2020 NBA Award finalists are here!
2020 NBA Award finalists are here! Yes, yes, the time has come. The time has come for the NBA to announce the finalists for these six awards.
Just as a reminder; these six awards consist of the MVP Award, Rookie of the Year Award, Defensive Player of the Year Award, Sixth Man Award, Coach of the Year Award, and the Most Improved Player of the Year Award.
So, who are the top three finalists for these awards?
Here is the list of players chosen as finalists for these awards:
Most Valuable Player
• Giannis Antetokounmpo
• James Harden
• LeBron James
Rookie of the Year
• Ja Morant
• Kendrick Nunn
• Zion Williamson
Defensive Player of the Year
• Giannis Antetokounmpo
• Anthony Davis
• Rudy Gobert
Sixth Man Award
• Montrezl Harrell
• Dennis Schröder
• Lou Williams
Most Improved Player
• Bam Adebayo
• Luka Dončić
• Brandon Ingram
Coach of the Year
• Mike Budenholzer
• Billy Donovan
• Nick Nurse
Breaking down who will win each award!
Needless to say, this has been a crazy NBA Bubble Restart. From the standpoint of the Suns winning consistently, Nets actually getting a shot in the playoffs, good players went okay, and good turnouts in teams. Picking who will be winning each award is hard to judge this year, especially with everyone getting back into the flow.
Good news for them is this, these top three candidates of each category look primer than ever in this Restart Season. So, without further of due, here are my picks for all six of these awards:
First off, the MVP Award.
The MVP Award is very interesting, we have everyone saying it should be LeBron or people saying it should be Gianni. But, should it be James Harden? First of all, I believe it is hard to compare by stats. How? well, each player is dominating a different category; like Harden with scoring points, or with Giannis grabbing rebounds.
I truly believe, since the Bubble, Giannis has been the only one to really rebound (no pun attended) after missing several months (due to COVID-19). Even though they have been having their strong days, Giannis has been the only one being able to get 30+ points per game. He only missed one game, which was against the Nets.
To me, personally, Giannis has been adapting and growing better in the Bubble than a lot of big men have. LeBron has been shaky since starting and Harden lost his momentum on offense, Harden can do things on offense but not his signature shot (like a few months ago) and his dribbling (like a few months ago).
I believe there is a reason why Harden has been left out of the conversation for MVP, I believe that this award (currently) is only meant for Giannis and LeBron. Now, can we even be evaluating guys at this point?
Truth be told, I don’t know. This is a tricky situation, why? Because the Lakers will be giving some rest time, probably reduce some minutes, ease them in for the playoffs, and what not. The Bucks will be doing the same, because neither team wants their franchise player going down before the playoffs.
Of course, they will still be productive. But not as we seen them in the past few games. So, over all, I believe Giannis takes this MVP Award by smoking LeBron James and Harden.
Who’s winning the ROY Award?
This is a fairly simple answer, are you ready? It would be Zion Williamson, it has to be because he has been getting the most buzz around the league since returning from his knee injury, coming through the season, and now through the NBA Bubble.
Like the MVP, nobody has been really comparing Kendrick Nunn to Zion or Morant. Nunn hasn’t proven his ROY status to the media, where Morant has made headlines and so far Zion.
If going off of stats, Zion would win that. Zion beats out Ja in points scored, rebounds, field goal percentage, three-point percentage, and blocks. The only categories Ja Morant is better at would be steals and assists, and let’s face it: Zion has been named the ROY since coming into the NBA. Pretty much since making his debut.
The media wants Zion, the fans want Zion, the experts are choosing Zion, everything is going Zion’s way. I believe that Zion will win this voting race pretty hard, he will pretty much smash Morant and Nunn. Nunn especially, since he hasn’t gotten into the public’s eye nor has he had a rhythm to the game yet.
Winner? Zion Williamson all day, been talked more, and has better stats. That right there qualifies you for a ROY Award winner.
Who’s winning the Defensive Player of the Year Award?
This is very tight in my opinion, how? Because you have Rudy Gobert, Anthony Davis, and Giannis Antetokounmpo. All three players are terrific defensive players, with or without the stats.
