2018-19 NBA Year-End Awards

MVP: Kawhi Leonard (Raptors) (26.6 PPG, 49.6 FG%, 37.1 3P%, 85.4 FT% 7.3 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.4 BPG)
Giannis Antetokounmpo and James Harden have received a ton of MVP buzz thanks to the consistent excellence they displayed running their team's uptempo offenses. Those guys may have stuffed the hell of the stat sheets on a near nightly basis, but did the presence of either of those guys truly transform their team? Kawhi Leonard changed the fortunes of a Raptors squad that had been a punchline for nearly a decade due to their annual collapses in the playoffs by re-establishing himself as the league's best two-way player after essentially sitting out the entire 2017-18 season. The Board Man that's about to get paid also averaged career highs in points and rebounds per game during this magical season that ended with his team lifting the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
Honorable Mentions: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks), James Harden (Rockets), Paul George (Thunder)

Coach of the Year: Mike Malone (Nuggets)
The 2018-19 NBA season truly was a master class in coaching. Mike Budenholzer brought the Bucks from perennial fringe playoff contenders to the top of the Eastern Conference, Nick Nurse helped a team shed its reputation as postseason chokers in his 1st season as a head coach, Nate McMillan kept the Pacers on track after Victor Oladipo ruptured his quad in late January, Steve Clifford snapped a seven year playoff drought in Orlando and Doc Riverfs guided a Clippers squad with no true star and a constantly fluctuating roster to the playoffs in the ultracompetitive Western Conference. As worthy as all of these guys are, the work Mike Malone did impressed me the most. Leading a youth-driven Nuggets team that saw several huge changes to their rotation and battled injuries to key contributors (Gary Harris, Will Barton, Paul Millsap) all season long to a 54-28 record-which was good enough for 2nd place in the West and 4th best in the entire league- was a staggering accomplishment for a team that had been merely decent in the prior few seasons.
Honorable Mentions: Mike Budenholzer (Bucks), Nick Nurse (Raptors) Doc Rivers (Clippers)

Defensive Player of the Year: Rudy Gobert (Jazz) (9.0 DRPG, 2.3 BPG, 0.8 SPG, 5.7 DWS)
2018-19 was business as usual for the league's best rim protector. The Stifle Tower once again anchored the Jazz's elite defense (2nd in defensive rating) by making the paint a very uncomfortable place for opponents. He finished in the top 2-5 in nearly every defensive category (defensive rebounds, blocks, defensive win shares, individual defensive rating) that measures the effectiveness of an interior player and was pivotal in making Quin Snyder's club the physical thorn in the side that wears down most of their opponents.
Honorable Mentions: Myles Turner (Pacers), Paul George (Thunder), Andre Drummond (Pistons)

Rookie of the Year: Luka Doncic (Mavericks) (21.2 PPG, 42.7 FG%, 32.7 3P%, 71.3 FT% 6.0 APG, 7.8 RPG, 1.1 SPG)
Trae Young's sensational play over the last couple months of the season was almost enough for him to steal this honor away from Doncic, but the Mavs small forward put together a more complete rookie campaign than the Hawks point guard. The 20-year old showed his EuroLeague dominance was no fluke by routinely taking over games and flashing a big time shotmaking ability that resembled a battle-tested vet. Not to mention, his stepback 3's are already among the prettiest in the league.
Honorable Mentions: Trae Young (Hawke), Deandre Ayton (Suns), Collin Sexton (Cavaliers)

Most Improved Player: Pascal Siakam (Raptors) (16.9 PPG, 54.9 FG%, 36.9 3P%, 78.5 FT%, 6.9 RPG, 3.1 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.8 BPG)
This award is designed to reward improbable underdog stories like this. Siakam went from relatively insignificant role player to a key starter that served as an offensive X-factor on a championship-winning season in the matter of 1 season. Based on what he showed in his inargual season as a starter, there's no reason to believe that this efficient, well-rounded player won't continue to improve and be a pillar of this Raptors team for years to come.
Honorable Mentions: D'Angelo Russell (Nets), De'Aaron Fox (Kings), Buddy Hield (Kings)

