NBA Award Selections
Most Valuable Player
Schwartz- LeBron James, SF/PG, Los Angeles Lakers.
Honorable Mention: Giannis Antetokounmpo, PF, Milwaukee Bucks
In one of the tightest MVP races of all time, I have sided with the best player in the world, rather than the trendiest. LeBron does things that nobody else could do, seamlessly slipping into the role of essentially a 6’9” 260 pound point guard and serving as the sole ball handler and distributor in a Lakers offense that is completely hapless when he sits on the sideline. Under The King, LA has raced out to the West’s best record and the NBA’s second-best point differential, but when he is on the sideline, the Lakers actually allow more points than they score, even when Anthony Davis is playing. But beyond the numbers, they simply become a painful team to watch, certainly not the title contender that they are. No one player has such a resounding effect like LeBron, who elevates his team from lottery participant to NBA favorites. He’s also leading the league in assists this season, setting a career high with 10.6 per game thus far, while still serving as the dominant scoring force we know he can be when it’s been needed, producing 20 games where he has cracked the 30-point plateau. His defense has improved, as he has learned to replace the freakish athleticism that characterized his early career with veteran wile that helps him manipulate the game in all phases, as he currently ranks third in defensive win shares among players who have appeared in at least 50 contests. And as any MVP should, he dominated on the biggest stages, handling Giannis and the Bucks as well as his crosstown rivals, the Clippers, in two banner performances just before play stopped. Giannis has had a stunning two-way impact, scoring nearly 30 points per game while vaulting himself into Defensive Player of the Year consideration, and putting up insane numbers for a player who plays just around 30 minutes a night. The thing is, that without Giannis, the Bucks are diminished, but still a playoff team. They can afford to play most of the fourth quarter without him each night, as evidenced by his minutes- the Lakers cannot do the same with LeBron, because he is simply too valuable.
Wayne - Giannis Antetokounmpo, PF, Milwaukee Bucks. Honorable MentionL LeBron James, PG/SF, Los Angeles Lakers
Come on, Schwartz. Is LeBron having a dominant season? Sure. But when you start diving into historic metrics, it becomes obvious that Giannis deserves the MVP award this year. Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, LeBron James. Those are the only players who have produced a better Player Efficiency Rating in a season than what Giannis has done this season. LeBron has only beaten Giannis’s current 31.6 PER once. Giannis’s stats fly off the freaking screen - 29.6 points, 13.7 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game. That’s before you realize that he’s only played 30 damn minutes per game. Per 36 minutes, his numbers sit at 34.5 points, 16 rebounds, and 6.7 assists - that’s absolutely obscene. Practically every advanced metric you work through puts him in an impressive historic light among all-time greats. Before the NBA season was cut short due to pandemic-related obstacles, Giannis’s Bucks were on pace for a 67-win season (currently 53-12). The Bucks have a 28-3 home record and their +11.2 points differential ranks over 4 points per game better than the next-best team. Giannis’s defensive metrics are also absurd (more on that shortly) and he’s arguably the best defender in the NBA today. Schwartz mentioned the more recent Lakers win over the Bucks in Los Angeles shortly before play stopped. However, Giannis shut down LeBron in the two teams’ first matchup back in December to the tune of 8-19 shooting and just 21 points. LeBron did have a triple double in that game, but Giannis was dominant with 34 points, 11 rebound, and 7 assists in just 32 minutes. Giannis also held LeBron to just two points over the final ten minutes of that game. The concept that Giannis isn’t as valuable to the Bucks because he plays less minutes is flawed logic - the reason he’s able to sit on the bench late in many games is because of the massive impact he makes early in the contest. Giannis’s net rating is absurd and the game is often over before it really even starts when he’s playing, especially in Milwaukee. There’s no more impactful player in basketball than the Greek Freak - yes, even LeBron James. LeBron has turned back the clock this season in Los Angeles, reinventing himself as a floor general who controls the flow of the game on both ends of the floor. However, he’s not even the statistical leader in most categories for the Lakers - that would be Anthony Davis - and while LeBron’s plus/minus is much better than his Unibrowed teammate, he isn’t asked to shoulder as much of a burden as Giannis. For the first four months of the season it looked like Giannis was running away with this award and if the season wasn’t abruptly stopped, LeBron likely would have made a real run at MVP, but I’m sticking with Giannis.
