OKC Thunder garner 2 finalists in the 6 individual award categories

The OKC Thunder gets recognized in two of the six individual award categories as the top three candidates are announced.

Inside the NBA opened the show Saturday with award finalists announcement. Ernie Johnson told the panel of Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, and guest Draymond Green who the three finalists are for each individual award category. The OKC Thunder got love in two categories as you’ll see below.

Statistics are noted relevant to the individual category. And, for what it’s worth I’ve included who the TNT panel and Green voted for under each category.

NBA announces three finalists for individual awards

Rookie of the Year:

• Ja Morant
• Kendrick Nunn
• Zion Williamson

Provided by Stathead.com: View Stathead Tool Used
Generated 8/8/2020.

Ja Morant – Memphis Grizzlies, 20 years old (turns 21 on Monday, August 10th)

• Game Details: Played 64 games, 30.6 minutes per game
• Stat Averages: 17.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, 7.1 assists, 0.9 steals, and 3.2 turnovers

Kendrick Nunn – Miami Heat, 25 years old (birthdate August 3)

• Game Details: Played 66 games, 29.2 minutes per game
• Stat Averages: 15.2 points, 2.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 0.8 steals, and 1.7 turnovers

Zion Williamson – New Orleans Pelicans, 20 years old (birthdate – July 6th)

• Game Details: Played 23 games, 27.9 minutes per game
• Stat Averages: 22.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.7 steals, and 2.5 turnovers

The panel unanimously voted for Ja Morant.

Most Valuable Player:

• Giannis Antetokounmpo
• James Harden
• LeBron James

Provided by Stathead.com: View Stathead Tool Used
Generated 8/8/2020.

Giannis Antetokounmpo – Milwaukee Bucks

• Game Details: Played 61 games, 30.7 minutes per game, 25 years old (birthdate: Dec. 6th)
• Stat Averages: 29.7 points, 13.7 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.0 block, and 3.7 turnovers

James Harden – Houston Rockets

• Game Details: Played 65 games, 36.7 minutes per game, 30 (birthdate August 26)
• Stat Averages: 34.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 7.5 assists, 1.8 steals, 0.9 block, and 4.5 turnovers

LeBron James – Los Angeles Lakers

• Game Details: Played 64 games, 34.8 minutes per game, 35 (birthdate: Dec. 30th)
• Stat Averages: 25.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, 10.3 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.5 blocks, and 3.9 turnovers

This was the one category where there was quite a bit of debate. Charles and Ernie selected Antetokounmpo while Draymond selected LeBron James. Kenny’s pick wasn’t clear – he had positive comments to make about Harden but agreed with both Chuck and Draymond (I think he picked Antetokounmpo).

Defensive Player of the Year

• Giannis Antetokounmpo
• Anthony Davis
• Rudy Gobert

Provided by Stathead.com: View Stathead Tool Used
Generated 8/8/2020.

Giannis Antetokounmpo – Milwaukee Bucks

• Game Details: same as above
• Stat Averages: Rebounds – off/def/total 2.2/11.4/13.7, 1.0 steals, and 1.0 blocks

Anthony Davis – Los Angeles Lakers

• Game Details: Played 60 games, 34.3 minutes per game, 27 (birthdate: March 11th)
• Stat Averages: Rebounds – off/def/total 2.3/7.1/9.4, 1.4 steals, and 2.3 blocks

Rudy Gobert -Utah Jazz

• Game Details: Played 66 games, 34.5 minutes per game, 28 (birthdate: June 26)
• Stat Averages: Rebounds – off/def/total 3.4/10.2/13.6, 0.8 steals, and 2.0 blocks

Draymond Green picked Anthony Davis (is he lobbying for a job in LA?), Kenny, Chuck and Ernie all picked Antetokounmpo.

Most Improved Player:

In this segment, the player’s stats compare last season to this season.

Bam Adebayo – Miami Heat

• Game Details: Played 69 games, 34.0 minutes per game, 23 (birthdate July 18th)
• Stat Averages: 16.1 points, 10.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.2 steals, 1.3 blocks, and 2.8 turnovers

Improvement over previous year(s):

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 8/8/2020.

Luka Doncic – Dallas Mavericks

• Game Details: Played 58 games, 33.8 minutes per game, 21 (birthdate: February 28)
• Stat Averages: 29.0 points, 9.4 rebounds, 8.8 assists, 1.0 steals, and 4.3 turnovers

Improvement over previous year:

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 8/8/2020.

Brandon Ingram – New Orleans Pelicans

• Game Details: Played 61 games, 33.9 minutes per game, 22 (Birthdate: Sept. 2nd)
• Stat Averages: 23.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 0.9 steals, and 3.2 turnovers

Improvement over previous year:

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 8/8/2020.

The entire panel selected Bam Adebayo.

Sixth Man of the Year:

• Dennis Schroder
• Montrezl Harrell
• Lou Williams

Provided by Stathead.com: View Stathead Tool Used
Generated 8/8/2020.

The nod to OKC Thunder backup point guard Dennis Schroder was expected – it’s rather surprising Harrell is garnering the top praise.

Montrezl Harrell – LA Clippers

• Game Details: Played 63 games, 27.8 minutes per game, 26, (birthdate: Jan. 26th)
• Stat Averages: 18.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.1 blocks, and 1.7 turnovers

Dennis Schroder OKC Thunder

• Game Details: Played 64 games, 30.8 minutes per game, 26 (26 Sept. 15th)
• Stat Averages: 18.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 0.7 steals, and 2.6 turnovers

Lou Williams – LA Clippers

• Game Details: Played 62 games, 29 minutes per game, 33 (birthdate: Oct. 27th)
• Stat Averages: 18.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 0.6 steals, and 2.8 turnovers

Everyone selected Harrell (boo!)

Coach of the Year:

(note deeper dive into numbers coming in next few days).

Mike Budenholzer– Milwaukee Bucks – 55-14 record

Record 55-14, top-ranked team in NBA as well as first in the Eastern Conference.

Billy Donovan  – OKC Thunder – 42-26 record

Currently seeded sixth in the Western Conference, but notably are in a fight with Rockets, Jazz for 4th, 5th, 6th seed.

Nick Nurse – Toronto Raptors – 49-19 record

Currently seeded second in Eastern Conference (one win in final four games will cement seed), and the third seed in NBA. The panel was also unanimous in selecting Nurse.

Earlier this week the NBA coaches voted Mike Budenholzer and OKC Thunder head coach Billy Donovan as co-winners. This is the media voted award.

The show is on early as TNT features a tripleheader of the LA Clippers versus the Portland Trail Blazers at 1:00 p.m., the Utah Jazz versus the Denver Nuggets at 3:30 p.m, and the Los Angeles Lakers versus the Indiana Pacers at 6:00 p.m. (all times Eastern Standard Time).

Thunderous Intentions will have more on the awards in the coming days.