The 82-game NBA regular season is overall, so as we wait on the playoffs to begin, much chatter is rising about the 2023-2024 NBA regular season awards. As I listen to podcasts and read blogs, I notice similar picks and trends popping up—Jokic is the MVP, Wemby is Rookie of the Year (and maybe Defensive Player of the Year), and the Thunder have a candidate for basically every award. Great, awesome. Now I want to talk about seven things that’ve been on my mind.
SGA should get more serious consideration for MVP. Yes, Jokic is the best player in the world, and Doncic is putting up a near 34 point triple double. But SGA is the leader of the number one team in the league’s tougher conference, the youngest team to ever be a number one seed in fact. Yes, he’s a phenomenally consistent scorer, leading the league is 30+ point games, but he’s also the best two-way player of the main candidates, also leading the league in steals. I’m not saying he should win, but the way he’s led that surprise team, a play-in squad just last year, to such great heights is just awesome.
Guards/wings should get more DPOY love. In the past 25 years, the award has only gone to four guys that weren’t big men (Smart, Leonard, Artest, Payton). I get it—rim protectors are the hinge of the defense. Still, I think the on-ball guys deserve for credit. Only six of the 25 scorers this year were bigs (and that’s counting Point Zion), meaning the point-of-attack stoppage comes from wing/guard defenders. What Wemby is doing with stocks (steaks + blocks) as a rookie is incredible, and Gobert actors the best defense in the league. But what folks like Jalen Suggs, Herb Jones, and Alex Caruso are doing every night—guarding the best scorers, fighting through screens, and matching up with multiple positions—is so clutch.
TJ McConnell is a legit 6MOY candidate. I know top candidates like Malik Monk, Naz Reid, and Norman Powell have better numbers, but as someone who watched just about every Pacer game this year, I can honestly tell you that what TJ McConnell does for this team is unquantifiably valuable. I think the number one trait of a sixth man is being able to come in and have the game plan stay the same, while bringing increased energy. We see it game after game: McConnell comes in and the Pacer offense keeps pushing it. Plus he pesters the hell out of the other team’s point guard. I’ll definitely be putting some money on him to win the award next year!
The Most Improved Player award is too ambiguous. I heard a podcast go through their 20 top candidates for this award. The criteria is too unclear. Are we okay giving it to 2nd / 3rd year players who should be improving anyhow? Is it for a guy who goes from good to great, like Tyrese Maxey? Is it for a guy who goes from okay to important on a contender, like Donte DiVincenzo? Is it for a player who goes from being an afterthought to good, like Coby White? I don’t freaking know, but we gotta have some sort of meeting and decide!
Almost any other year Chet Holmgren is Rookie of the Year. When Wemby looked a little like a baby deer on ice at the beginning of the season, the conversation was a battle. But since the Alien found his groove, putting together some crazy stat lines, like the ones recently against the MVP, it’s become clear Wemby is the Rookie of the Year. Still, Chet’s early success is undeniable; he put up 17 pts / 7 rebs / 2 blocks on efficient shooting, anchoring the middle for the number one seed all year. Nearly any other year, he has a real shot at the award.
I sincerely think Tom Thibodeau is Coach of the Year. This award is another one with a long list of candidates and some murky qualifications. Coach of the best team? Mazzulla. Coach of a spunky young team? Mosley. Coach of the most surprising team? Daigneault. I want to be a little more nuanced than that. I want to give it up for everyone’s favorite stressed uncle. Despite injuries to key guys like Randle and Robinson and having to integrate new players like Anunoby and Bogdonavic, Thibs pushed forth in his way till the final whistle, emphasizing defense and little rest en route to the East’s two seed.
I would like to offer up three new awards. The Scottie Pippen Second Banana of the Year Award (Jaylen Brown), The Danny Green Three-and-D Player of the Year Award (Aaron Nesmith), and the Josh Hart Best Random Guy Award (Josh Hart).
Best Random Guy! :-)