The 2022-23 NBA season is well underway, and the standings are becoming clear in terms of which players are ahead of others. The best players in the NBA right now, in no particular order, are Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic, Jayson Tatum, LeBron James, and Stephen Curry. The best teams right now are the Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns, Denver Nuggets, and Memphis Grizzlies. As always, the current award leaders for the 2023 award leaders are also becoming clear in the exact same way.
There are only a few players that have legitimate chances of winning valuable awards. We have collected a list of five players per individual award category as we currently stand as of the month of December. It is reasonable to say that all NBA fans have a pretty good idea as to which players are competing in the multiple award categories. But who are the current season’s top performers in terms of individual performances in terms of impact, and statistics?
We saw last month how Jayson Tatum was in the running for the MVP award, but is he still the favorite a few months into the season? It is time to grant the award winners for the 2022-23 NBA season, whereby we gain an indication of what to expect from the league’s best players and coaches for the rest of the year. It is time to uncover the current leaders for the Coach of the Year, 6th Man of the Year, Most Improved Player, Defensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and of course, the MVP award that was recently named after the greatest player of all time, Michael Jordan. Here are the frontrunners for each major individual award in the NBA.
Coach Of The Year
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Current Leaders For The Coach Of The Year Award:
1. Joe Mazzulla
2. Mike Malone
3. Doc Rivers
4. Mike Brown
5. J.B. Bickerstaff
Joe Mazzulla has done a magical job taking over a team that made the NBA Finals last year and has dealt with an unfortunate incident involving Ime Udoka. Rather than struggling to maintain the Celtics’ standard of defensive-minded basketball, Mazzulla has been a seamless fit as the team has the best record in the NBA right now. Mazzulla has kept the team intact, and Boston looks like legitimate title contenders once again, thanks to that. No doubt, having Jayson Tatum playing like an MVP and Jaylen Brown being an All-Star helps his case, but the Celtics have an impressive 36-15 record, and Mazzulla deserves the Coach of the Year so far.
The Denver Nuggets were supposed to be title contenders this year with the return of Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr, and they have exceeded expectations so far. Nikola Jokic is a superstar, role players are stepping up, and Mike Malone is coaching out of his mind. Malone has the Nuggets sitting first with a 34-16 record and has managed to get the best out of Jokic yet again. Malone is widely respected by the NBA community because he was a former prodigy of Gregg Popovich player and has gone through the ranks to attain one of the best head coaching jobs in the league. Hopefully, the Nuggets can make a deep push into the playoffs.
Doc Rivers finally seems to have the team buying into his philosophies because the Philadelphia 76ers sit at a 32-16 record with Joel Embiid dominating down low and James Harden acting like John Stockton. Joel Embiid is one of the five best players in the world, and supplementary players such as Tyrese Maxey are balling as well. Because of the fact that his team plays with so much confidence, Rivers has to be in the running for Coach of the Year.
Of course, Mike Brown is another coach that has somehow made a tanking team relevant in the Western Conference. The Sacramento Kings are playing very well, currently holding the 3rd seed in the West, and actually look like a playoff team for the first time since 2006. De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis both deserve All-Star spots this season, as both have been very important to the team’s success. Still, Mike Brown seems to be the man for the foreseeable future in Sacramento and deserves Coach of the Year credit.
Lastly, J.B. Bickerstaff will have to be in the Coach of the Year mix because he is coaching a dynamic backcourt featuring Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garand. The talented Cleveland Cavaliers will be competing for a top-2 seed in the East all year long. Bickerstaff’s philosophies are well ingrained in the Cavs team because he has a ton of experience in the NBA dating back to being an assistant coach to many head guys in the NBA. Because of how well the Cavs can score, Bickerstaff deserves praise for his coaching prowess.
6th Man Of The Year
Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Current Leaders For The Sixth Man Of The Year Award:
1. Russell Westbrook
2. Jordan Poole
3. Bennedict Mathurin
4. Malcolm Brogdon
5. Norman Powell
Russell Westbrook deserves the 6th Man of the Year award, even if his time with the Los Angeles Lakers could be soon coming to a close. The former MVP and triple-double maestro is having a pretty solid year by posting 15.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG, and 7.5 APG on 41.8% shooting from the field, 28.2% from three, and 66.7% from the free-throw line. Westbrook’s efficiency from the field has been poor, but he has been impressive coming off the bench as a 6th man for an otherwise disappointing Lakers team.