Because if we remember watching these players, before the shutdown of the league, these players were killing it. Even now in the Bubble, these players are finding their marks on the defensive side.
So, looking at the defensive stats for these players; here are the results.
First up, Giannis Antetokounmpo. Antetokounmpo has 1.2 steals per game, 11.4 defensive rebounds per game, and 1.3 blocks per game. Second up, Anthony Davis. Davis has 1.4 steals per game, 7.1. rebounds per game, and 2.4 blocks per game. Last of all, Rudy Gobert. Gobert has 2.0 blocks per game, 0.8 steals per game, and 10.2 rebounds per game.
I believe that Anthony Davis is going to win that award, I always had that feeling that he was going to win. Especially in this Bubble. First of all, his defensive play has helped the Lakers a lot, especially in the Bubble. His ability to get steals, for being a big-man, is incredible.
His blocks are incredible, he just won’t let anyone score in the paint under his own will. There has only been two games to where he didn’t get a block, but still that is pretty impressive.
Now, I will say this: Giannis has been amazing on the offensive and defensive side. He rebounding, defensively, are higher than anyone else’s. He’s only .2 away from steals, and he can be a freakish blocker too. I think if Giannis wins MVP then he is given the upper-advantage for Defensive Player of the Year Award.
In conclusion, I believe A.D. should be the favorable one to win this award.
Who’s winning the Sixth Man of the Year Award?
This is an interesting one, not sure who it is going to be. The reason is that this year has been very unpredictable. Especially here in the Restart. Here are the players: Lou Williams, Montrezl Harrell, and Dennis Schröder.
Fun Fact!
Fun fact: everyone, besides Dennis Schröder, is 26 years old. Dennis Schröder is 33 years old. Besides Lou Williams playing in the Bubble, neither of these players have been playing in the Bubble. Dennis Schröder has played one game, while Montrezl Harrell hasn’t even played a minute.
This award is very tight, because after going through each year of stats of the players. They all have a great career being a helpful sixth man on their respective teams after their rookie season.
Did you know?
Before I talk about who’s going to win this award, let me just say this; that Williams and Harrell are on the same team, the LA Clippers. Schröder is the only player that is solo, he’s residing on OKC.
Finally, who’s winning this award?
I believe that Lou Williams will be winning this award. He has the most experience of being the sixth man on a team, being a very good player when times are needed. His past two seasons, he has been averaging about 20 points. He has been showing that he can move around the ball, get Kawhi and PG13 in their spots. Be a great passer, shooter (when needed), and he has always shown up when needed.
To me, personally, Williams sticks out in a different way. He doesn’t get lost in the shuffle of what Kawhi and George are doing. Not even does he get lost in the shuffle of what Pat Bev is doing, he is his own type of breed. He has so much experience of the game that he knows when to strike, when to set picks, when to space the floor, and how to make a team win through his playing minutes.
Next up…. who’s going to be the MIP?
Who’s going to be winning the Most Improved Player Award? This one is an easy decision to make, and before you say, “look at the players’ names!” I already saw them, but for the people that didn’t yet. Here they are.
First, we have Luka Doncic. Second, we have Bam Adebayo. Lastly, we have Brandon Ingram. Very well, talented players. Sadly, before I jump into everything. Luka Doncic has already been ruled out.
The main reason why Luka has been ruled out is that this award is made for players have a break-out season, or finally showing it’s true potential through their team and/or stats. To me, Luka Doncic has improved on stats a great deal. But, he doesn’t need improvement.
He never needed improvement, we saw the real deal Luka down in the Euro-Leagues. He’s just getting more and more comfortable in the league, and his talents are expanding.
Since that explanation was given, who’s the winner of this award?
Some people might think I am delusional, or some people might think I’m a genius. Either way, this is my pick. I am predicting Bam Adebayo to win this year’s Most Improved Player Award.
Rise up Heat fans!
This has been his year, his time to shine. Dwayne Wade saw something in this player, since Adebayo joining the Heat back in 2017. From winning the All-Star skills challenge to having a break-out season, this man has done it all for this award.
