The 2020 NBA awards race has become almost a backstory to the COVID-19 pandemic, the BLM protests, and the actual season restart in Orlando.
But with the season back underway, the award winners are expected to be announced very soon.
Interestingly, however, thanks to a Reddit post by u/texasalaskamontana, we may already know who the winners will be. Every year, he tracks the votes for the various season awards as the voters (who are media members) release their ballots.
For MVP, it seems like Giannis is the clear winner (29 first-place votes), with LeBron a far second, receiving just 3 first-place votes.
To date I’ve tracked 32 total first place votes for MVP from media members. A voter is included if they say they have an official awards ballot or if they’ve been an official awards voter the last two years and are at the same outlet as the previous season.
It’s assumed there are 100 total votes for awards this season. In past seasons the fan vote made it 101 but there’s been no indication of a fan vote this year.
The tracker would tell you James Harden is poised to come in third, but there are some full ballots that have left him off entirely. If The Beard doesn’t land third then it looks like Luka Doncic or Kawhi Leonard will poach the spot.
Interestingly enough, Giannis is also projected to win Defensive Player of the Year. Anthony Davis, Ben Simmons, and Ban Adebayo filled out the next four spots.
Giannis is running away with this award. With 22 first-place votes tracked.
Ja Morant seems the overwhelming favorite to win ROTY.
Ja Morant could bank this award unanimously. The Grizzly has all 26 of the currently tracked first place votes. Kendrick Nunn is in poll position for second.
For Sixth Man of the Year, the Clippers’ Montrezl Harrell is in a good position to take it home. He’s at least 20 points ahead of Dennis Schroder and Lou Williams.
Montrezl Harrell has grabbed 15 of 22 first place votes so far and feels like the favorite.
As for Most Improved, this may be the most surprising category of all. Despite Brandon Ingram’s performance, the tally so far seems to imply it’s up for grabs between Ingram, Bam, and Luka.
Finally a clear cut noggin scratcher. These ballots are not leaning in any given direction. Over 22 ballots there’s been six different players to get a first place vote. The tracker has three players tied on 43 total points:
Luka Doncic, 9 first place votes
Bam Adebayo, 6 first place votes
Brandon Ingram, 4 first place votes
For the All-NBA first team lineup, the NBA recently obliged requests to allow for greater voter flexibility so it may look different than originally thought by fans.
This gets dicey. Many times you don’t get three complete All-NBA teams from voters and of course there’s lots of variables.
For years reporters have clamored for increased positional flexibility on the All-NBA ballot. This year the NBA delivered and guards are forwards and forwards are guards. LeBron, Kawhi, Luka, Jimmy Butler, Jayson Tatum, and Khris Middleton all appear to be eligible at guard and forward.
Anthony Davis… eligible at Forward and Center and gets lots of first-team votes at center.
Here’s the projected lineup:
LeBron James (Guard)
James Harden (Guard)
Giannis Antetokoumpo (Forward)
Luka Doncic (Foward)
Anthony Davis (Center)
So, it seems that both familiar faces and new ones will be up for some kind of accolade this season. Regardless, it will be intriguing to witness what the official and final results will be and how the basketball world will react to them.