The Golden State Warriors have struggled throughout the year, but Jordan Poole is finally starting to show why the team wanted to keep him so desperately. It seems that Stephen Curry might have a new Splash Brother because Klay Thompson could be looking at other options right now, and Poole is putting up solid numbers at 21.0 PPG and 4.3 APG on 43.9% FG, 32.1% 3-PT FG, and 87.0% FT. Because of his scoring average, Poole is in the mix for 6th Man of the Year, and his play has improved over the past few weeks.
Bennedict Mathurin is in the mix for the 6th Man of the Year, even if he is also competing for the Rookie of the Year award. Mathurin is a talented scorer and athlete who is posting 17.7 PPG, 4.1 RPG, and 1.4 APG on 42.6% shooting from the field. A shooter and athletic wing player, Mathurin stands 6’6” and weighs 210 lbs making him a solid modern NBA player. At only 20 years old, Mathurin has to be untouchable for the Indiana Pacers alongside Tyrese Haliburton in the starting lineup.
Malcolm Brogdon was the biggest pickup by the Boston Celtics this offseason, and his true value could come in the playoffs. No doubt, the Celtics needed a player of Brogdon’s caliber as a shooter, passer, and defender. As a 6th man, his impact on the Celtics has been impressive. The two-way guard is averaging 14.5 PPG, 4.3 RPG, and 3.7 APG on 44.7% shooting from three, numbers that could help the Celtics retain the first seed in the East by the end of the year.
Norman Powell was a spectacular pick-up from the Los Angeles Clippers last year because the two-way wing is one of the best at his position when taking into account his shooting, defense, and athleticism. Powell is posting 16.3 PPG, 3.0 RPG, and 1.7 APG on 48.3% FG, 42.9% 3-PT FG, and 78.7% FT. Despite dealing with the absence of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George for most of the season, Powell has been the best player for the Clippers as the team is 28-25.
Most Improved Player Of The Year
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Current Leaders For The Most Improved Player Of The Year Award:
1. Lauri Markkanen
2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
3. Jalen Brunson
4. Tyrese Haliburton
5. Anfernee Simons
It is amazing how quickly Lauri Markkanen became this good on both ends of the floor. After getting traded by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Donovan Mitchell trade, Lauri has produced solid numbers across the board. The versatile forward is averaging 24.9 PPG and 8.6 RPG on 52.0% FG and 43.2% 3-PT FG. Markkanen seems to be able to occupy the small forward and power forward positions really well and has been the best player on the Utah Jazz all year when nobody expected much out of the Finnish forward.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a 6’6″ guard with exceptional quickness and scoring prowess, has taken his game to another level. Gilgeous-Alexander is having an All-Star-caliber season this year, averaging 30.9 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 5.6 APG on 51.3% field goal, 36.6% three-point, and 90.6% free-throw shooting. No doubt, Gilgeous-Alexander will be an All-Star, even if he probably deserved more votes for being a starter in the Western Conference despite the guard’s unwillingness to admit it.
Jalen Brunson was a fantastic pickup by the New York Knicks, even if the franchise might have dropped the ball by not going after Donovan Mitchell. Brunson was the best available point guard available in the market, and he has done well enough by posting 22.5 PPG, 3.5 RPG, and 6.2 APG on 46.9% FG, 39.8% 3-PT FG, and 84.8% FT. Brunson has been New York’s best player by a wide margin and could be an All-Star for the first time this season.
Tyrese Haliburton has improved into one of the best playmakers in the NBA at only 22 years old. The talented playmaker is averaging 20.2 PPG, 4.0 RPG, and 10.2 APG for the Indiana Pacers that, currently stand 24-28 as the 11th seed. Currently, Haliburton is leading all players in APG and has a knack for making players around him better. The 6’5” guard can score very well, but his ability to set his teammates up has made him one of the better guards in the NBA. Haliburton’s potential as a dynamic passer has always been there, and he has reached it relatively quickly.
