The 2022-23 NBA season is well underway, and the standings are becoming clear in terms of which players are ahead of others. The best players in the NBA right now, in no particular order, are Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic, Jayson Tatum, LeBron James, and Stephen Curry. The best teams right now are the Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns, Denver Nuggets, and Memphis Grizzlies. There are also some very good teams stringing wins together, including the Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, and New Orleans Pelicans.
- Coach Of The Year
- 6th Man Of The Year
- Most Improved Player Of The Year
- Defensive Player Of The Year
- Rookie Of The Year
- Most Valuable Player
- Next
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- The Greatest All-Time NBA Teams: Michael Jordan And LeBron James Lead The First Team
- The Boston Celtics All-Time GOAT Pyramid
- LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan NBA Finals Comparison
- NBA Championship Teams By Tiers: Lakers And Celtics Lead With 17 Titles Each
But it is clear that the aforementioned teams and players have separated themselves from the rest of the pack and have the best chances of achieving the most success. Specifically, there are only a few players that have legitimate chances of winning valuable awards. We have collected a list of five players per individual award category as we currently stand as of the month of December. It is reasonable to say that all NBA fans have a pretty good idea as to which players are competing in the multiple award categories.
But who are the current season’s top performers in terms of individual performances in terms of impact, and statistics? We saw last month how Jayson Tatum was in the running for the MVP award, but is he still the favorite a few months into the season? It is time to grant the award winners for the 2022-23 NBA season, whereby we gain an indication of what to expect from the league’s best players and coaches for the rest of the year. It is time to uncover the current leaders for the Coach of the Year, 6th Man of the Year, Most Improved Player, Defensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and of course, the MVP award that was recently named after the greatest player of all time, Michael Jordan. Here are the frontrunners for each major individual award in the NBA.
Coach Of The Year
Current Leaders For The Coach Of The Year Award:
1. Joe Mazzulla
2. Willie Green
3. Taylor Jenkins
4. Will Hardy
5. Mike Budenholzer
Sure, having Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown helps, but Joe Mazzulla has done a magical job taking over a team that made the NBA Finals last year and has dealt with an unfortunate incident involving Ime Udoka. Rather than struggling to maintain the Celtics’ standard of basketball, Mazzulla has been a seamless fit as the team has the best record in the NBA right now. Mazzulla has kept the team intact, and Boston looks like legitimate title contenders once again, thanks to that. So far, the Celtics have an impressive 24-10 record, and Mazzulla deserves the Coach of the Year because of that.
We knew the New Orleans Pelicans had potential, but they are reaching it rather quickly. Zion Williamson is a superstar, role players are stepping up, and Willie Green is coaching out of his mind. Green has the Pelicans sitting second with a 20-12 record and has managed to get the best out of Zion Williamson again. Willie is widely respected by the NBA community because he was a former NBA player and has gone through the ranks to attain one of the best head coaching jobs in the league. Hopefully, the Pelicans can make a deep push into the playoffs.
Taylor Jenkins seems to have the team buying into his philosophies because the Memphis Grizzlies sit at a 20-12 record without the presence of arguably their second-best player in Jaren Jackson Jr for almost half the season so far. Ja Morant has become one of the ten best players in the world, and supplementary players such as Desmond Bane and Dillon Brooks are balling as well. Because of the fact that his team plays with so much confidence, Jenkins is in the running for Coach of the Year.
Of course, Will Hardy is another coach that has somehow made a tanking team relevant in the NBA. The Utah Jazz is playing very well, currently holding the 7th seed in the West, and actually looks like a playoff team. Now, it is likely Utah starts packing it in and start tanking for Victor Wenbenyama at some point, but Hardy deserves credit for showing his talents as a motivator and basketball brain. Whether the Jazz wants to be winning or not, Hardy seems to be the man for the foreseeable future.
Lastly, Mike Budenholzer will always be in the Coach of the Year mix because he is coaching the best player in the world in Giannis Antetokounmpo and a talented Milwaukee Bucks side that will be competing for a top-2 seed in the East. Budenholzer won the title in the 2021 season, and his philosophies are well ingrained in the Bucks team, even if he was on the hot seat before his team won it all. Because of how well the Bucks defend, Budenholzer deserves praise for his coaching prowess.
