Written by Yaniv Horenstein, Leo Schulhof, and Tal Cohen
Most Valuable Player
Honorable Mentions: Luka Doncic (Dallas), Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana), Jayson Tatum (Boston), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee)
Front runners:
Joel Embiid- Philadelphia 76ers
To all the NBA fans who questioned 2022-23 MVP recipient Joel Embiid’s legitimacy as the most valuable player in the league, the Philadelphia big man is currently silencing the naysayers with a statement season. Following the convoluted loss of James Harden, it wasn’t clear if his absence would affect Embiid’s performance in a negative or a positive way, but as Tyrese Maxey has risen to fill the secondary role, Embiid has found himself in a position to flourish in a way we haven’t seen before. Halfway through the season, Embiid is averaging a ridiculous 35 points, 12 rebounds and six assists per game, along with a steal and two blocks per game. This puts him firmly as the points leader in the league, top five in rebounds per game, and top ten in blocks per game. Not only are his individual stats incredible, but he is the main contributor to their team success this season, boasting a record of 22-10 on the year, good for third in the East. If NBA fans want to contest Embiid winning MVP as they did the year prior, it might speak volumes to the disdain people have for Embiid, and can you blame them? When the big man drops fifty points and grabs fifteen rebounds against your favorite team and breaks out his infamous hip-thrusting celebration, he becomes an easy player to root against. Regardless of how you feel about him, he should be considered the front-runner for the MVP award this season.
Nikola Jokic- Denver Nuggets
Nikola Jokic is continuing to make a case to end up as one of the best centers in NBA history. The 28-year-old big man is nearly averaging a triple-double, putting up 26 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists per game. The reigning Finals MVP is effortlessly tearing apart defenses, leaving teams with no answer for the offensive wizard. Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid have been the frontrunners for the MVP award the last three seasons, and it looks like this season will be no different. Voter fatigue might be a factor in why Jokic isn’t the top candidate as he has been putting up historic numbers for years now.
Dark-horse candidate:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander- Oklahoma City Thunder
If the MVP award is given to the player with the most value to his team, it’s hard to argue against the case brought forth by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. There is an argument that SGA is the best offensive and best defensive player on his team, which currently holds a 23-9 record, second place in the Western Conference, and fourth best in the league. SGA is the number one option on his team, and it’s not even close. He attempts 21 shots per game at 55% accuracy, with the next highest player attempting 13. The 25-year-old scores his points all over the court, but his downhill attack towards the basket is his most lethal weapon. Gilgeous-Alexander, at six-foot-six-inches, attempts the third most two-pointers in the league at 17.2, behind only Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo who are near seven-feet tall. SGA averages 31 points, six rebounds, and six assists. On defense, he lockdowns his opponent, and leads the league in steals per game with 2.6. Gilgeous-Alexander’s dominance deserves a look at MVP, as he is elite on both ends of the floor, translating to wins for his team.
Defensive Player of the Year
Honorable Mentions: Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio), Rudy Gobert (Minnesota), Brook Lopez (Milwaukee), Joel Embiid (Philadelphia)
Front runners:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander- Oklahoma City Thunder
It’s easy to overlook the defense of elite offensive players. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is an incredible scorer, but this season he’s put clamps on his opponent. SGA leads the league in steals with 2.6 per game. The current second place for steals in the league is Donovan Mitchell with 1.9, creating a positive margin of .7. As it currently stands, this is the largest margin from first to second place in steals per game since 1986. Shai also leads the league in defensive rating amongst starters in the NBA, and he’s often guarding the best opposing player. If SGA keeps this up, we may see his name in both the MVP and DPOY conversations at the end of the season.
Anthony Davis- Los Angeles Lakers
Anthony Davis is having one of the best seasons of his Hall of Fame career. He is the healthiest he’s been in a long time and not only has he been an offensive powerhouse, but he’s been a defensive anchor for the In-Season Tournament Champions. Davis is averaging 2.6 blocks and 1.2 steals per game and is the main reason why the Lakers are a top-10 defensive team. Davis has the third best defensive rating in the league at 107.5 and has been locking down some of the best centers in the league. If he can stay healthy the rest of the season, he will easily be a top candidate for Defensive Player of the Year.
Dark-horse candidate:
Chet Holmgren- Oklahoma City Thunder
Chet Holmgren has been on a tear in his rookie season. While competing with Victor Wembanyama for Rookie of the Year is impressive enough, Holmgren could do something this season that has never been done before; win Defensive Player of the Year as a rookie. Chet is currently averaging 2.6 blocks per game and is the primary disruptor in the paint for the Oklahoma City Thunder. His height and wingspan make him a difficult defender to score over and is a substantial piece to the Thunder becoming a top five team in defensive rating this season.
