Even though the new NBA season hasn’t started, that doesn’t mean that it’s too early to drop some NBA Awards predictions. I won’t mention my results from last season, but I’ll just say I didn’t do too well. This season though I’m looking to bounce back and I’m confident I’ll get at least one of these correct!
Rookie of the Year: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
I’m not gonna make the same mistake I made last season by overthinking this award. It doesn’t take a genius to see that Victor Wembanyama is unlike anything we’ve ever seen on a basketball court - he’s like a created player in NBA2K! The number one overall pick can do everything on the court. He shoots consistently from the 3 and leads the break in transition. He can nutmeg defenders on his way to dropping dimes or dunking on well-known shot blockers. On the defensive end, he terrifies players who enter the paint with his eight-foot shot-blocking wingspan and picks guards’ pockets when he switches on ball screens. If he can stay healthy throughout this season, he will be the Rookie of the Year, and it won’t be close.
Most Improved Player: Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
A trend I’m noticing is that this award seems to go to the player who makes his first All-Star appearance. Entering his third year, I feel that MotorCade is destined for that honor this season. The former first overall pick earned rave reviews for his performance as a member of Team USA’s Select Team scrimmages. In only 12 games last season, we were still able to see a production increase across the board. With the addition of shooters to this Pistons squad, I expect to see Cade compete for the league’s top spot in triple-doubles. All that being said, it would be too difficult for voters to leave Cunningham off the All-Star team, thus making him a lock to win the Most Improved Player award.
Sixth Man of the Year: Immanuel Quickley, New York Knicks
This award is one of the hardest to predict, with all the shifting of roles, injuries, and trades that can happen throughout an entire season. That’s why a Sixth Man of the Year can go from coming off the bench to being a starter in an instant. I’m making this pick based on last year’s production and this year’s assumed role. With that, I’ll be going with Immanuel Quickley. We saw a second-half surge in production from Quickley last season as he received a more consistent role under coach Tom Thibodeau. This season should be a display of the entire package as he’s already gained the trust of his head coach. At just 24, expect even better production than last season’s second half where Quickley made a push for last season’s award.
Defensive Player of the Year: Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers
I know what you’re thinking. The new CBA requires players to play at least 65 games to be eligible for this award and the Brow has only done that in four out of his 11 seasons so far. I, however, am a believer that this is the year Anthony Davis puts it all together to finally win this award. All the evidence is there as last season he averaged a career-high 12.5 rebounds per game with 2.0 blocks and 1.1 steals. Those numbers went up in the playoffs to 14.1 rebounds, 3.1 blocks, and 1.4 steals per game as he totally outplayed last season's DPOY Jaren Jackson Jr. in their first-round matchup. The ability to protect the paint, as well as defend players equally well on the perimeter, is what puts the three-time blocks champ in a class by himself. Next season, he will be crowned not only champion of blocks but also of the entire body of his defense.
Most Valuable Player: Giannis Antetokounmpo
After getting bounced out of the playoffs in the first round by the Miami Heat last season, the Greek Freak and Milwaukee Bucks’ revenge tour is underway. The passengers on board are different though with the departure of super defender Jrue Holiday and the arrival of superstar Damian Lillard. This is simple, the MVP award goes to a player on a top three-seeded team and with the mega trade to land Dame, the new Big 3 in Milwaukee has shifted the balance of power in the Eastern Conference. Expect the gravity that Lillard provides to open up Grand Canyon-sized driving lanes for the two-time MVP to slash through, going for dunk after dunk after dunk on his way to a third MVP award.