Anfernee Simons was signed to a 4-year, $100 million contract extension by the Portland Trail Blazers this season because he is only 23 years old and is a talented scorer already. Simons has the talent to be an All-Star one day and is currently averaging 21.6 PPG and 4.0 APG while shooting 44.6% from the field, 37.3% from three, and 90.0% from the stripe. The Trail Blazers are once again average at best, holding a 23-26 record, but Simons has been one of the few bright spots as a dynamic scorer off the bench.
Defensive Player Of The Year
Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Current Leaders For The Defensive Player Of The Year Award:
1. Jaren Jackson Jr.
2. Nic Claxton
3. Brook Lopez
4. Bam Adebayo
5. Giannis Antetokounmpo
Jaren Jackson Jr is the favorite for his first Defensive Player of the Year award at 23 years old. Ja Morant is the superstar for the Memphis Grizzlies, but Jaren Jackson Jr is right behind him on the team’s importance. The big man is averaging 3.1 BPG, an alarming figure through 33 games played. His ability to use his size and strength at 242 lbs is a major factor, but he has impeccable timing when it comes to challenging shots. The best rim-protector right now, just ahead of Nic Claxton, Jackson Jr is the best defender right now.
Nic Claxton has been spectacular as a shot-blocker all year long, leading all players with his 2.7 BPG average. A quick leaper at 6’11” and 215 lbs, Claxton is quite thin for his size, but it allows him to move freely to block shots. The center has been Brooklyn’s best player outside of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, and he has done well enough to be right behind Jaren Jackson Jr for the coveted Defensive Player of the Year award at 23 years old.
Brook Lopez would do an amazing job of winning Defensive Player of the Year at 34 years old because he was never much of a defender when he came into the league. But Lopez has somehow revamped his game over the last few seasons and is a knockdown shooter and shot-blocker. That kind of commitment to change from a low-post player to a two-way center is impressive to witness, and hopefully, he can continue his level of play because the Bucks have benefited greatly from the center’s presence.
Bam Adebayo’s defensive IQ is of All-Star caliber and is the main reason why the Miami Heat have made the center untouchable. Adebayo is averaging 1.1 SPG and 0.8 BPG, even if he has to carry an offensive load by averaging 21.5 PPG and 10.1 RPG. Bam has the speed to handle most forwards in the league and does a great job on bigger players as well. There is no denying Bam Adebayo’s skills as a defender and his chances of winning his first Defensive Player of the Year award are quite high right now.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is the most versatile defender in the NBA, and that means he will always be in the running for Defensive Player of the Year. The Greek Freak can shut down 4 positions and also has the length to handle most NBA centers as well. Giannis is posting MVP-caliber numbers on offense as usual, but he is also averaging 0.8 SPG and 0.9 BPG. Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez are forming a dynamic duo on defense, and it is becoming incredibly difficult to score on the Bucks.
Rookie Of The Year
Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Current Leaders For The Rookie Of The Year Award:
1. Paolo Banchero
2. Bennedict Mathurin
3. Jaden Ivey
4. Keegan Murray
5. Jabari Smith Jr.
The No. 1 overall pick, Paolo Banchero, will likely win the Rookie of the Year award by performing the best out of all rookies. Banchero is 6’10” with elite strength and athleticism, meaning he can have an immediate impact by averaging 20.5 PPG, 6.3 RPG, and 3.7 APG. Showing All-Star quality already, Banchero should win Rookie of the Year when the season is over, even if the Orlando Magic once again finishes in the lottery.
Averaging 17.7 PPG, 4.1 RPG, and 1.4 APG, Benedict Mathurin has been the biggest reason that the Indiana Pacers have a bright future outside of Tyrese Haliburton playing like an All-Star. Mathurin was an excellent pick with the No. 6 overall pick, as he is showing he can be a sure-fire starter at only 20 years old. Even when being one of the best 6th men in the league, Mathurin is right behind Paolo Banchero for Rookie of the Year.