Sixth Man of the Year: Montrezl Harrell (Clippers) (16.6 PPG, 61.5 FG%, 64.3 FT%, 6.5 RPG, 1.3 BPG, 0.9 SPG)
With the possible exception of Lou Williams when he was in the middle of one of his patented scoring explosions, no member of this scrappy Clippers squad made opponents more uneasy than Harrell. His physicality, craftiness around the rim and relentless motor provided the Clippers with a  true terrorizer on the floor for a little over 26 minutes per night. The Clippers unlikely success this past season wouldn't have happened without productive, hard-nosed guys like Harrell on the roster and bulldogs like him should help the team in their pursuit of star players this summer.    
Honorable Mentions: Lou Williams (Clippers), Domontas Sabonis (Pacers), Terrence Ross (Magic)

All-NBA Team
1st team:
Guard: Stephen Curry (Warriors)
Guard: James Harden (Rockets)
Forward: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)
Forward: Kawhi Leonard (Raptors)
Center: Joel Embiid (76ers)

2nd team:
Guard: Damian Lillard (Trail Blazers)
Guard: Kyrie Irving (Celtics)
Forward: Paul George (Thunder)
Forward: Kevin Durant (Warriors)
Center: Nikola Jokic (Nuggets)

3rd team:
Guard: Kemba Walker (Hornets)
Guard: Russell Westbrook (Thunder)
Forward: Blake Griffin (Pistons)
Forward: Anthony Davis (Pelicans)
Center: Nikola Vucevic (Magic)

All-Defensive Team
1st team:
Guard: Marcus Smart (Celtics)
Guard: Eric Bledsoe (Bucks)
Forward: Paul George (Thunder)
Forward: Kawhi Leonard (Raptors)
Center: Rudy Gobert (Jazz)

2nd team:
Guard: Klay Thompson (Warriors)
Guard: Jrue Holiday (Pelicans)
Forward: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)
Forward: Draymond Green (Warriors)
Center: Andre Drummond (Pistons)

3rd team:
Guard: Russell Westbrook (Thunder)
Guard: De'Aaron Fox (Kings)
Forward: P.J. Tucker (Rockets)
Forward: Kevin Durant (Warriors)
Center: Myles Turner (Pacers)

All-Rookie Team
1st team:
Guard: Trae Young (Hawks)
Guard: Collin Sexton (Cavaliers)
Forward: Luka Doncic (Mavericks)
Forward: Jaren Jackson Jr. (Grizzlies)
Center: Deandre Ayton (Suns)

2nd team:
Guard: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Clippers)
Guard: Landry Shamet (76ers/Clippers)
Forward: Marvin Bagley Jr. (Kings) 
Forward: Kevin Knox (Knicks)
Center: Mitchell Robinson (Knicks)

2017-18 NBA Year-End Awards

The 2017-18 NBA season mercifully came to end last Friday night at Quicken Loan Arena when the Golden State Warriors completed a pretty easy sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers to win their third title in the last four years. Now that the champagne has been sprayed and the Larry O'Brien Trophy has been paraded through the streets of Oakland, it's time to reflect on the individual greatness the NBA has graced the basketball-loving public with over the past eight months. Here are my picks for all of the Association's prominent year-end awards.

MVP: LeBron James (Cavaliers)
In a career full of wildly productive seasons, 2017-18 is a contender for his most jaw-dropping since his first stint in Cleveland, if not ever. Carrying a team of aging, lackadaisical role players to a 50-win season that culminated in a NBA Finals appearance that seemed like a laughable pipe dream as recently as mid-April while remaining efficient (54.2 FG%, 36.7 3PG%, career-high 9.1 APG) and not showing any signs of decline or notable fatigue at age 33 is the type of unreal feat that reminds you of just how great James truly is.
Honorable Mentions: Anthony Davis (Pelicans), James Harden (Rockets), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)

Coach of the Year: Brad Stevens (Celtics)
I'm sorry, I just can't see the case for Dwane Casey. Even with a significantly improved second unit, a staring lineup full of veteran talent and no notable injuries to speak of, Casey's Raptors still wilted come playoff time-which resulted in him getting unceremoniously fired by the team following their latest embarrassing sweep at the hands of the Cavaliers. On the other hand, Stevens managed to overcome a pair of perceived season-derailing injuries to both of his team's All-Stars (Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving) and other injuries of varying significance to key rotational players (Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, Marcus Morris, Daniel Theis, Shane Larkin) to take an undermanned team that predominantly consisted of unproven young players with little-to-no playoff experience all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Honorable Mentions: Quin Snyder (Jazz), Nate McMillan (Pacers), Dwane Casey (Raptors)

Defensive Player of the Year: Anthony Davis (Pelicans)
The Brow's ability on the defensive end have always been overlooked because of his unique, lethal offensive skill set, but after his absurd 2017-18 campaign, that might not be the case for much longer. Davis made life hell for anyone that tried to drive inside against the Pelicans with his physical presence around the rim and elite shot-swatting ability (his 2.6 blocks per game led the league).

