2023-24 NBA (End of season awards)

MVP

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder)

Gotta do it, man, he's just been so great this year leading the youngest team to ever finish 1st in the West. Head-to-head with Jokic, their numbers are comparable; Jokic kills Shai on Rebounds but Shai has more FTA and a better asst:to and, again, he finished first in the West, so....Shai had a great year, now time to do it in the post-season.

Runners-up: Nikola Jokic (Nuggets), Giannis Antetokounpo (Bucks), Luka Doncic (Mavs), Jalen Brunson (Knicks)

Rookie of the Year

Victor Wembanyama (Spurs)

Wemby led all rookies in FG, FGA, FT, FTA, offensive and defensive and total rebounds, steals, blocks (led the league--BY A MILE!), and points (also Turnovers, though 3rd in Assists). If Wemby never got any better than this, he'd still be in all-star contention every year but this is just the start for this guy. I thought that he would put up nice stats (he did better than that) on a shitty team (well, yeah) and he'd probably get shut down by season's end (nah, he did this in the next to last game of the season--a game the Nuggets actually needed to win!) and that we'd all look back and see that Holmgren was contributing as a rookie to a really good team (#1 in the West) and ultimately that would be more impressive to voters. Hey, man, don't wanna knock Chet--he was great--but Wemby did it all and looked better doing it. To me, ROY is a forward-looking award, namely who has the brightest future and if you want to argue that Chet contributing right away is better than putting up stats on a team not even trying to win, well, okay, that is a worthwhile data point in Chet's favor. But that's the only one. This is Wemby's league now, doubt that at your peril! Who else in the NBA does this?

Runner-ups: Chet Holmgren (Thunder), Brandon Miller (Hornets) (the top 3 is clear, the next 8-10 are purely subjective)

Defensive Player of the Year

Anthony Davis (Lakers)

Impressive season from Davis, wasn't sure he'd have another one, but he was healthier than he's been in his Laker tenure and played a ton of minutes. Only guy in the top 20 in Steals and Blocks (though still well behind rookie Wemby in Steals + Blocks) and 3rd overall in defensive rebounds. Throw in a positive assist:turnover rate and being top ten in free throw attempts and it is clear that he cleaned up on the defensive end and was still a load for his opponents on the offensive end. Davis had a great season and though I've predicted him to win DPOY for many years now, I believe this is the first time I ever thought he was truly worthy. 

Runner-ups: Victor Wembanyama (Spurs), Rudy Gobert (Wolves), Nikola Jokic (Nuggets), Giannis Antetokounpo (Bucks)

6th Man

Bogdan Bogdanovich (Hawks)

I thought Bogie had the best all-around numbers. Word is the Hawks will be going through a tumultuous off-season (either Trae Young or Dejounte Murray has to go), I'll be curious to see if anyone makes a big balls offer for this guy. 

Runner-ups: Bobby Portis (Bucks), Naz Reid (Wolves), Keldon Johnson (Spurs), Malik Monk (Kings)

Coach of the Year

Mark Daigneault (Thunder)

The Thunder became the youngest team to ever finish #1 in the West and obviously Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the main driver of that. But I'd say Daigneault's handling of the rest of the rotation (I love all of those guys!) put them over the top. A great season for the Thunder...now they gotta do it in the playoffs.

Runner-ups: Joe Mazzulo (Celtics), Chris Finch (Wolves), Ty Lue (Clippers), Ime Udoka (Rockets)

Executive of the Year

Brad Stevens (Celtics)

Bringing in Porzingis and Jrue Holiday (and giving extensions to both) vaulted the Celtics to one of the most dominating regular season teams we've seen in a while. Letting go of Marcus Smart (remember when he used to play for the Celtics?), Malcolm Brogdon (last year's 6th Man) and Robert Williams (their only real rim-protector) was a gamble. But the moves paid off and the Celtics are the odds-on fave to win it all (indeed, if the Celtics don't win the East it would be a major disappointment).

Runner-ups: Mavs, Knicks, Rockets

1st Team

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder), Jalen Brunson (Knicks), Giannis Antetokounpo (Bucks), Luka Doncic (Mavs), Nikola Jokic (Nuggets)

2nd Team

Anthony Edwards (Wolves), DeMar DeRozan (Bulls), Jaysun Tatum (Celtics), LeBron James (Lakers), Anthony Davis (Lakers)

3rd Team

Devin Booker (Suns), De'Aaron Fox (Kings), Tyrese Maxey (Sixers), Kevin Durant (Suns), Domantas Sabonis (Kings)