Predicting NBA Awards
The NBA season tips off on Tuesday night. Here is how I foresee the major awards playing out this year.
Rookie of the Year: DeAndre Ayton, Phoenix Suns. The former Arizona Wildcat has been a load this preseason, putting up 20 points and 15 rebounds on numerous occasions. I am not so sure Ayton will turn out to be the best pro from the 2018 draft class – I think that may very well be Luka Dončić –but the Suns big man will put up quite dazzling counting numbers in his rookie campaign.
Coach of the Year: Mike Budenholzer, Milwaukee Bucks. Quite frankly, I think this was an easy selection. Milwaukee has an abundance of talent, but has been hampered by their coaching the past few seasons. Over aggressiveness on defensive switches and not utilizing Giannis as a small-ball center were two things that Jason Kidd and Joe Prunty did, or failed to do, that really didn’t make much sense to me.
Most Improved Player: Brandon Ingram, Los Angeles Lakers. It surely helps playing next to LeBron, but I expect Brandon Ingram to really take a leap this season and possibly even make the All-Star Game. He has all of the physical tools and is still so young. I believe this season he will emerge as not only LeBron’s sidekick, but also as a budding superstar in this league.
Sixth Man of the Year: JJ Redick, Philadelphia 76ers. The decision to start Markelle Fultz over JJ seems to be one to try and build the youngster’s confidence. I think that will prove to be a prudent move by Brett Brown. Not only do I anticipate Fultz to emerge from his yearlong sabbatical, but I fully expect JJ Redick to be a sniper off of Philly’s bench. It has been a long while since JJ wasn’t a starter, but I expect him to take this opportunity and run with it.
Defensive Player of the Year: Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz. He won it last year and I think he will do so again this season. Gobert is the heart and soul of probably the best defensive unit in the NBA. I am not sure there has been a more dominant defensive player than Gobert since peak Dwight Howard.
MVP: LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers. This has all of the makings. The Lakers are supposed to be mediocre. They’re a cast of misfits. The Western Conference is so difficult. I could go on. If LeBron can guide the Lakers to a top-four seed, which I believe that he will, I think The King will stake claim to his fifth MVP award.