Defensive Player of the Year
Schwartz- Anthony Davis, C/PF, Los Angeles Lakers.
HM: Giannis Antetokounmpo, PF, Milwaukee Bucks
Other than a healthy LeBron, the biggest difference between last year’s Lakers and the 2019-20 iteration is the addition of Anthony Davis. This year, LA has the third-best defensive rating in the NBA (105.5) as compared to 13th last year. Undoubtedly, the addition of such a physically dominant big man has been a large contributor to that shift. He is imposing enough to play inside against other big men, yet athletic enough to often play on the outside and guard against the three pointer against skilled wings, if the situation necessitates it. He has blocked 2.4 shots per game, and limited opponents’ options all season long as the face of LA’s defensive revolution. Giannis has analytically been an absolute monster on the defensive end, holding opponents to less than a point per possession, but I give Davis the edge due to the value of filling the role of a traditional defensive center while also being able to provide high-level help on the outside.
Wayne - Giannis Antetokounmpo, PF, Milwaukee Bucks.
HM - Anthony Davis, PF/C, Los Angeles Lakers.
The conversation for defensive player of the year for me starts with the best defensive team this season - the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks lead the NBA in defensive rating by far - 3 points per 100 possessions better than the next-best team. The Bucks’ 101.9 points allowed per 100 possessions is the 2nd-best mark in NBA history, behind just the 1995-96 Bulls. Giannis has obviously been a huge part of this; he leads the NBA in all of the following - defensive win shares, defensive box plus minus, and defensive rating. Giannis also ranks inside the top five players in the NBA this season in opponents’ points off turnovers and opponents’ second chance points (minimum 30 minutes per game). He also leads the NBA in defensive field goal percentage allowed (minimum 55 games played and 10 shot attempts against per game). The Bucks have produced historic defensive efficiency this season on the back of an all-time great season from their best player. Giannis deserves to be honored with his second MVP award and first DPOY.
Rookie of the Year
Schwartz- Ja Morant, PG, Memphis Grizzlies
HM: Kendrick Nunn, SG, Miami Heat
I’m aware that the best first-year player in the NBA this season has been Zion Williamson. I have no doubt that the Pels’ new superstar will be an award-magnet over the course of his career, but that will just have to wait. As impressive as Zion has been, his 20 or so games of high-level play are simply not enough to even vault him into consideration for this award, as this rookie class has produced strong performers who have been balling since opening day. Far and above the rest has been the Grizzlies’ star guard Ja Morant. Ja has been lethal since day one, helping to lead the Grizzlies on a surprise playoff push. He’s averaged 17.6 points and 6.9 assists, an extremely promising start for a young floor general. For the first time in some time, the future is bright in Memphis, and this can be attributed in large part to their prized rookie. Another team that hopes to return to greatness is the Miami Heat, and their ascent has also been aided by strong rookie performances. Along with Kentucky product Tyler Herro, undrafted rookie Kendrick Nunn has provided a spark for the Heat, standing in as a productive and efficient scoring option for a squad that has been a paragon of selfless play and teamwork. Both of these players, as well as Zion and too many others to name, all have an extremely bright future in the NBA- Ja has just distinguished himself among the highly talented group this season.
Wayne - Ja Morant, PG, Memphis Grizzlies.
HM: Zion Williamson, PF, New Orleans Pelicans
Ja Morant is a massive favorite to take home this award, coming in at -3000 on the FanDuel Sportsbook. Zion Williamson is going to end up being the best player from this draft class, but Morant has played over 1,200 more minutes than him this season. There may not have been a more exciting player to watch on League Pass this season than Morant, whether it was his high-flying, dunking antics or his passing wizardry. Ja is one of the most explosive players in the NBA at the moment and reminds me of an early-career Derrick Rose at times. The Grizzlies made a surprising run to the #8 seed before the NBA season was cut short. Morant’s team’s projected win total was set at 26.5 before the season, a benchmark they passed in mid-February. Morant led all rookies in points and assists by a significant margin, as well as win shares and PER. He has a bright future ahead of him in Memphis on a fast-rising roster full of young talent.
Coach of the Year
Schwartz- Brad Stevens, Boston Celtics.