Honorable Mentions: Rudy Gobert (Jazz), Joel Embiid (76ers), Clint Capela (Rockets)

Rookie of the Year: Donovan Mitchell (Jazz)
Ben Simmons had the triple doubles and nonstop hype, but I'll take the "real" rookie any day of the week. Mitchell's killer instinct, scoring prowess (20.4 PPG, good for 25th in the league) and veteran-esque calmness in clutch situations made him the electric playmaker this defensive-minded Jazz team desperately needed to earn their second consecutive playoff berth in the ultracompetitive Western Conference.   

Honorable Mentions: Ben Simmons (76ers), Jayson Tatum (Celtics), Lauri Markkanen (Bulls)

Sixth Man of the Year: Lou Williams (Clippers)
You could make an argument that he started too many games (19) to be eligible for this award, but Williams' brilliance throughout this season can't be denied. The 31-year old journeyman guard emerged as a reliable offensive force, averaging career highs in points (22.6) and assists (5.3), for a Clippers squad that was in constant flux thanks to a rash of injuries (too many to list, but basically every other player of note besides DeAndre Jordan missed at least 20 games) and the shocking mid-season trade of star power forward Blake Griffin.     

Honorable Mentions: Fred VanVleet (Raptors), Eric Gordon (Rockets), Will Barton (Nuggets) 

Most Improved Player: Victor Oladipo (Pacers)
It's amazing what a change in scenery can do for a young player. After a three-year sentence in the basketball death pit otherwise known as the Orlando Magic followed by a brief stint as a middling bystander to Russell Westbrook's heroball antics in Oklahoma City, Oladipo finally blossomed into the two-way force he was projected to be when he was drafted second overall in the 2013 upon arriving in Indiana as a presumed afterthought in the Paul George trade. Oladipo's well-rounded, often dominant play helped a Pacers team that was widely projected to be a doormat establish a strong team chemistry and sense of resiliency that resulted in them shocking the league with a 48-win season.         

Honorable Mentions: Clint Capela (Rockets), Jaylen Brown (Celtics), Spencer Dinwiddie (Nets)

2016-17 NBA Year-End Awards

The NBA season ended last night in not-so surprising fashion as the Golden State Warriors got revenge for last year's blown 3-1 series lead by closing out the Cleveland Cavaliers with relative ease in 5 games to clinch their 2nd title of the Steve Kerr-era. Now that the clash of the NBA superteams has concluded, it's time to acknowledge the people that made professional basketball great this season. Here are my picks for all of the NBA's highest individual honors. 


MVP: Russell Westbrook, point guard (Thunder)
As great as James Harden, Kawhi Leonard and Isaiah Thomas were this season, this was still pretty much a no-brainer for me. Not only did Russell Westbrook carry a team that is primarily made up of role players that can't score on a consistent basis to a playoff berth in the ultra-competitive Western Conference, he became the 1st player in over 50 years to average a triple double for the season (31.9 PPG, 10.4 APG, 10.6 RPG). A legitimately mind-boggling season from one of the NBA's finest players. 

Honorable Mentions: James Harden, point/shooting guard (Rockets), Kawhi Leonard, small forward (Spurs), Isaiah Thomas, point guard (Celtics)

Defensive Player of the Year: Draymond Green, power forward (Warriors)
The league's most hated man silenced his critics once again with his finest defensive to-date in 2016-17. The 27-year old serial irritant tied for the league lead in steals (2.0 per game), finished 11th in blocks (1.7 per game) and most importantly, re-enforced his status as a virtuoso defender by locking down the best players at all 5 positions throughout the season. He might lack the scoring prowess of his fellow All-Star teammates, but Green's versatility and consistency as a defender makes him one of the most important players on the Warriors loaded roster.
Honorable Mentions: Rudy Gobert, center (Jazz), Kawhi Leonard, small forward (Spurs), Anthony Davis, power forward/center (Pelicans)

