The hardware won’t be given out until after the postseason on June 24, but here are my picks for the 2018-19 NBA awards.
MVP
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo • 2. James Harden • 3. Paul George • 4. • 5. Damian Lillard.
There’s a reasonable argument to make for both Antetokounmpo and Harden, but I can’t ignore how the Bucks improved by 16 wins on last year’s campaign while the Rockets fell by 12. And while Harden has improved significantly as a defender, Antetokounmpo is such an imposing figure that he gets the lion’s share of the credit for Milwaukee’s top-ranked defense. Paul George has been invaluable to the Thunder on both ends of the court, and Nikola Jokic’s emergence as Denver’s franchise star has been incredible to watch. From a national perspective, I understand that Jokic can be an acquired taste. Seeing him every day and hearing opposing coaches compare his passing to Magic Johnson is significant. He’s the reason an inexperienced, injury-riddled outfit is the No. 2 seed.
Most Improved
1. Pascal Siakam • 2.D’Angelo Russell • 3. Domantas Sabonis.
Pascal Siakam’s rise has been so stunning and swift that itap fair to wonder whether he’ll make another sizable jump next season. After averaging 7.3 points in 20 minutes per game last season, Toronto’s malleable forward posted 16.9 points per game in almost 32 minutes a night while simultaneously playing elite defense. His inside game, his footwork and his 3-point shooting have all taken massive strides. Russell deserved serious consideration as well as he elevated his game to All-Star levels and took the Nets back to the postseason. While not making as big a leap in terms of production, Sabonis has been a lynchpin for the Pacers off the bench. Only five players in the NBA shot better than his 59 percent from the field while playing at least 23 minutes per game.
Sixth Man
1. Lou Williams • 2. Montrezl Harrell • 3. Domantas Sabonis.
Lou Williams is the best scorer on the best bench for a team that overachieved. In fact, he led the Clippers in scoring with 20 points per night. If Williams wins, it will be the third time in the last five years that he’s taken home the hardware. His bruising teammate Harrell plays with the energy of an entire bench mob, and the two have devised a complementary scheme that undermines opposing reserve units. To go from second-round project to what he’s become – a monster on the glass – is a testament to him buying into his role off the bench.
Rookie of the Year
1. Luka Doncic • 2. Trae Young • 3. DeAndre Ayton.
Even if his shooting percentages waned in the second half, Luka Doncic has transcendent talent. His awareness coupled with his basketball acumen is evident watching him even just for a game. Young did everything in his power to make it a race, but it was probably too late. That doesn’t mean what he did since the All-Star break was anything short of astonishing. Since then he’s averaged 24.7 points and 9.2 assists per game. Even more impressive, the Hawks won as many games (10) as playoff-bound Indiana. Both players, if they’re not already, are going to be stars.
Coach of the Year
1. Mike Budenholzer • 2. Michael Malone • 3. Nate McMillan.
Budenholzer transformed a Bucks team into an offensive juggernaut and turned a middling defensive team into the NBA’s stingiest unit. Of course, having the MVP frontrunner never hurts, but it still takes a coach to unlock Antetokounmpo’s most lethal form.
That “Bud” gets the nod isn’t to detract from what Malone did with the Nuggets. It is mildly stunning to go from a team on the outside of the postseason all the way to the No. 2 seed without any huge roster overhaul. He empowered Nikola Jokic to take over the offense, weathered injuries to 60 percent of his starters, crafted a top-10 defense, unleashed and honed multiple 6th man candidates and pulled the strings as Denver navigated uncharted territory. Under his watch, the Nuggets are the only team in the NBA to increase their win total throughout the past four years. In no uncertain terms, Malone has done a hell of a job.
Defensive Player of the Year
1. Rudy Gobert • 2. Paul George • 3. Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The most integral piece of the second-best defense in the NBA, Rudy Gobert makes everything easier for the . His mobility in the paint lets their perimeter defenders stay home, and, consequently, the Jazz allow the second-fewest made 3-pointers in the league. Gobert has the second-most blocks in the league among qualified players, and his defensive FG percentage (53.2) ranks fourth in the NBA on 7.7 attempts per game. George probably has less help than Gobert or Antetokounmpo, but the advanced metrics all support Gobertap claim.
Rookie first team: Luka Doncic, Trae Young, DeAndre Ayton, Jaren Jackson Jr., Marvin Bagley III
Rookie second team: Collin Sexton, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Mitchell Robinson, Kevin Huerter, Landry Shamet
Defense first team: Rudy Gobert, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Paul George, Danny Green, Eric Bledsoe
Defense second team: Myles Turner, Pascal Siakam, , Klay Thompson, Jrue Holiday
All-NBA first team: Steph Curry, James Harden, Paul George, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic
All-NBA second team: Damian Lillard, Kyrie Irving, , Blake Griffin, Joel Embiid
All-NBA third team: Russell Westbrook, Bradley Beal, , Kawhi Leonard, Rudy Gobert