Sixth Man of the Year
Honorable Mentions: Bogdan Bogdanovic (Atlanta), Malik Monk (Sacramento), Caris Levert (Cleveland)
Front runners:
Tim Hardaway Jr.- Dallas Mavericks
If anyone is deserving of Sixth Man of the Year, it’s Tim Hardaway Jr. While his game typically flies under the radar, Hardaway is having one of the best seasons of his career, tied for the most points per game off the bench this season, averaging 17 points per game. Hardaway is a huge reason for the Maverick's success this season, especially providing a scoring spark during Kyrie Irving's absence. After an extremely disappointing season last year, most people weren’t sure how the Mavericks would work in the Luka and Kyrie era, but now that the role players have bought in, and they have one of the best bench players in the league, this team can now compete with some of the best teams in the league.
Cole Anthony- Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic are off to one of their best starts to a season in over a decade and a lot of that is thanks to the spark that Cole Anthony provides off the bench. This young team exudes energy each night, thanks to players like Jalen Suggs, and Franz Wagner making each game a surprisingly fun and competitive matchup. Anthony keeps that energy leading the second unit on both sides of the ball averaging 14 points, four rebounds, four assists, a steal, and half a block per game. While his numbers have dropped slightly in December, Cole’s contributions go beyond the stat sheet and should be considered a top candidate for Sixth Man of the Year.
Austin Reaves- Los Angeles Lakers
Austin Reaves has been making a great case for the Sixth Man of the Year award this season. He averages 15 points, five assists, and five rebounds, good for the best season of his career yet, all while doing it alongside Lebron James and Anthony Davis. The biggest problem that Reaves will face is the ongoing changes in the lineups for the Lakers. Reaves may see his minutes fluctuate, which often makes it hard for players to maintain consistency. However, as it stands right now, Reaves provides much needed scoring and playmaking for the Lakers second unit and should be considered a leading candidate for Sixth Man of the Year.
Rookie of the Year
Honorable Mentions: Derek Lively II (Dallas), Brandon Miller (Charlotte)
Front runners:
Victor Wembanyama- San Antonio Spurs
The race for Rookie of the Year is as competitive as it’s ever been. Two generational talents are showcasing their skills and putting the league on notice in their first season. Victor Wembanyama is proving to be a freak of nature displaying his athleticism, shooting ability, and handles while standing at 7’4. His defensive prowess and shot-blocking ability make it hard for most teams to score, averaging three blocks per game. There was a lot of hype surrounding the Wembanyama name going into this season and so far, he has not disappointed averaging 19 points, and ten rebounds with multiple highlights in every game. Despite his amazing performance, his play hasn’t translated to winning basketball yet as his team has the worst record in the Western Conference. If Wembanyama can keep growing as a player, and help his team win some more games, he has a great chance at winning Rookie of the Year.
Chet Holmgren- Oklahoma City Thunder
Not only is Chet Holmgren in the mix for Defensive Player of the Year, but he’s also a front-runner in the Rookie of the Year race. After missing all of last season with a foot injury, Holmgren has been exceptional in his rookie campaign, standing out with his unique combination of size, skill, and agility. The seven-foot-one-inch center has been dynamic on offense, showing glimpses of his Kevin Durant-like scoring ability, while also serving as an elite rim protector. His ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor through shot-blocking, rebounding, and scoring is remarkable. Holmgren is averaging 18 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and 2.6 blocks per game. His contributions play a crucial part to the Oklahoma City Thunder holding the second-best record in the West, with hopes of making a playoff run in early April.
Dark-horse candidate:
Jaime Jaquez Jr.- Miami Heat
Holmgren and Wembanyama may be running away with this award, but Jaime Jaquez Jr. deserves some respect on his name. The rookie out of UCLA is averaging 14 points, four rebounds, three assists, and over one steal a game off the bench for the Miami Heat. He shoots over 50% from the field, and over 35% from three. Jaquez Jr. has been named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month multiple times. He’s the rookie to place in the top ten in his draft class for average points, rebounds, assists, steals, field goal percentage, and free throw percentage. Jaquez Jr. is extremely valuable to the Heat and should be considered the steal of the draft.
Most Improved Player
Honorable Mentions: Coby White (Chicago), Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana)
Front runners:
Tyrese Maxey- Philadelphia 76ers
The departure of James Harden opened the door for a new era for the 76ers where Tyrese Maxey could be featured as the indisputable second option to Joel Embiid. It would be an understatement to say that Maxey is thriving in his new role for the team. The 23-year-old point guard, now in his fourth year in the league, is averaging career highs across the board with 26 points, six assists, and four rebounds for the Sixers. His statistics amount to a 5.6 increase in points, 2.9 increase in assists, and .8 increase in rebounds. Maxey will likely become an all-star for the first time in his career, and he and Embiid are leading the Sixers to a 23-10 record, good for third in the East.
Alperen Sengun- Houston Rockets
The young center from Houston is developing into a formidable center before our eyes. Much like a young Nikola Jokic, Sengun has the court vision of a veteran guard. And while his ability to pass the rock is a standout in itself, he has also made himself a reliable scorer at the rim. Sengun is averaging 22 points, nine rebounds and five assists per game, a significant leap from his stats last year: 15 points, nine rebounds and four assists a game. This puts Sengun firmly in the Most Improved Player conversation.
