Picking the 2019-20 NBA award winners
With reports that the remaining eight regular-season games in the Orlando bubble won't count toward this year's NBA awards, hardware decisions are being made.
Based on what executives, coaches, and players did before the league suspended play on March 11, theScore's NBA staff has picked winners for one of the most unusual seasons in Association history.
Executive of the Year - Lawrence Frank, Clippers
Let's be clear off the top: Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri was robbed of this award last season, which went to Jon Horst of the Milwaukee Bucks. Therefore there's no guarantee, but if this year's award goes to its deserving winner, it's Frank.
Not only did the Los Angeles Clippers president acquire Kawhi Leonard last summer (something Ujiri did in 2018 en route to an NBA title), he swung the blockbuster trade that landed Paul George in L.A.
There's no doubt the Clippers mortgaged their future to some degree to assemble this team, but it was an all-in gambit. Frank's in-season moves, which included landing both Marcus Morris and Reggie Jackson, added to the depth of a squad that could very well walk away with an NBA championship.
Coach of the Year - Nick Nurse, Raptors
Despite coming off the franchise's first championship last June, expectations of a Raptors repeat cratered the day Leonard signed with the Clippers. Some pundits wondered whether the Raptors would be better off in the long run if they blew up the veteran core, trading away Kyle Lowry, Marc Gasol, and Serge Ibaka while they were still under contract.
Instead, the Raptors let it ride, and Nurse and his staff have consistently found creative ways to replace Leonard's production from within while battling numerous significant injuries to virtually every key rotation player throughout the 2019-20 season. Lowry, Gasol, Ibaka, Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, and Norm Powell have missed a combined 101 games to date - 26.3% out of their collective possible appearances.
Today, Nurse has the Raptors sitting on the third-best record (46-18) and the second-best defensive rating (104.9 points per 100 possessions) in the league. You can make a credible arguement that Siakam (a first-time All-Star), VanVleet, Powell, Ibaka, and OG Anunoby are having the best seasons of their careers. Undrafted rookie Terence Davis has been a revelation in his limited role, showing clear NBA-rotation potential. Even deep-bench options like Chris Boucher and Matt Thomas have had their moments.
Will the team get past the Bucks to return to the Finals? The odds are against the reigning champs. However, the Raptors have proven that their institutional strength far exceeds the significance of any one player. Nurse deserves a ton of credit for that.
Sixth Man of the Year - Dennis Schroder, Thunder
The Sixth Man of the Year prize has essentially boiled down to a two-person race between Clippers forward Harrell and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dennis Schroder. Not only have both been remarkably productive in reserve roles, but Harrell and Schroder are also slightly overlooked when it comes to the success of their respective teams.
The two are virtually tied in scoring (Schroder has dropped 19 points per game compared to 18.6 for Harrell), but Schroder will likely earn the honor. While the Clippers big owns a sizable rebounding advantage, the Thunder ball-handler is a far better shooter from deep and the free-throw line and is more adept at getting his teammates involved.
| Player | GP | MP | PTS | AST | REB | BLK | FG% | 3P% | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schroder | 63 | 31 | 19 | 4.1 | 3.7 | 0.2 | 46.8 | 38.1 | 83.9 |
| Harrell | 63 | 27.8 | 18.6 | 1.7 | 7.1 | 1.1 | 58 | 0 | 65.8 |
Precedent might also benefit Schroder in the voting process. No frontcourt player has been named Sixth Man of the Year since former Los Angeles Lakers forward Lamar Odom won it in 2011. Since then, guards and wings have dominated the list. That includes Harrell's own teammate Lou Williams, who will conceivably receive some consideration but likely not enough for a fourth Sixth Man honor.
Most Improved Player - Bam Adebayo, Heat
| Season | PPG | FG% | RPG | APG | BPG | SPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | 8.9 | 57.6 | 7.3 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 0.9 |
| 2019-20 | 16.2 | 56.7 | 10.5 | 5.1 | 1.3 | 1.2 |
Adebayo was primed for a breakout 2019-20 campaign after Miami dealt starting center Hassan Whiteside last offseason. The 23-year-old hasn't disappointed in an expanded role, showing off a versatile skill set matched by few NBA big men. Adebayo joined the likes of Larry Bird and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as one of eight players in league history to average at least 15 points, 10 boards, five assists, and one block in a single season, according to DAZN's Micah Adams. But of that select group, the rising Heat star is the youngest to accomplish the feat.
