The regular season awards have been debated and discussed non-stop in the NBA community. Since the regular season is now officially over I think it’s fair to go over my vote for each award. Each award is subjective and most of these races were incredibly close to call. But these picks best represent the NBA landscape as I saw it this year.
MVP
1. Nikola Jokic
2. Joel Embiid
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo
4. Jayson Tatum
5. Donovan Mitchell
I have intentionally avoided discussing the MVP race this season. The award has become ridiculously polarizing. Additionally, the race was so close I never could decide who my MVP was. After much deliberation, I determined these top 5 are the best representatives of the MVP this year. In all honesty, even after coming up with my list, I believe the top 3 of this race are still interchangeable.
Nikola Jokic is my MVP. Jokic’s impact and value on his team are undeniable. The advanced stats reflect Jokic’s value. He leads the league in win shares, box score plus, and value above replacement. Jokic and the Nuggets have been a one-seed in the West since December 20th. The long-term regular season success is shocking and proves Jokic’s impact. The Nuggets offense runs everything through Jokic. As a result, Jokic has more offensive responsibilities than anyone in the league. These offensive responsibilities have led to insane averages and stats. Jokic impacts the game in every way, he evaluates his team and supporting cast better than anyone in the league. There’s no star with more responsibility and impact then Jokic.
Well, Joel Embiid wouldn’t earn my vote for MVP. I think he gets the award and I have no problem with that. Embiid put together one of the most dominant scoring seasons we’ve ever seen. Embiid averaged a league-best 33 points a game. Which is the most by any center since 1975. Embiid’s scoring brilliance included three 50-point games. The difficulty of containing some like Embiid can not go understated. Embiid paired his offensive dominance with great rim protection and shot-blocking. Ultimately Embiid had a historical and iconic season that he deserves a ton of credit for.
I have Giannis Antetokounmpo at 3rd but I still believe he has a strong case for MVP. Giannis has led the Bucks to a league-best record. Giannis overcame Khris Middleton’s injuries and struggles in the process of leading the Bucks to a top seed. The highlight of Milwaukee’s year was an absurd 16-game win streak. Giannis remained one of the most dominant two-way stars during that stretch. Giannis and the Bucks have been terrorizing the East for the past 4 years. I get that it’s a little boring but they’re consistently great and Giannis is the engine for their success.
Jayson Tatum was an early frontrunner for this award. Tatum has again reached a new level of scoring and shot creation, averaging a career-best 30 points per game. Tatum was the engine for the Celtics success who had the 2nd best record league-wide. Tatum pairs his elite scoring with great defense and refined playmaking. Tatum continues to improve new aspects of his game each year. Tatum’s improvement and increased ability to impact the game outside of scoring have correlated with a ton of success for Boston.
The 5th spot for this race is wide open. Donovan Mitchell’s elite scoring helped transform the Cavs this year. Mitchell led Cleveland to a 4 seed in the East, putting up 28 ppg, 4 RPG, and 4 APG in the process. Donovan Mitchell had some huge moments and proved once again he was one of the league’s most talented scores. Mitchell gives the Cavs a true go-to guy and makes them a formidable opponent in the difficult East. Mitchell’s presence has completely changed Clevland’s outlook in the East.
Defensive player of the year
- Bam Adebayo
- Jaren Jackson Jr
- Evan Mobley
The DPOY is always one of the hardest awards to pick a winner from. This is largely because defense is harder to measure and more subjective. I’m confident this will be an unpopular take but I believe this represents what I value on defense the best.
Bam Adebayo can guard every position making him one of the most versatile defenders in the league. Bam’s versatility comes from his rare combination of size, lateral quickness, strength, and athleticism. As a result, Bam has some of the most difficult defensive responsibilities and assignments. Bam might guard Giannis one night and Trae Young the next. Bam is always in the right spot and never makes mistakes on defense. Bam’s defense has been a staple for Miami in a chaotic season. Bam’s IQ, versatility, and ability to shut just about anyone down make him the DPOY in my eyes.
Jaren Jackson Jr. has long been the front-runner for DPOY. Jackson’s elite shot-blocking ability anchored Memphis on defense this season. JJJ averaged an absurd 3 blocks per game, good for the league best. Jaren Jackson’s elite help defender who can quickly read and react to plays. This makes JJJ one of the best at disrupting plays and creating turnovers. Jackson pairs his help defense and shot blocking with great speed and versatility. This unique skill set will allow JJJ to wreak havoc defensively for years to come.
In just his second year Evan Mobley is already one of the most impactful defenders. Mobley alongside Jarrett Allen has anchored the number-one defense. Mobley has displayed tremendous versatility and rim protection abilities. Mobley is quick on his feet leading great recoveries, and shot blocks. Mobley’s quickness also allows him to guard multiple positions. Mobley completes these traits with an incredible basketball IQ. In my eyes, the elite combination of physical skills and basketball IQ make Mobley one of the most polished young defenders the league has ever seen.
