Periodically, NBA. com writers will weigh scenarios or key themes in the League.
With the NBA’s midway through the season coming up this week, list the winners of your season so far.
Kia MVP = Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
Kia Rookie of the Year = Jaylen Wells, Memphis Grizzlies
Kia’s Defensive Player = Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
Kia Sixth Man of the Year = Payton Pritchard, Boston Celtics
Kia Most Improved Player = Dyson Daniels, Atlanta Hawks
Kia Clutch Player of the Year = Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
NBA coach = Jamahl Mosley, Orlando Magic
A nine games in the qualification is my reason, not the fatigue of the voters, for having selected Gilgous-Aalexander in Nikola Jokić as MVP. (Jokić remains the most productive player in the league, like LeBron James when Derrick Rose defeated him by the award in 2011. ) Wells is my king for his consistency and his bidirectional work. Wembanyama above Lu Dort Du Thunder may have been my closest call. Daniels went up to the scrap possible after leaving New Orleans. Pritchard is a human sweater for Celtics. Gilgeous -Alexander presents an average of 45. 4 problems consistent with 36 minutes of clutch, reached 60% depth, and obtains bonus problems to ensure that the Thunder only had 12 games that qualify. Keeping magic afloat through primary lesions means that Mosley on my way in Mosley.
Kia MVP = Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
Kia Rookie of the Year = Alexandre Sarr, Washington Wizards
Kia Defensive Player of the Year = Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
Kia sixth man of the year = d’A Andre Hunter, Atlanta Hawks
Kia Player Máximo took a step forward = Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
Kia Clutch Player of the Year = Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
NBA Coach of the Year = Jamahl Mosley, Orlando Magic
As ridiculous as Jokić’s stats are — top three in points, rebounds and assists and leading the league in 3-point percentage — Gilgeous-Alexander matches the scoring, is top three in steals and has the Thunder on a 69-win pace. That’s enough to tip the scales (ever so slightly) in his favor. The only team on a higher win pace than OKC is Cleveland at 71 wins, but Kenny Atkinson didn’t get my nod for COY. Instead, it went to Mosley, who appears to be working actual magic to keep the Magic in the top four in the East despite an onslaught of injuries to key players.
Kia MVP = Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
Kia recruits from = Yves Missi, New Orleans Pins
Kia Defensive Player of the Year = Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
Kia sixth man of the year = d’A Andre Hunter, Atlanta Hawks
Kia player The maximum stepped up = Norman Powell, the Clippers
Kia Clutch Player of the Year = Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
NBA Coach = ime Udoka, Houston Rockets
The MVP race is the most suspenseful. I have Gilgeous-Alexander right now, but this could change to Jokić once you’re done reading this. If the Nuggets finish top-three in the West and “The Joker” is top-three in points, rebounds and assists per game? That could swing it in his favor. The least competitive race is for Kia DPOY as Wembanyama has this trophy, ahem, locked up. Most Improved remains a weird award, and I don’t give it to a former lottery pick who finally plays like one. Powell represents the true spirit of the award: someone who goes next level without warning.
KIA MVP = Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
Kia Rookie of the Year = Jaylen Wells, Memphis Grizzlies
Kia defensive of the year = Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers
Kia Sixth Man of the Year = Caris Lever, Cleveland Cavaliers
Kia Most Improved Player = De’Andre Hunter, Atlanta Hawks
Player of the Year Kia Clutch = Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers
NBA year coach = Kenny Atkinson, Cleveland Cavaliers
Kia MVP is a two-man race and neither is a wrong answer, but give the edge to Jokić because of the ridiculous box-score numbers and even more ridiculous on-off differential. Similarly, Victor Wembanyama is a fine selection for Kia DPOY, but Mobley (more contested shots, similar impact, better isolation numbers) gets the edge for now. Hunter is a good candidate for Sixth Man of the Year, but is the pick for Most Improved instead, averaging career-best per-36 numbers by a wide margin while also seeing a jump in efficiency. The Cavs have been the league’s best team, including its best team in the clutch (14-2), where Garland has shot a ridiculous 19-for-29, with an assist/turnover ratio of 10/1.