The Kentucky product has added another dimension to Miami's seventh-ranked offense. The Heat ran more of their set plays through Adebayo, using him in screening actions and dribble handoffs while also maximizing his playmaking. The All-Star forward registered a 23.3 assist percentage, which ranks in the 98th percentile among big men, according to Cleaning the Glass. Adebayo is also a transition weapon when Miami occasionally pushes the pace as he can grab-and-go off missed shots or fill passing lanes upcourt.
Adebayo's involvement on the defensive end has been equally valuable to the Heat's success this season. He has the lateral foot speed and length to disrupt perimeter players as well as the strength to hold his own against bruisers in the post. Miami surrendered 2.2 fewer points per 100 possessions when Adebayo was on the floor. The former first-round pick currently ranks sixth in defensive win shares (3.6) and 12th in total blocks (85).
Defensive Player of the Year - Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks
The Bucks haven't just been the best defensive team in the NBA this year; relative to league average, they own the third-best defensive rating ever (behind only the 2003-04 Spurs and 2007-08 Celtics), according to Basketball-Reference. And while that's been the product of a well-designed system and a total team effort, Giannis Antetokounmpo is the skeleton key that unlocks the whole apparatus.
His versatility allows the Bucks to thrive. They've destroyed teams by playing big and executing a deep drop-back scheme with Antetokounmpo and either of the Lopez twins up front; they've done the same with Antetokounmpo playing center, because he can switch onto anybody and has statistically been the best rim-protector in the league. In fact, you can make a credible case he's been better than anyone at every foundational aspect of defense this season, whether it's guarding on the perimeter or on the interior, in one-on-one scenarios or in help-side rotations, as an individual star-stopper or as a roving free safety.
No player holds opponents to a lower field-goal percentage at the rim than the 41.8% mark Antetokounmpo induces when he's in the vicinity. Opponents who have attacked him in isolation have scored a paltry 0.36 points per possession with twice as many turnovers as made field goals. The Bucks own a 96.5 defensive rating with him on the floor, which is 7.7 points per 100 possessions better than their rating with him on the bench.
He's the best defender on one of the best defensive teams of all time. Case closed.
Rookie of the Year - Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies
With all due respect to New Orleans Pelicans phenom Zion Williamson's impressive 19-game sample size, Memphis Grizzlies sensation Ja Morant will walk away with this season's Rookie of the Year award barring a shocking turn of events.
It didn't take long for the Murray State product to emerge as the clear-cut alpha dog on a Grizzlies team that shattered preseason expectations and currently holds a 3.5-game lead over the Western Conference's eighth seed. The 20-year-old became a must-watch talent from Day 1 thanks to an electrifying style of play that seamlessly combined his elite athleticism, blinding speed, stellar court vision, and incredibly high basketball IQ.
In 59 games played, Morant led all rookies in total points (1,041) and assists (409), while also ranking seventh league-wide in fourth-quarter scoring. The 20-year-old also served as the offensive focal point of a team that showcased substantial improvement game by game.
After getting off to a 6-16 start through 22 contests, Morant helped spark Memphis on a 26-17 run before the season entered its hiatus.
The Grizzlies' style of play has mirrored that of Morant's, too. The team ranks among the league leaders in pace and first in paint points per game thanks to an unrelenting style of basketball that prioritizes attacking the rim.
MVP - Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
What LeBron James did in Year 17 - at age 35 - was truly remarkable. He averaged 25.7 points, 7.9 rebounds, and a league-leading 10.6 assists on a true shooting percentage of 58.2 while committing himself to regular-season defense. And he did it all while serving as the best player on the top team (on pace for 63 wins) in a loaded Western Conference.
In almost any other season, James wins a fifth MVP award. That he won't win one this season is a testament to the almost indescribable excellence of Antetokounmpo.
The Greek Freak is on track to join Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor as the only players in history - and the first player in 54 years - to average at least 29 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists in a season.
He's a nearly unstoppable force rampaging his way to the rim on the offensive end, where his gravity and playmaking also creates the open looks necessary for Milwaukee's four-out system to work with machine-like efficiency.
On the defensive end, his length, strength, quickness, and bounce make him an almost flawless stopper in every aspect of any coverage. In addition to his noted, league-leading defensive field percentage at the rim, Antetokounmpo also leads the league in terms of impacting opponents' shooting overall.
Add it all up, and the top-seeded Bucks perform 12 points per 100 possessions better with Giannis on the court. Of the 14 Bucks players who've played at least 100 minutes this season, no one else even has an on/off net rating above +6.0.