Rookie of the year
- Paolo Banchero
- Jalen Williams
- Walker Kessler
In recent weeks many people have tried to frame this as a close race between Paolo Banchero and Jalen Williams. However, in my eyes, Banchero is the clear choice. Paolo has not only been asked to do more than any rookie but he’s had the most production and consistency this season. Banchero is already a natural scorer, yielding impressive counting numbers (20 ppg 6 rpg 3 apg) as a result. Banchero also effectively uses his size and athleticism allowing him to be versatile on both ends.
Jalen Williams has exceeded all expectations and played a vital role on a pesky OKC team. Williams is an elite athlete who can attack the rim and score with ease. Williams pairs this with great instincts and a strong basketball IQ.
Although he is just a rookie Walker Kessler is already one of the most impactful defenders in the league. Kessler’s impact stems from his elite shot-blocking and rim protection. Kessler’s impressive defense will anchor the Jazz for years to come.
Coach of the year
- Mike Brown
- Mark Daigneault
- JB Bickerstaff
Mike Brown is the sole logical choice for this award. In his first year with the team Brown completely transformed the Kings culture, breaking a 16-year playoff drought in the process. Brown’s offensive schemes lead to the league’s best offense and career years for both Sabnois and Fox. Brown got more out of his roster than anyone believed was possible. The ability to get the most out of a roster is exactly what this award embodies.
Mark Daingeault is another coach who consistently got the most out of his roster this year. The Thunder have the youngest roster in the league. But that didn’t change them from being a competitive team that plays hard each night. OKC’s season challenged league-wide tanking trends as a result. Daigneault’s offense consists of great ball movement and shooting making it perfect for the modern game.
JB Bickerstaff helped the Cavs secure their best record in the post-LeBron era. Bickerstaff certainly had more pieces to work with than Brown and Daigneault. However, Bickerstaff still evaluated his squad this year. The Cavs were one of three teams with a top-ten offense and defense. Bickerstaff has done a terrific job building a system that evaluates elite interior and perimeter players alike.
6th man of the year
- Malcom Brogdon
- Immanuel Quickley
- Bobby Portis
Malcolm Brogdon and Immanuel Quickley are neck and neck for this award. I gave Brogdon the slight edge because he played more bench minutes and was generally more consistent. Brogdon is a rock-solid player on both ends of the court. Providing the Celtics with much-needed ball handling, playmaking, and shooter and perimeter defense depth. Brogdon is extraordinarily consistent and rarely makes major mistakes. That type of presence is infinitely valuable.
Immanuel Quickley may not have the same consistency or experience as Brogdon. But Quickley makes up for this with his dynamic on-ball skills and knack for scoring. Quickley is a classic microwave scorer. These abilities have led to Quickley having some massive scoring nights this year. Quickley seems to fit the historical mold for this award the best.
Bobby Portis has been an essential part of the Bucks success this season. Portis has long been known for his intensity and energy. Portis pairs his intensity and energy with great defense and rebounding. Portis perfectly fits the Bucks defensive-minded identity and compliments the Bucks stars. Portis’ presence has also been felt on offense where he has been a solid floor spacer and interior scorer.
Most Improved Player
- Lauri Markkanen
- Jalen Brunson
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Lauri Markkanen’s breakout year was one of the most surprising yet captivating stories of the year. Markkanen flourished in his first season with Jazz, exploding up to 25 PPG. Markkanen has always been a good shooter. But his shooting reached a new level and he became a more well-rounded scorer. Lauri’s new shot creation abilities and offensive arsenal are staggering. Markkanen went from an intriguing yet frustrating young talent last season to a blossoming star this year. That kind of jump is what this award is all about.
I don’t think anyone realized just how impactful Jalen Brunson would be when he signed with the Knicks this summer. Brunson was looked at as a quality starter. But Brunson has proven to be much more than that. Brunson’s shot creation and scoring talent have been on display all season for the Knicks. Brunson has been one of the most consistent scorers all year and has been a go-to guy in clutch situations. Brunson compliments this with elite basketball IQ and playmaking abilities. Well, opportunity certainly helped Brunson his now elite scoring ability is more than a result of more opportunity.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had shown plenty of signs of super-stardom already. But this was truly his breakout year. SGA became one of the most prolific scorers this year, becoming a 30-point scorer for the first time in his young career. Shai has always been a gifted scorer but his scoring abilities have now helped move him to a new tier of players. Shai’s transcendence into stardom has helped make the OKC Thunder one of the most entertaining teams in the league.