HM: Nick Nurse, Toronto Raptors
There were not a lot of believers in the Celtics after they failed to meet high expectations last season, and then lost (theoretically) their top two players over the offseason as well as several other key cogs. On top of all of that, the team dealt with an almost unbelievable amount of injuries all season long. Still, their coach was able to foster the rapid developments of their young stars, facilitate the redemption arc of a fallen veteran, and keep his team at or near the top of the East by competing with and beating the best teams in the league. He has given life to a franchise that had almost lost hope after a discouraging decade, and shown its fans real reason to believe that there will be success in years to come. Finally healthy, his group will be an interesting one to watch during the league’s return- you can bet that Coach Stevens is already drawing up some master plans for a potential marquee matchup against the rival Philadelphia 76ers. Nick Nurse has also done a fantastic job, as his defending champions lost their MVP, Kawhi Leonard, and hardly missed a beat, staying steady in the top 3 of the east for most of this season. However, even though they lost Kawhi, this team is still the defending champion, and I believe that more credit is due to a coach who rallied his team from a failed season, rather than one that followed the greatest in franchise history with more success.
Wayne - Nick Nurse, Toronto Raptors
HM: Billy Donovan, Oklahoma City Thunder
The Raptors were supposed to lose significantly more games this season after Kawhi Leonard, the reigning champion and Finals MVP, joined the Clippers in free agency. After 58 wins last season, Toronto’s projected win total heading into this season was 46.5. They got to 46 wins in just 64 games and were on pace to win 59 games before the season was postponed. Nick Nurse has had an incredible 2020, winning the NBA championship as a 51-year-old first-year head coach before leading a supposedly worse Raptors team to the #2 seed in the Eastern Conference. Nurse has made player development his trademark skill early in his career, coaxing better-than-expected play out of young players like Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, Fred VanVleet, and Terence Davis. Nurse has built on the Raptors’ success from last season, continuing with the Kawhi-inspired head-down, hard work mentality. Toronto has allowed the fewest opponent points per game this season despite losing Kawhi and Danny Green, and not having a clear-cut All-Defensive team candidate. Anytime a team performs much better than just the sum of its parts, the head coach deserves massive credit for the performance. Along with Nick Nurse, Billy Donovan should earn much more mentions for the Coach of the Year award than was expected heading into this season. After losing Russell Westbrook and Paul George over the offseason, the OKC projected win total fell to 32.5 - they hit that mark in mid-February. Donovan has rallied his team around an unexpected level of talent and has led the Thunder to the #5 seed in a stacked Western Conference.
Most Improved Player
Schwartz- Bam Adebayo, PF/C, Miami Heat
HM: Jayson Tatum, SF/PF, Boston Celtics
If you guys have read any of my basketball writing so far, you know that Jayson Tatum is my favorite basketball player. Nobody has enjoyed watching his superstar leap more than I have, as he ascended from solid player, to fringe all-star, to franchise player who stood toe to toe with the league’s best, and matched or even outplayed them. As much of an unstoppable force as Jayson has been as he improved on both ends of the floor, the recognition for the Most Improved Player belongs to another first-time all-star, but not one who was already in the public eye- a name that only serious fans knew. Miami’s Bam Adebayo rose from relative anonymity to be one of the most important pieces in his team’s success in this season, helping to lead a squad chock-full of new players. He has started every game he’s played in, raising his scoring average from 8.9 to 16.2 and cracking the 10-rebound plateau for the first time, serving as a solid double-double player. His defense, however, is what really sets him apart, as he has been able to defend multiple positions and be an anchor inside against imposing offensive threats. This is one of the most crowded fields for any award- Luka Doncic has made the jump to a top-five MVP candidate and neither myself or Wayne picked him as even a runner-up- but Bam has elevated himself more than any of the other candidates as compared to the player he was just a year ago.
