NBA Awards – OKC Thunder players nominated, predictions and everything you need to know
For the third consecutive year, the NBA Awards will be televised with OKC Thunder Paul George up for two of the six elite awards. Here’s everything you need to know.
Shaquille O’Neal will host the NBA Awards event tonight where the Association honors the best in their league. OKC Thunder superstar Paul George is up for two of the elite six individual awards.
Nominees:
Three players are nominated in each of the individual categories. They are:
Rookie of the Year:
- Deandre Ayton – Phoenix Suns
- Luka Doncic – Dallas Mavericks
- Trae Young – Atlanta Hawks
Best Bet: With all due respect to last seasons top draft pick this is a two horse race. Although Young put on a solid second half the award land with the wunderkid Doncic.
Sixth Man of the Year:
- Montrezl Harrell – LA Clippers
- Domantas Sabonis – Indiana Pacers
- Lou Williams – LA Clippers
Best Bet: This award could easily be dubbed either the Jamal Crawford or Lou Williams Award. Although LouWill should win pundits might surprise by giving it to Harrell. Either way, the absolute bench dominance should find the award going to one of the two Clippers.
Coach of the Year:
- Mike Budenholzer, Milwaukee Bucks
- Michael Malone, Denver Nuggets
- Doc Rivers, Los Angeles Clippers
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Best Bet: More than any of the awards this one might give the extra fodder for why awards should not be narrowed down to the three finalists or voted on until the post season. Coach Bud is likely to get the nod although if I had a vote I’d lean toward Malone who took a non-playoff team to the Conference Semi Finals.
Notably missing in this category: Raptors Nick Nurse, Nets Atkinson, Pacers McMillan, and even the Kings (since released) Dave Joerger.
Most Improved Player:
Best Bet: This award was one of the toughest in contention throughout the season, but the massive step Siakam took in Toronto won’t be denied.
Defensive Player of the Year:
- Giannis Antetokounmpo – Milwaukee Bucks
- Paul George – OKC Thunder
- Rudy Gobert
Best Bet: Speaking to how solid Antetokounmpo and George’s seasons were they find themselves nominated in arguably the two most important categories. Although a coin toss it would seem Gobert will likely snag this award.
Most Valuable Player:
- Giannis Antetokounmpo – Milwaukee Bucks
- Paul George – OKC Thunder
- James Harden – Houston Rockets
Best Bet: This may be a two-horse race, (mostly due to George’s late season injury) but recency bias and boredom with giving the award to the same player should result in the Greek Freak taking home his first MVP
Fan and player voted awards:
Also of note, OKC Thunder big man Steven Adams is up for two awards: Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award. and the NBA Sportsmanship Award. While Russell Westbrook is up for the House of Highlights fan-voted Moment of the Year.
What you need to know:
Time: 9 p.m. ET
Venue: Barker Hangar, Santa Monica, California
TV: TNT
Other ways to watch: fuboTV
Thunderous Intentions will follow the event and post the winners with our thoughts post Awards.
Next. NBA Draft Winners and Losers: how OKC Thunder fared. dark
Enjoy the show!