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)
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