOptix powered by Microsoft Azure analyzes how Rudy Gobert is able to help and recover on defense while also being a dominant rim protector! The Jazz take on the Lakers 10:00pm/et on ESPN pic.twitter.com/OvFoY7AC5r
— NBA (@NBA) April 19, 2021
This award is close, but it’s hard to find any reason not to pick Gobert. First in defensive win shares and defensive rating, plus a top-five finish in defensive box plus/minus. Gobert’s defensive field goal percentage inside of six feet is 48.1 percent, which is second to the league to Draymond Green. But the Stifle Tower has nearly double the shot attempts at the rim to deal with per game.
At his current pace, Gobert is likely to end up among the top 20 greatest defenders in the history of the NBA. He’ll become just the fourth player to win the award three times in his career and has a really good chance at just 28-years-old to become the first five-time award winner. His length and understanding of the defensive side of the ball is the reason that the Utah Jazz are in contention for an NBA title. Gobert deserves that credit.
Honorable Mention – Ben Simmons, Green, Bam Adebayo
Simmons has been the best defender on one of the top defenses in the league. That has to go for something plus he is taking on the toughest assignments almost every night. With the difficulty of defensive assignments, Simmons is still top 10 in defensive win shares, defensive box plus/minus, defensive rating, deflections and 12th in steals. That’s a fantastic perimeter defender.
Green has been completely unlocked as a small-ball five once again after the Warriors dealt with injuries. Despite the offensive struggles outside of Curry, the Warriors are a top-five defensive team.
The last honorable mention spot is tough. The Los Angeles Lakers are the best defensive team in basketball once again, but I can’t bring myself to put Kyle Kuzma on the ballot. Adebayo is still brilliant and deserving of having himself on the ballot at the end of the day.
NBA Sixth Man of the Year – Jordan Clarkson
We’re at the point now in the discussion where we have talked ourselves out of Clarkson’s value. The advanced statistics community will never love his game, but he’s exactly what the Jazz need off the bench. Clarkson is a gunner in every sense of the word. He’s not afraid to pull up from anywhere on the court and provides a sense of randomness and variability to the offense for the Jazz.
Jordan Clarkson ???? pic.twitter.com/dHubth02ky
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 28, 2021
Joe Ingles and Derrick Rose have strong cases, but nobody has the discussion of changing a team quite like Clarkson does when he enters a game. Utah needed a crunch-time bucket guy and he’s filled the role admirably. Ingles does his job almost better than everyone as well, but not a lot of players can do what Clarkson does. Rose has revitalized the bench for the Knicks and gets my third spot, but his numbers aren’t there for me.
Honorable Mention – Ingles, Rose, Jalen Brunson
Brunson gets a mention purely because he’s the only player on the Dallas Mavericks that isn’t dependent on Luka Dončić for a bucket. His numbers aren’t anywhere near the top three, however.
NBA Most Improved Player – Julius Randle
Randle is the second Knick to pick up an award here, turning himself into a top 10 MVP candidate. He’s been the sole reason behind New York’s ascension into the postseason on the court, buying into the coach’s system and creating at the highest level of his career. He’s taken a heavy burden for the Knicks and his play has matched.
Julius Randle hits the dagger over PG ????
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 9, 2021
Knicks win. pic.twitter.com/G7SIRceG51
The one argument against Randle for this award has been that his raw numbers were nearly as high last season. This is true, but the efficiency is much higher this year and it’s clear the changes impacted winning. At his best, he’s battled and beat some of the best forwards in the league, something we never thought would happen. Randle’s boosted performances leave us optimistic that he can play at this level for the foreseeable future.
Honorable Mention – Jerami Grant, Zach LaVine, Chris Boucher
I’m not a huge fan of rewarding second-year jumps, which leaves off RJ Barrett, Michael Porter Jr., and Lu Dort. To me, that’s a natural progression of talent more than most improved. Grant, Lavine, and Boucher elevated their games even further in the 2020-21 season. Grant bet on himself in free agency and hit a level even his biggest fans didn’t think was possible. While adding eight more shots per game, he’s scoring about 10 more points per game. He’s also continued his strong defensive play. It’s a case of good stats, bad team, but the production and efficiency warrant the pick.
Speaking of good stats, bad team, LaVine, similarly to Randle, hit another level this season. He’s more efficient in scoring the ball and is distributing better as well. Credit where it’s due, LaVine has been much better this season.
Boucher is the last on my list, given his out of nowhere presence on the Toronto Raptors. It’s a well-deserved award for the 28-year-old center, who had the tough task of replacing Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka.
All-NBA Teams
First Team
G – Stephen Curry
G – Luka Dončić
F – Kawhi Leonard
C – Nikola Jokić
Second Team
G – Chris Paul
G – Damian Lillard
F – Jimmy Butler
F – Julius Randle
C – Joel Embiid
Third Team
G – Devin Booker
G – Bradley Beal
F – Paul George
F – LeBron James
C – Rudy Gobert
The guard and forward spots are really difficult to judge. Trae Young, Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Kyrie Irving have arguments for guard spots, but there’s just a feeling that Booker and Beal did it all season. Many of the other guys either dealt with injuries or tough stretches for themselves and their teams.
Forward is another tough spot, with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown missing out. Despite his missed games, LeBron James was one of the best players when healthy and the Lakers were severely hurt without him. For that, he edges them out.
NBA All-Defensive Teams
First Team
G – Jrue Holiday
G – Ben Simmons
F – Draymond Green
F – Bam Adebayo
C – Rudy Gobert
Second Team
G – Matisse Thybulle
G – Lu Dort
F – Jimmy Butler
C – Joel Embiid
The first team felt pretty straightforward, even if it took some finagling to get Adebayo on the roster. That has been the five best defenders this season. Dort and Thybulle have cases and make the second team for their efforts. No shame in that.
The Philadelphia 76ers unbelievable defense gets recognized, having three players make the 10 spots.
NBA All-Rookie Teams
First Team
Second Team
Just picking my favorite rookies for the season, this draft class has exceeded (albeit very low) expectations. While there may not be top-end talent outside of Ball and Edwards, the group is impressive nonetheless.
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