6th Man Of The Year
Current Leaders For The Sixth Man Of The Year Award:
1. Russell Westbrook
2. Jordan Poole
3. Bennedict Mathurin
4. Malcolm Brogdon
5. Christian Wood
Russell Westbrook could actually win a major accolade this season, even if his time with the Los Angeles Lakers could soon be coming to a close. The former MVP and triple-double maestro is having a pretty solid year by posting 14.6 PPG, 6.1 RPG, and 7.5 APG on 40.5% shooting from the field, 28.4% from three, and 67.7% from the free-throw line. Russ has been a poor shooter, as usual, but his impact off the bench has been surprisingly refreshing. It is still sad to see a former MVP unable to keep a starting position, but it does not mean that Westbrook has not been the best 6th man in the league.
The Golden State Warriors have struggled throughout the year, but Jordan Poole is finally starting to show why the team wanted to keep him so desperately. It seems that Stephen Curry might have a new Splash Brother because Klay Thompson could be looking at other options right now, and Poole is putting up solid numbers at 19.4 PPG and 4.3 APG on 43.0% FG, 31.7% 3-PT FG, and 87.0% FT. Because of his scoring average, Poole is in the mix for 6th Man of the Year, even if his impact has not quite been there just yet.
Bennedict Mathurin is in the mix for the 6th Man of the Year, even if he is a rookie. Mathurin is a talented scorer and athlete who is posting 17.2 PPG, 4.1 RPG, and 1.4 APG on 41.2% shooting from the field. A shooter and athletic wing player, Mathurin stands 6’6” and weighs 210 lbs making him a solid modern NBA player. The 20-year-old has found his niche by coming off the bench and giving Tyrese Haliburton a partner to pass to, and it has been impressive to see the Indiana Pacers play solid team basketball thus far.
Malcolm Brogdon was the biggest pickup by the Boston Celtics this offseason, and his true value could come in the playoffs. Brogdon has been a stout defender and solid scorer for most of his career, and as a 6th man, his impact for the Celtics has been impressive. The two-way guard is averaging 13.6 PPG, 4.0 RPG, and 3.7 APG on 43.7% shooting from three, numbers that could help the Celtics retain the first seed in the East by the end of the year.
Christian Wood has not been given enough minutes to prove he can compete at an All-Star level, but he has been a solid 6th man. The talented big man has tremendous length as a 6’10” power forward and center, and in only 27.6 MPG, he is averaging 17.3 PPG and 8.0 RPG. Wood can defend the rim very well and has a skill set that translates into the modern NBA. As the best offensive option on Dallas other than Luka Doncic and Spencer Dinwiddie, Wood can score inside and outside and also compete on defense.
Most Improved Player Of The Year
Current Leaders For The Most Improved Player Of The Year Award:
1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
2. Tyrese Haliburton
3. Lauri Markkanen
4. Tyrese Maxey
5. Anfernee Simons
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a 6’6″ guard with exceptional quickness and scoring prowess, has taken his game to another level. Gilgeous-Alexander is having an All-Star-caliber season this year, averaging 31.6 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 5.7 APG on 50.2% field goal, 35.2% three-point, and 92.5% free-throw shooting. Clearly, his scoring has been off the charts as he continues to show more versatility by the month. His future is exceedingly bright at the age of 24, and he should capture the Most Improved Player of the Year award at the end of the season.
Tyrese Haliburton has been exceptional; make no mistake about that. The talented playmaker is averaging 20.7 PPG, 3.9 RPG, and 10.5 APG at only 22 years old. Currently, Haliburton is leading all players in APG and has a knack for making players around him better. The 6’5” guard can score very well, but his ability to set his teammates up has made him one of the better guards in the NBA. No doubt, the Sacramento Kings could be kicking themselves for letting him go too soon.
Nobody could have ever predicted that Lauri Markkanen would become this good on both ends of the floor. After getting traded by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Donovan Mitchell trade, Lauri has produced solid numbers across the board. The versatile forward is averaging 22.8 PPG and 8.1 RPG on 53.3% FG and 43.8% 3-PT FG. Markkanen seems to be able to occupy the small forward and power forward positions really well and has been the best player on the Utah Jazz all year when nobody expected much out of the Finnish big man.
Despite playing alongside two future Hall of Famers in Joel Embiid and James Harden, Maxey is posting 22.9 PPG, 3.5 RPG, and 4.4 APG on 46.2% FG and 42.2% 3-PT FG. At 22 years old, Maxey has shown he can be a go-to scorer at times and knows when to defer to his star teammates as well. That level of maturity is invaluable for the 76ers, and If Maxey can continue posting solid scoring numbers, he could realistically be in the mix for Most Improved Player.
