We’re just beyond the midway point of the NBA season and riding through the All-Star break. At this moment, as we said before, it still feels like we know almost nothing about the league.
That won’t stop me from dropping some way too early awards picks for this season, though.
We’ve been without basketball for a week — what else are we supposed to do? Now is the absolute perfect time to drop off some hot takes that will undoubtedly have to be walked back come June. That’s what it’s all about, am I right?
With that being said, let’s jump in.
The 2019-20 NBA MVP: Giannis Antetokounmpo
In a season where it feels like the “no brainer” decisions have come few and far between, this feels like the biggest one of them all. Giannis Antetokounmpo is going to go back-to-back as MVP.
It’s as simple as it gets. He’s the best player on the best team that has a chance to win 70 games this year. The argument starts and ends there. Had James Harden averaged 40 points per game this season? There’s a conversation to be had. Otherwise, the only conversation to be had is about who the runner-up is.
The 2019-20 NBA Rookie of the Year: Ja Morant
It took everything in me not to come in with the hottest take possible and make Zion Williamson’s case, but I won’t do it. It just isn’t right. Ja Morant is the correct answer. The Grizzlies aren’t a playoff team without him.
Williamson’s numbers make a great case alone, but the problem is he just hasn’t played enough. He’s got 10 games under his belt and the Pelicans have 27 total left. His max this season if he plays every game is 37, which isn’t even half a season. The only thing that could possibly bolster his case is the Pels snatching a playoff spot – but Morant and Memphis appear to have that on lock.
The 2019-20 NBA Defensive Player of the Year: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Look, we don’t normally see a player win MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season — only Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon have done it. But this would be completely and absolutely warranted for Giannis.
The Bucks have the NBA’s best defense by far. Their 101.7 defensive rating is a full three points better than the Raptors’ second ranked defense (105.2). Antetokounmpo is their best rim protector by opponent field goal percentage within six feet of the rim.
Would you like another take to go along with this one? If he pulls this off he could retire the very next day and be considered a Hall of Famer.
The 2019-20 NBA Sixth Man of the Year: Split between Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell
Y’all aren’t going to make me choose between one or the other. I’m sorry. We’ve had co-Rookie of the Year’s three times before — why can’t we do it here?
It makes too much sense. They’re second and third in bench scoring behind Oklahoma City’s Dennis Schröder (19.3 points per game) who has a great case himself. But Williams and Harrell are playing on the third best team in the West and have one of the most formidable pick-and-roll combos in the league today. They both deserve to be rewarded for that.
The 2019-20 NBA Most Improved Player: Brandon Ingram
Ingram’s career has been filled with a bunch of turmoil. He arrived following Kobe Bryant’s final season as the No. 2 overall pick with big expectations – and he underperformed in one of the biggest markets.
He finally starts to come into his own in year two, but LeBron James comes in year three and takes the ball out of his hands. (Rightfully so, by the way. It’s LeBron freaking James.) Then, he has a blood clot issue that cuts his season short just as he hit his stride and is traded to the Pelicans in the summer.
This year he blossomed and became a first time All-Star. The Pelicans sure are happy with the way that Anthony Davis trade turned out.
The 2019-20 NBA Coach of the Year: Taylor Jenkins
The Grizzlies are supposed to be a high lottery team. Instead, they’re a playoff team and their best player is a rookie point guard. As special as Morant is, Jenkins should get credit for putting that whole thing together.
Plus, man, that Andre Iguodala situation got hairy. And, somehow, he skated through all of that without a peep. Reward this man.
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