Coach of the Year: Mike D'Antoni (Rockets)
After a pair of painful tenures with the Knicks and Lakers, the 2016-17 Rockets reminded the NBA community how effective Mike D'Antoni's frantic offensive system can be with the right group of players. D'Antoni's run-and-jack up 3's philosophy proved to be a perfect fit for this roster's "score a shitload of points, play defense when you can" mentality as he able to get the Rockets back into the top 3 of the Western Conference with a 55-27 season following a disappointing 2015-16 campaign that was derailed by a whole lot of internal dysfunction. 
Honorable Mentions: Brad Stevens (Celtics), Quin Snyder (Jazz), Erik Spoelstra (Heat)

Most Improved Player: Nikola Jokic, power forward/center (Nuggets)
During his rookie year in 2015-16, Nikola Jokic surprised the hell out of a lot of people with his relatively seamless transition from Europe to the NBA and ability as a 2-way player. In 2016-17, the Serbian-born big man that was considered a low-upside developmental player when the Nuggets selected him in the 2nd round back in 2014 proved why he deserves to be considered one of the league's most exciting young stars. Jokic's shooting touch (57.8% FG, 6th in the NBA), physical presence on the glass (9.8 RPG, 13th in the NBA) and spectacular passing (4.9 APG, tied for 3rd among big men in the NBA) was the main reason the Nuggets- who have the 5th youngest roster in the league- greatly overachieved (40-42, 9th in the Western Conference) in 2016-17.
Honorable Mentions: Giannis Antetokounmpo, small forward (Bucks), Rudy Gobert, center (Jazz), Dion Waiters, shooting guard (Heat)

Rookie of the Year: Joel Embiid, center (76ers)
Screw the small sample size, there wasn't another rookie that came anywhere close to sniffing Joel Embiid's level of production this season. The former number 3 overall pick took the league by storm in the 31 games he played this season, averaging 20.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game on A STRICT MINUTES RESTRICTION. If Embiid can finally escape the injury bug that has plagued him since he got drafted in 2014, there's no doubt in my mind that he'll blossom into an elite, do-it-all stretch 4/5. 
Honorable Mentions: Dario Saric, power forward (76ers), Malcolm Brogdon, point guard (Bucks), Jaylen Brown, small forward (Celtics)

Sixth Man of the Year: Eric Gordon, shooting guard (Rockets)
Eric Gordon was one of the handful of free agents the Rockets brought in for the sole purpose of giving Mike D'Antoni more perimeter shooters to play with and holy hell, did it end paying dividends. With the freedom to pull the trigger from deep whenever he had an open look. Gordon put together his most productive season since 2012-13, averaging 16.1 points per game and gave the Rockets the consistent spark-scorer off the bench they'd lacked since they dealt Courtney Lee to the Celtics in 2012.
Honorable Mentions: Lou Williams, point guard (Lakers/Rockets), Andre Igoudala, small forward (Warriors), Tim Hardaway Jr., shooting guard (Hawks)

All-NBA Teams:
1st team:
Guard: Russell Westbrook (Thunder)
Guard: James Harden (Rockets)
Forward: Kawhi Leonard (Spurs)
Forward: LeBron James (Cavaliers)
Center: Anthony Davis (Pelicans)

2nd team:
Guard: Isaiah Thomas (Celtics)
Guard: Demar DeRozan (Raptors)
Forward: Kevin Durant (Warriors)
Forward: Giannis Antetokumpo (Bucks)
Center: Rudy Gobert (Jazz)

3rd team:
Guard: John Wall (Wizards)
Guard: Stephen Curry (Warriors)
Forward: Gordan Hayward (Jazz)
Forward: Jimmy Butler (Bulls)
Center: DeAndre Jordan (Clippers)

All-Defensive Teams:
1st team:
Guard: John Wall (Wizards)
Guard: Avery Bradley (Celtics)
Forward: Kawhi Leonard (Spurs)
Forward: Draymond Green (Warriors)
Center: Rudy Gobert (Jazz)

2nd team:
Guard: Chris Paul (Clippers)
Guard: Klay Thompson (Warriors)
Forward: Giannis Antetokumpo (Bucks)
Forward: Kevin Durant (Warriors)
Center: Anthony Davis (Pelicans)