The NBA All-Star Game was this past weekend and one thing was for certain, players won’t try and the media will be upset at that fact. The All-Star Game doesn’t serve much of a purpose anymore, other than recognition. The weekend doesn’t mark the official midseason of the season, but it does serve as a break to look at the favorites for the end-of-season NBA awards.
Some awards are clear-cut, while others are more complex. The new minimum game policy the NBA has put in place will make this year’s award season a bit more clouded. Players who have nothing to play for in their season might be played for a minute just to meet the games requirement. Watch out for some weirdness compounded by endless NBA media discourse that won’t solve anything.
I enjoy the requirement, it sets a clear standard of participation that makes sense in a league where players have dodged their responsibility. It makes it better for fans who can now show up to games knowing that the star player they want to see will be playing.
MVP
Nikola Jokic is the clear favorite. He is the best NBA player without a doubt or debate. The Nuggets are only 1.5 games back from the one seed in the Western Conference. Jokic is currently second in triple-doubles, averaging nine assists a game, and shooting 58 percent from the field. His supporting cast has suffered some injuries, and of the top-10 minute leaders on the Nuggets, three are in the first or second year. Give Jokic nuts and bolts and he will somehow make lemonade.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is second favorite and has the only real chance of catching Jokic. Despite having dysfunction, two coaches this season so far, and a who gets game ball controversy, Giannis has been a force. On Monday night against Jokic’s Nuggets, Giannis posted 36 points, 18 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocks. The Bucks are a top-three team in the Eastern Conference, and Giannis is third in points per game and his team has a top-four offense. If Giannis and the Bucks start to gel with new head coach Doc Rivers and go on a successful stretch, the MVP conversation could get interesting.
Coach of the Year
If your team is a full four games better than the next-best team and six games better than the next-best team in your conference, you’re probably the coach of the year. Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazulla has done this. The Celtics are the deepest team in the league, but this shouldn’t discount Mazulla’s contributions. The Celtics are a top-two offense and a top-three defense. They’ve only lost three home games all season. Boston may not have the most aesthetically pleasing offense, only ranking 24th in assist percentage, but they are a stout defense with length and size that disrupts opposing offenses.
The only other candidate worth considering is Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch. The Timberwolves have the best defense in the NBA. They are the best team in the Western Conference while having a 36-year-old starting point guard. Finch has solved the Gobert-Towns conundrum despite many believing it won’t work. Anthony Edwards has emerged as a superstar and will likely decide how far the Wolves go in the playoffs. What holds FInch’s case back is that the Wolves started 20-5, but are 19-11 since then. Also, their offense is 18th in offensive net rating.
Defensive Player of the Year
Once, when I was at a Sacramento Kings versus Utah Jazz game I yelled, ”Rudy Gobert! You ruined my 2020!” Despite his infamous Covid debacle in 2020, four years later Gobert is still a defensive stalwart. He’s averaging about two blocks a game and anchors the best defense in basketball. Also, his ability to fit with Karl-Anthony Towns on the defensive end has been huge to the Wolves success. Gobert has already won the award three times which gives him familiarity with voters too.
Victor Wembanyama was the most hyped draft prospect since LeBron, and similar to Zion Williamson. The alien is averaging three blocks a game (which leads the NBA) and he recently posted a 10 block game. Watching the Spurs, it’s hard to miss Wemby, he is 7-4. Wemby has an insane block percentage of 9.6 percent. This essentially means one in every 10 two-point shots attempted while he is on the floor is blocked by Wemby. The one thing holding him back is that his team is awful. Usually, this award goes to a great defender on a great team.
Sixth Man of the Year
Malik Monk has been a revelation this year for the Sacramento Kings. On nights when college buddy De’Aaron Fox doesn’t have it, Monk steps up. His pick-and-roll combination with Domantas Sabonis is lethal. He’s averaging a career-high in points and assists. He doesn’t lead bench scorers in points per game (which is usually the deciding factor) but his off-the-bench importance to his team cannot be matched.
Tim Hardaway Jr. leads all bench players in points per game this season. He has exploded for 42, 36, and 32 points this year. His off-the-bench microwave style lends itself to voters. The Mavs are also ascending after some clever trades at the deadline. This should help Hardaway as his team climbs the standings. It’s going to be a coin flip for this award as the betting odds are close.
Most Improved Player
All-Star? Check. A career high in points? Check. Tyrese Maxey has become a star in his fourth season with the Philadelphia 76ers. He’s going to need to raise his game even more as Joel Embiid misses time with injury. Maxey looks like he is playing with more confidence and swagger this season as well. His spastic and quick style is a fun watch. Maxey often looks out of control while simultaneously being in control. The only question I have with Maxey’s candidacy is it isn’t like he came out of nowhere. I enjoy a most improved player to unexpectedly surprise NBA fans with his improvement, i.e. Lauri Markkanen last year. Maxey did average 20 points a game last year.
Speaking of coming out of nowhere, I present Houston Rockets big man Alperen Sengun. Despite improvement being expected in his third year, no one saw this coming. Sengun has evolved into a point-center who is dangerous as a passer and scorer. He’s increased his scoring by seven points while sharing the court with Jalen Green. Just like Maxey, he’s still early in his career, and improvement is expected. However, no one could have foreseen the leap Sengun has made.
Clutch Player of the Year
Have you watched a Milwaukee Bucks basketball game in the last five minutes? If you have, you’ll know that this award should go to Damian Lillard. Dame-Time has been in full effect this season. Despite his teammate Giannis leading fourth-quarter scoring, Dame has had more clutch moments. A buzzer-beater against the Kings stands out. Dame has been one of the more clutch players in the NBA for some time now, it seems fitting that he should get the second addition of this award.
Steph Curry has been quite clutch lately huh? His incredible shot against the Suns was his announcement he was entering the chat. Coming down the stretch of the season Curry could take this award. The Warriors play a lot of close games and with Curry already in the top five in fourth-quarter scoring, he is an upside play in this award. Plus everyone likes Curry, they just want any reason to vote for him.
Rookie of the Year
After writing about this award a month ago, only one thing has changed: The certainty that the Frenchman named Victor will run away with this award. Wemby is a force of nature, he doesn’t seem real. He has blocked, and dunked his way into the hearts of millions of NBA fans (I think). It’s a shame the Spurs organization decided not to take this season seriously and not build a team around him. Despite this Wemby has still shocked everyone every night. He is a must-see TV and is most likely going to be an All-Star next year.
Featured Image Courtesy: Michael Tipton
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