Wayne - Luka Doncic, SG, Dallas Mavericks
HM: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, PG, Oklahoma City Thunder
It’s rare that an MIP candidate also earns MVP votes, but everything Luka Doncic has been able to accomplish has been rare. After averaging 21.2 points per game for an unsuccessful Mavs team in his rookie year, Doncic has elevated his game across the board and is scoring 28.7 points per game for a playoff-bound club. Luka is also averaging 9.3 rebounds and 8.7 assists per game this season and is clearly the best player on a team that has produced the best offensive rating in NBA history - no, that isn’t a typo. Luka Doncic leads the NBA in offensive rating this season and is second in assist percentage behind just LeBron James. In Doncic’s rookie season, the Mavs finished as the 14th seed in the West with a 33-49 record. In his sophomore year, the team had accelerated to a 40-27 record before the NBA season was postponed. Luka was an All-Star this season as a 20-year-old, had the 2nd-most 30+ point games before his 21st birthday (behind just LeBron) and may be set to make the All-NBA First-Team this season. Sure, he already flashed this type of upside in his rookie year, but nobody thought it would all come together this early. Still just 21 years old, it’s unclear how many levels Doncic has under his belt, but he’s improved drastically this season and deserves a nod as the MIP.
SGA has boosted his stats by a considerable margin from his rookie season. His points per game average has shot up from 10.8 to 19.3, more than any 2nd-year player who started a significant amount of games in their rookie season. SGA has also improved from 2.8 rebounds to 6.1 rebounds per game. After a rookie season with the Clippers in which Gilgeous-Alexander flashed upside but never put it all together in terms of statistical success, SGA has elevated his game across the board this season. The Thunder drew a line in the sand with the Paul George trade negotiations, telling the Clippers SGA had to be a part of the deal if they wanted PG13. As a Clippers fan, I will always have some love for Shai, and I saw that star potential in him early on during his days at Kentucky. He deserves more love for this award as currently the 5th or 6th favorite.
6th Man of the Year
Schwartz - Dennis Schroeder, PG, Oklahoma City Thunder
HM: Montrezl Harrell, C, Los Angeles Clippers
I don’t know how we ended up here, but we did- the Oklahoma City Thunder have not one, not two, but three excellent guards in Chris Paul, an All-NBA candidate, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a MIP candidate, and the third, Dennis Schroeder my pick for 6th Man of the Year. The German international has managed 19 points per game, despite only making one appearance in the Thunder’s starting lineup. He’s been effective in leading Oklahoma City’s second unit, facilitating solid offensive production and keeping them in games, providing the Thunder with the ability to get high-level play while giving much-needed rest to the aging CP3. Another close candidate is, as usual, a Los Angeles Clipper, but this year, it isn’t Lou Williams- Montrezl Harrell has passed his teammate as the Clips’ best bench player. Lou’s value has usually been as a pure scorer, but this season, Trez trails him by just .1ppg, essentially a wash. The big man is also an important rebounding presence on a relatively small Clippers team, and helps Doc Rivers’ rotations by shouldering the inside defensive responsibility when the full-time starters are taking a rest. However, he does have another elite bench player on his roster, whereas Schroeder is the sole leader of the Thunder’s second unit. For this reason, the OKC guard is my pick for this award.
Wayne - Lou Williams, SG, Los Angeles Clippers
HM: Derrick Rose, PG, Detroit Pistons.
Sixth man and Lou Williams are synonymous in my head. I hear the song “6 Man” by Drake every time I watch Lou pick up a basketball. Lou Williams named his newborn son “Syx” in a beautiful example of poetic justice - his third-born son named after the award he’s won three times. Dennis Schroder is currently the favorite for this award, but Lou Will is averaging 22.9 points per 36 minutes compared to Schroder’s 22.1. I also favor Lou over Montrezl Harrell due to Williams’s 7.0 assists per 36 minutes - the Clippers rely on him as often their best playmaker on the team. I really hope voters don’t get Lou Will fatigue because he’s still one of the coolest players in basketball and is an ice-cold assassin off the bench.
I also think Derrick Rose deserves a ton of credit for his turnaround this season. He’s done an awesome job of rebuilding his game after the beginning of his career was derailed by his ACL injury and ensuing leg issues. Rose scored 25.2 points per 36 minutes this season off the bench, the 16th-best mark in the NBA and more than Jayson Tatum, Pascal Siakam, Kemba Walker, Nikola Jokic, Chris Paul, and Jimmy Butler, all of whom were All Stars this season. The Pistons have completely flown under the radar this season as a team, going 20-46 and offering little in the way of offensive production. Still, with little help from his teammates, Rose has been an awesome scorer off the bench this season.
