The NBA has announced finalists for Most Valuable Player, Most Improved Player, Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Sixth Man of the Year and Coach of the Year.
Most Valuable Player
- LeBron James (Lakers)
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)
- James Harden (Rockets)
Although Antetokounmpo is favorite to repeat as MVP, LeBron certainly has his supporters.
Most Improved Player
- Bam Adebayo (Heat)
- Luka Doncic (Mavericks)
- Brandon Ingram (Pelicans)
Ingram is the most likely winner with his major strides just ahead of restricted free agency. Though Adebayo didn’t make Rising Stars his first two seasons then became an All-Star his third season, his candidacy is wrongly boosted by him being underrated previously.
Rookie of the Year
- Ja Morant (Grizzlies)
- Zion Williamson (Pelicans)
- Kendrick Nunn (Heat)
Morant will and should run away with this award while Williamson was awesome when on the floor. A breakout player in his second professional season, Nunn could finish ahead of the better but less-available Williamson.
Defensive Player of the Year
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)
- Anthony Davis (Lakers)
- Rudy Gobert (Jazz)
Antetokounmpo could and should join Hakeem Olajuwon and Michael Jordan as the only players to win both MVP and DPOY in the same season. Meanwhile, Gobert and Davis would be worthy runners up.
Sixth Man of the Year
- Montrezl Harrell (Clippers)
- Dennis Schroder (Thunder)
- Lou Williams (Clippers)
Although Harrell had the strongest overall season and has drawn plenty of acclaim for it, Schroder led reserves in points per game, and scoring tends to have an outsized role in award voting.
Coach of the Year
- Mike Budenholzer (Bucks)
- Billy Donovan (Thunder)
- Nick Nurse (Raptors)
Nurse and Budenholzer split the award from their peers. Here’s betting Nurse gets this official recognition and he deserves it for keeping the Raptors humming without Danny Green and Kawhi Leonard amid numerous injuries. Nurse’s defensive creativity is particularly impressive.