Scottie Barnes- Toronto Raptors
Scottie Barnes is the franchise player in Toronto, which cannot be said about the other front runners for Most Improved Player. Last year, Barnes played a crucial role to the team, but was arguably not even a top-three option. He attempted the fifth most field goals and scored the fifth most points. He placed third on his team in rebounds, third in assists, third in blocks, and sixth in steals. This year, Barnes is top-two on his team in all the same categories, including leading the team in blocks, steals, and rebounds. He is averaging 6.7 more points, 2.7 more rebounds, and .9 more assists. With Toronto trading OG Anunoby in the last week, fans are now calling for the trade of Pascal Siakam to allow Barnes to reach his full potential as the best player on the Raptors.
Clutch Player of the Year
Honorable mentions: LeBron James (LA Lakers), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC)
Front runners:
Damian Lillard- Milwaukee Bucks
No one is more fitting for Clutch Player of the Year than the man who’s nicknamed for his ability to score at the end of the game --- Dame Time. The Milwaukee Bucks acquired Dame to help relieve Giannis of the pressure when it comes down to the final few minutes and so far, he hasn’t disappointed. Lillard has played 17 games that called for clutch shots where he’s averaging a league-best 4.8 points per game. While his numbers might have dropped in his first season with his new team, when the lights shine the brightest, nobody is more cold-blooded than Damian Lillard.
Tyrese Haliburton- Indiana Pacers
Tyrese Haliburton has officially blossomed into superstardom and a lot of that is thanks to the big-time shots he’s hit in crucial moments. Haliburton is shooting 72% from the field in clutch minutes and his team has a plus 35 net rating when he’s on the court in the final five minutes of the game. It’s especially important to acknowledge the team’s overall success in the clutch because of Haliburton’s exceptional playmaking abilities creating easy shots for his teammates as well. Haliburton is the conductor of the best offense in the NBA, however, they are one of the worst defensive teams in the league which leads to many close games so expect more clutch moments from him throughout the rest of the season.
Dark-horse candidate:
Steph Curry- Golden State Warriors
Before this season, Steph Curry’s main weakness was his performance in “clutch” minutes. This year, however, Steph Curry might be the most clutch player in the entire NBA. The Golden State Warriors are struggling, and with a struggling team comes close games. Steph Curry has competed in 23 games that were tight battles in need of clutch baskets. He’s scored 4.3 points during clutch moments in those games. He is currently tied with a few other players for wins in close games. While Curry may not be leading the race for Clutch Player of the Year, if the Warriors continue to play in close games, it will open the door for big-time buckets by the league’s best all-time shooter.
Coach of the Year
Honorable mentions: Jamahl Moseley (Orlando), Rick Carlisle (Indiana), Ime Udoka (Houston), Nick Nurse (Philadelphia)
Front runner:
Chris Finch- Minnesota Timberwolves
Chris Finch deserves all the praise in the world for how he’s been able to coach this Minnesota Timberwolves team. After an abysmal season last year trying to figure out how Karl Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert would work out playing together, everyone was convinced the front court was destined to fail. This season, however, Finch is proving everyone wrong as the Minnesota Timberwolves are currently the number one seed in the Western Conference with a 24-9 record. A lot of their success is thanks to the incredible season Anthony Edwards is having stepping up as the number one option for the team. Edwards is averaging 27 points, five rebounds, five assists, and one steal per game. Finch has gotten his entire team to buy into their current system and getting great production from players like Naz Reid, Jaden McDaniels, and Kyle Anderson to help support the heavy star power on this team. The Timberwolves haven’t looked this promising since Kevin Garnett was on the team in the early 2000’s, and if Finch can keep his team amongst the top of a very competitive Western Conference, there is no one more fitting for Coach of the Year.
Joe Mazzulla- Boston Celtics
Joe Mazzulla currently has the pleasure of boasting leadership over the number one team in the entire league, the Boston Celtics, with a record of 28-7. While a lot can be said about the loaded roster that the Celtics have, Mazzulla is a large component in translating talent into winning basketball. Many people had doubts about Mazzulla’s ability to coach given that he is the youngest coach in the league with the keys to one of the most important franchises in basketball, and after their loss to the Heat last year in the Eastern Conference finals, there were talks about whether Mazzulla would continue to run the show in Boston. This year, he’s proven that he can handle the position, and with it, help Boston contend for another banner.
Dark-horse candidate:
Mark Daigneault- Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder may have a talented roster, but no one predicted this young squad to be title contenders this year. With a 23-9 record, good for second in the West, and fourth in the NBA, the Thunder are proving very difficult to beat. That is two seasons in a row were the Thunder, led by Head Coach Mark Daigneault, have exceeded expectations. Daigneault has been coaching the Thunder for four seasons, and in every season, they have improved their win total. This is the only team he’s been a head coach for in the NBA, and yet he is teaching them to succeed in all aspects of the sport. The Thunder are the only team to be top-five in the NBA in points per game, field goal percentage, three-point percentage, steals, blocks, and fewest turnovers. He develops his young players, as his roster has an average age of 24.12 years old, the second youngest team in the league. He may or may not win Coach of the Year this season but expect his name to be in the mix for years to come.