Anfernee Simons was signed to a 9-figure contract by the Portland Trail Blazers, and everybody knew why. Simons has the talent to be an All-Star one day and is currently averaging 22.5 PPG and 4.2 APG while shooting 44.0% from the field, 38.3% from three, and 89.1% from the stripe. As Portland’s best player outside of Damian Lillard, Simons has upped his scoring from 17.3 PPG last year and is playing almost 36 MPG at the age of 23 years old.
Defensive Player Of The Year
Current Leaders For The Defensive Player Of The Year Award:
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo
2. Rudy Gobert
3. Brook Lopez
4. Evan Mobley
5. Bam Adebayo
Giannis Antetokounmpo is the most versatile defender in the NBA, and that means he is the favorite for Defensive Player of the Year. The Greek Freak can shut down 4 positions and also has the length to handle most NBA centers as well. Giannis is posting MVP-caliber numbers on offense as usual, but he is also averaging 0.9 SPG and 0.9 BPG. Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez are forming a dynamic duo on defense, and it is becoming incredibly difficult to score on the Bucks. This race is a tight one, but the edge has to go to Giannis due to his tremendous versatility.
If the Minnesota Timberwolves can actually start displaying their brilliance, Rudy Gobert, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, would be a contender for his fourth award. The 7’1″ Frenchman is a top defensive player who will continue to put up strong defensive numbers throughout the year, regardless of the team’s results. The Frenchman is pulling down 12.3 RPG, averaging 1.2 BPG and 0.9 SPG. Just when it seems like Gobert will be out of the mix for Defensive Player of the Year, his defensive numbers take a boost, and he is right back in it. So far, only Giannis has been better.
Brook Lopez has done an amazing job to win Defensive Player of the Year at 34 years old because he was never much of a defender when he came into the league. But Lopez has somehow revamped his game over the last few seasons and is a knockdown shooter and shot-blocker. That kind of commitment to change from a low-post player to a two-way center is impressive to witness, and hopefully, he can continue his level of play because the Bucks have benefited greatly from the center’s presence.
Evan Mobley can score the ball well, but his value comes on defense. The 21-year-old is having an excellent season once again by averaging 14.7 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 0.7 SPG, and 1.3 BPG for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Mobley has the talent to be a shot-blocker every time down the floor, and his recovery speed is exceptional. As the months progress, Mobley has a chance to actually win Defensive Player of the Year if he continues to block more shots.
Bam Adebayo is an undersized center at only 6’9”, but his length and defensive IQ are of All-Star caliber. Adebayo is averaging 0.9 SPG and 0.6 BPG, even if he has to carry an offensive load by averaging 20.8 PPG and 9.8 RPG. Bam has the speed to handle most forwards in the league and does a great job on bigger players as well. Miami has yet to find its groove, but that should not take away from Adebayo’s skills as a defender and his chances of winning his first Defensive Player of the Year award.
Rookie Of The Year
Current Leaders For The Rookie Of The Year Award:
1. Paolo Banchero
2. Bennedict Mathurin
3. Jaden Ivey
4. Keegan Murray
5. Jabari Smith Jr.
The frontrunner for the Rookie of the Year award is none other than Paolo Banchero. Paolo Banchero will likely win the Rookie of the Year award after going No. 1 overall in the NBA Draft. Banchero is 6’10” with elite strength and athleticism, meaning he will have no problem carrying the offense for the Orlando Magic, as he is averaging 21.7 PPG, 6.9 RPG, and 4.0 APG. Showing All-Star quality already, Banchero should win Rookie of the Year when the season is over, even if the Orlando Magic once again finishes in the lottery.
Nobody would have thought that Bennedict Mathurin would outplay other rookies, such as Jabari Smith Jr, so far. Averaging 17.2 PPG, 4.1 RPG, and 1.4 APG, Mathurin has been the biggest reason that the Indiana Pacers are in a playoff seed outside of Tyrese Haliburton playing like an All-Star. Mathurin was an excellent pick with the No. 6 overall pick, as he is showing he can be a sure-fire starter at only 20 years old. Despite the fact that the 6’6” shooting guard has only started 2 games out of the 33 he has played, Mathurin has been one of the biggest surprises of the NBA season.