Before the Coronavirus took sports away, he was the talk of headlines when the All-Star weekend was happening. Experts were talking highly on this player, and he has been showing it. First of all, his stats have proven significantly. How?
To begin with, his ability to score points has doubled. He went from scoring 8 points per game last season to now 16 points per game this season. Steals have gone up by 0.3 from last season to this season, blocks went up by 0.5 also. Plus, his assists and his rebounds. Almost everything single category was raised up from last season to this season.
Sure, Brandon Ingram was getting that hot start this season, but he started getting ready two seasons ago. Ingram has been on this momentum run, since leaving the Lakers. Ingram would be a MIP, but his time came last season when he was improving dramatically.
This Heat player defines this award this year, he is my pick because of how well his offense and defense has transitioned from last year to this year. How he has been becoming more and more comfortable in his role with the team, showing he can become a leader at times. Plus, he has shown he can run the court (when needed).
So, needless to say, Bam Adebayo is my pick to win this award this season.
Drum roll please…. who’s winning the Coach of the Year Award?
For our final award, we have Mike Budenholzer, Billy Donovan, and Nick Nurse. As we all want to say Budenholzer because the team is finally heading in the right direction. That is very true, yes, but he has been having this year and last year as two great years.
Obviously, we could count his time with Atlanta. Just that wouldn’t be right because Atlanta was horrible during his run with the team. With the Bucks, not so much. Coming off a 60-win season last year, and now a 55-win (still games being played) season.
To be real, he should have been deep in the playoffs, his first year with the Bucks. Because you had, and still have, Giannis, Bledsoe, Middleton, and Krover. That is pretty well, he has the right pieces. He can seriously win in the regular season, but when it comes to the playoffs not so much. I feel like he loses his touch when coaching in the playoffs, that is why I believe he is not going to win this year. Plus, he won last year’s COTY Award.
Second-runner up, Billy Donovan and Nick Nurse. As crazy as that may sound, it is true. I can’t decide who to choose. Here’s why: both head coaches have been having incredible journeys. From the time both got called up to the big leagues until now, with their hot-wave of success.
Say what you will and what you want about the OKC and his failure with that team, but you didn’t know this. When he was given head coaching responsibilities over that team, the team was already dismantling. KD was leaving for Golden State in 2016, Serge Ibaka stayed for one season for Billy’s run, Carmelo couldn’t help the team, Russ tried, Harden was traded to Houston in 2012.
So, is it his fault?
Everybody doesn’t remember that Donovan came into the coaching business until 2015. When the team was having serious issues when players were leaving when he just started the rehab process. Even though, he did have all winning-record seasons. Something wasn’t clicking. So, he redid the team. In a way.
He got Chris Paul, getting Steven Adams more involved, Dennis Schroder as their sixth man, and getting Shai Gilgeous-Alexander more involved too. He connected the right pieces, once he traded away Russell Westbrook they started to get bigger momentum. More momentum than what Russ was giving the team in the coach’s earlier years with this team.
The major transformation on this team is incredible, this is why he should win the COTY Award.
Now, why is Nick Nurse also the guy to win this award?
If no one is familiar with Nick Nurse, he had an incredible story. Once was a G-League coach, won the G-League title, got called up by Toronto, believed to be an assistant for them for some time, then got the head coaching job. The best part of all, last year was his year. He won the Finals.
The reason why he is also a winner for this award is that he turned the Raptors into a better team, a more known team than what they were a few years ago, he found the right pieces and utilized them to their fullest potential. Last year was his first year as head coach, he won the title. This year, he is looking to do it again. He is leading them, currently, to 50 wins right now. He has them locked up in the playoffs.
Now, the ironic part is this. People thought, experts thought that he wasn’t going to be able to have a good record anymore. People thought he was an one-in-done, why? Because Kawhi Leonard lost, people credit much of his success upon Leonard. Well, he has been proving them wrong. He has been making stars out of Serge Ibaka and Kyle Lowry.
He’s doing it all again, and that is why he should also win this award.
Debate!
Who do you think is going to win this COTY Award? I am right or wrong on these predictions and what I said about these players? Who do you think will win? Sound off in the comments below, we would love to hear your opinions!
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