Jaden Ivey was an excellent pickup for the tanking Detroit Pistons team that had the No. 5 overall pick. A team that already has a talented guard in Cade Cunningham, the Pistons selected Ivey to bolster their depth and actually form one of the most exciting young backcourts in the league. Jaden is posting 15.1 PPG, 4.1 RPG, and 4.5 APG on 41.3% from the field. The shooting guard will have plenty of time to solidify his game and get his shooting numbers up, but as a rookie, his production has been extremely solid.
The Sacramento Kings seemed to know what they were doing when they chose Keegan Murray with the No. 4 overall pick because the 22-year-old has excellent length and size at 6’8” and 215 lbs. A versatile athlete who can score, rebound, and defend, Keegan has been critical for the Sacramento Kings’ path to making the playoffs for the first time since 2006. Murray is averaging 12.3 PPG and 4.3 RPG while playing 29.5 MPG, so his ceiling is very high right now as a potential starter alongside the core of De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis.
Jabari Smith Jr has not quite shown what he can do with heavy minutes. Even if he was talent No. 2 overall, the Houston Rockets are expected to lose every game they play in because Victor Wenbenyama is the ultimate goal. If Wenbenyama does end up going to Houston, Smith Jr is a perfect complement to him in the frontcourt because he is a solid shooter who is posting 11.9 PPG and 7.0 RPG in 29.6 MPG of play so far this season.
Most Valuable Player
Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Current Leaders For The MVP Award:
1. Nikola Jokic
2. Joel Embiid
3. Luka Doncic
4. Jayson Tatum
5. Giannis Antetokounmpo
Because of his triple-double capabilities as a center, Nikola Jokic is a box-score phenomenon who has the chance to be the first player since Larry Bird to win 3 straight MVP awards. Jokic is a center with a once-in-a-lifetime skill because, at 7 feet tall, he has the talents of a point guard. The Serbian superstar, who averages 25.1 PPG, 10.9 RPG, and 9.9 APG on 62.9% FG, 39.0% 3-PT FG, and 82.2% FT, is capable of making any pass or shot on the field. Of course, being the best player on the best team in the Western Conference continues to boost Jokic’s amazing chances of winning his third MVP award in a row.
Joel Embiid is the catalyst for a Philadelphia 76ers team that has won 32 out of 48 games so far this season. The superstar center is currently leading all players in PPG and is also chipping in 10.0 RPG and 4.2 APG on 53.4% shooting from the field. Posting 33.8 PPG, Embiid has taken over the Eastern Conference and deserves his flowers for once again being in contention for the MVP award after finishing second last year. It seems Joel might have already submitted the MVP trophy to Jokic, however, because he might have had enough after last year’s snub, interestingly enough.
Luka Doncic is the reason why the Dallas Mavericks are in the playoffs every year, and without him, the team would be right in the lottery. Doncic is averaging 33.0 PPG, 8.9 RPG, and 8.4 APG on 49.7% FG, 35.1% 3-PT FG, and 72.8% FT. The Slovenian is a top-5 player in the world right now and will be a multiple-time MVP by the time his career is up. The Mavericks need to continue to surround Luka with All-Star talent because this season could be another one wasted despite the superstar’s play.
Jayson Tatum has been the best player for the best team in the Eastern Conference all year. Tatum is averaging 31.1 PPG, 8.7 RPG, and 4.4 APG. Tatum has been on a tear as he continues to lead the Boston Celtics to the best record in the NBA. So far, the Celtics have won 36 out of the 51 games they have played. As the best player on the best team in the NBA, Tatum will be in direct contention for the MVP award as he will need to prove he is a better player than Jokic and Embiid for the entire year to actually capture the MVP trophy.
Finally, Giannis Antetokounmpo will always be a legitimate contender for the MVP award because his two-way dominance is irreplaceable for the Milwaukee Bucks. The Greek Freak already has two MVP awards to his name and is very possibly the best player in the world in terms of impact. Milwaukee’s franchise player is averaging 31.3 PPG, 12.0 RPG, and 5.3 APG while also being in the mix for Defensive Player of the Year. Giannis has a tall task to win his 3rd MVP award in front of Jokic, Embiid, Doncic, and Tatum, but anything can happen after the All-Star break.
Source: fadeawayworld