Jaden Ivey was an excellent pickup for the tanking Detroit Pistons team that had the No. 5 overall pick. A team that already has a talented guard in Cade Cunningham, the Pistons selected Ivey to bolster their depth and actually form one of the most exciting young backcourts in the league. The 6’4” shooting guard is posting 15.5 PPG, 4.2 RPG, and 3.9 APG while starting 30 games out of the 31 he has played in. Ivey has a chance to be an impact two-way guard, and he will get there soon.
The Sacramento Kings knew what they were doing when they chose Keegan Murray with the No. 4 overall pick because the 22-year-old has excellent length and size at 6’8” and 215 lbs. A versatile athlete who can score, rebound, and defend Keegan, is showing glimpses of becoming a starter in the league and possibly an All-Star. Murray’s skillset has also helped the Kings fight for a playoff spot, and hopefully, the team can get there because the playoff drought is starting to weigh on the franchise and its fans.
Jabari Smith Jr has not quite shown his All-Star talent just yet, and there is zero pressure on him to perform even if he was taken No. 2 overall in the NBA Draft. The Houston Rockets are expected to lose every game they play in (unless James Harden does decide to come back). That bodes well for Smith Jr because he can find his groove on a team that is currently run by Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr. At only 19 years old, time is of the essence for the sweet-shooting power forward.
Most Valuable Player
Current Leaders For The MVP Award:
1. Jayson Tatum
2. Nikola Jokic
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo
4. Luka Doncic
5. Joel Embiid
Jayson Tatum has been arguably the best-performing player in the world for most of the season, but he seems to be having big games against big teams. It seems the 24-year-old has let the 2022 Finals motivate him to reach an entirely different level because there is no more doubt Tatum is a superstar player right now. Averaging 30.9 PPG, 8.1 RPG, and 4.1 APG, Tatum has been on a tear as he continues to lead the Boston Celtics to the best record in the Eastern Conference. So far, the Celtics have won 24 out of the 34 games they have played and only began dropping games recently. As the best player on the best team in the NBA, Tatum is still the frontrunner for the MVP award, and the recent surge by Nikola Jokic should not knock him off the perch just yet.
Because of his triple-double capabilities as a center, Nikola Jokic is a box-score phenomenon who always has a chance at the MVP award. Jokic is a center with a once-in-a-lifetime skill because, at 7 feet tall, he has the talents of a point guard. The Serbian superstar, who averages 25.4 PPG, 11.0 RPG, and 9.4 APG on 61.6% FG, 33.8% 3-PT FG, and 79.0% FT, is capable of making any pass or shot on the field. Of course, being the best player on the best team in the Western Conference continues to boost Jokic’s amazing chances of winning his third MVP award in a row. There is still one man ahead of him, as Tatum could be hard to reach if he continues playing as well as he has.
Giannis Antetokounmpo will always be a legitimate contender for the MVP award because his two-way dominance is irreplaceable for the Milwaukee Bucks. The Greek Freak already has two MVP awards to his name and has a chance to win his 3rd one at the end of the season. Averaging 31.2 PPG, 11.2 RPG, and 5.1 APG, Giannis has the stats to win the MVP award, but he must continue to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a top-2 seed in the East. The Christmas Day loss to the Boston Celtics might have dropped Giannis to third in the MVP race right now because even if he performed well, the Celtics got the victory on the back of Jayson Tatum.
Luka Doncic is the reason why the Dallas Mavericks are in the playoffs every year, and without him, the team would be right in the lottery. Doncic is averaging 32.8 PPG, 8.3 RPG, and 8.7 APG on 49.9% FG, 35.6% 3-PT FG, and 74.1% FT. There is no denying that he is now among the best five players in the world and has Dallas in a lottery spot with an 18-16 record. Doncic is a triple-double danger every night because he can carry an offense by himself as everything flows through him currently. If Luka can get Dallas into a top-3 seed, he has a strong chance to win his first MVP trophy.
Joel Embiid is the catalyst for a Philadelphia 76ers team that has won 8 games in a row so far. The superstar center is currently leading all players in PPG and is also chipping in 9.7 RPG and 4.5 APG on 52.9% shooting from the field. Posting 33.1 PPG, Embiid has taken over the Eastern Conference and deserves his flowers for once again being in contention for the MVP award after finishing second last year. As the months progress, Joel has a legitimate chance to win the award.
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