Even though the NBA starts giving out its annual awards during the Playoffs, they're supposed to be based solely on regular season performance. That would explain why for instance they dumbed out and gave Tom Thibodeau "Coach of the Year" in 2021. So this time, I decided to jump on the bandwagon and also give out the NBA Inception Awards now, before the Playoffs start, as the postseason will inevitably influence some of these decisions. Maybe later I'll post some postseason awards also. But in the meantime...
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER - JOEL EMBIID
Criteria: a player who most contributed to a team everyone thought would be garbage rather overachieving.
Based on the above criteria, this award could have easily gone to Luka Doncic or even Nikola Jokic (considering the Nuggets injuries). Ja Morant is another one, but the Grizzlies, for whatever it's worth, have shown that they can win without him.
The Sixers also tend to represent without Embiid. But I decided to give it to him anyway because truthfully, everyone thought this team would be garbage with Simmons refusing to play, and Philly procrastinating in trading him. Instead, under Embiid's leadership they proved to be one the best teams in the East.
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER - DESMOND BANE
This is another tough one. Draymond Green even recently threw Jordan Poole's name into the mix, someone who I never thought about as a MIP before then but definitely a deserving candidate. But I have to give to Desmond Bane. Why? Because deadass up until like a few months ago, I never even heard of dude.
HONORABLE MENTION - TYRESE MAXEY
Tyrese Maxey may not be "most improved" in the truest sense of the word, because he was also damn good last season but just wasn't getting a lot of playing time. But I hope this dude is recognized one way or another, because he's an absolute terror and someone who opposing offenses have to respect just as much, if not moreso than the Beard.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR - EVAN MOBLEY
Criteria - a rookie who has started on a team everyone thought would be garbage and instead helped them overachieve.
Scottie Barnes also fits the above criteria, arguably more than Evan Mobley, because in reality the Cavs have a pretty good all-around roster. Meanwhile, at least I was convinced that the Raptors would be terrible this year. Part of the reason they're not speaks to the culture of the organization, as does the fact that they were able to pick a diamond in the rough in Barnes. But honestly, I haven't seen enough of Barnes to really evaluate him.
HONORABLE MENTION - JONATHAN KUMINGA
Anyone who reads this blog would know that I'm a Kuminga fan. But this entire rookie class is impressive. Cats like Jalen Green and Cade Cunningham have been representing of late, and I also like Davion Mitchell's game (when he's actually attacking the basket). But Kuminga has to be, quite unexpectedly, like the rookie leader in dunks.
COACH OF THE YEAR - TAYLOR JENKINS
This season started with a lot of surprise teams - the Bulls, the Wizards, the Cavs and the Grizzlies. Since then Washington has fallen off, as Cleveland and Chicago have cooled down to the point that no one is really taking them as contenders anymore.
Meanwhile, you mean to tell me that Memphis has locked down 2nd place in the West, and they're deadasss better than even the Lakers? No one saw that coming. So even though there's other deserving coaches like Doc Rivers and of course Monty Williams, I'd give it to Taylor "White Beard" Jenkins, especially when you also consider how good the Grizzlies have been without Morant.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR - GARY PAYTON II
I know the Mitt can't be seriously considered for this award by NBA standards because he's not a starter or someone who's been getting mucho minutes. But mark my words - in the next couple of years Payton II may be considered the best all-around defender in the NBA. Dude always has a defensive impact and an outstanding low-post presence and on both ends of the floor. And that's why his nickname has been upgraded to "the Gauntlet".
THE TRACY MCGRADY 'MAYBE IT'S TIME TO RETIRE' AWARD - ANTHONY DAVIS
Criteria - a star player who should be considering retirement, even though you know he's not going to actually do it.
NBA basketball isn't necessarily what you would call a contact sport, but there's always dudes hitting the floor anyway. And it's never enjoyable when it happens to people to like AD, because there's always this fear like 'oh shit, major injury'. I believe I even recently heard an announcer recently that maybe AD should retire.
Of course, Davis a factor when he's on the court. But it ain't like it used to be, and at least he has a championship to his name.
THE DARYL MOREY 'LIL TAIWAN' AWARD - ENES KANTER
Not all real niggas are born and bred in the United States. Enes Kanter comes from Turkey, one of those countries where like they're always some civil rights beef. And in more recent times, he basically traded in his sports career in the name of publicly calling out some of China's well known human rights issues.
THE "I BELIEVE I CAN FLY" AWARD - GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO
I'm starting to believe that the Bucks drafting Giannis with the 15th pick in 2013 was like the best draft pick in NBA history.
THE PATRIOT AWARD - TYLER HERRO
Criteria - the player who most exemplifies that there's still a place for Caucasian Americans in the NBA.
Last offseason I strongly advocated the Lakers going after Tyler Herro, even making him their top priority after the way the Heat disrespected him earlier in the season. Instead, they went after players like Russell Westbrook, Kendrick Nunn and Avery Bradley. And, we see how that played out.
COOLEST DREADLOCKS AWARD - JAE CROWDER
Anyone whose been on this earth longer than 30 years has to be amazed at how now dreads, afros and even dirty beards are in style. At first, I thought Jae Crowder actually let his hair knot up into one long ponytail. Now, I see that he's using rubberbands or something. But still, they look damn cool when he ties them together, like he's the Predator or some shit.
HONORABLE MENTION - DAMIAN LEE
Damian Lee's dreads are part of his energetic playing personality. He may suck on occasion, but Damian never runs out of energy or vigor.
"REVENGE OF THE NERDS" AWARD - SETH CURRY
Criteria - the player who best illustrates that making it in the NBA isn't all about being a mad tall and/or super athletic.
I remember when Seth Curry was struggling to find a place in the NBA. This season, he's been a better 3pt shooter (percentage wise) than even Steph and is the one Nets role player that other teams have to fear the most in the Playoffs.
THE GOLDEN SPAZ AWARD - DRAYMOND GREEN
Sometimes I get tired of seeing Draymond bitch and moan. He's like the oldest dude on the court but often acts like the youngest. However, he is the Golden Spaz - the only player in the NBA who refs allow to regularly throw tantrums without technicals or ejections. And more importantly, other some other disagreeable players his spazzing tends to be beneficial to his team.
HONORABLE MENTION - JIMMY BUTLER
I never read up on the origin of that beef between Jimmy Butler and Erik Spoelstra. But I do know that Jimmy seems to to have interpersonal issues on like every team he's ever played for.
THE PRICE OF A TICKET AWARD - JA MORANT
Criteria - the one player who makes you most appreciative that you actually watched the game.
The truth is that the experience of going to and fro an NBA arena isn't what most people would actually classify as a pleasant one. There's thousands of other people showing up the same time, meaning that there's traffic, processing lines, etc. And then even after the game, like sometimes on the way home you can get mugged or some shit. So the last thing you need in addition to all of that is the game itself being boring. Well, I can't remember the last time I regretted watching Ja Morant play.
HONORABLE MENTION - DEVIN BOOKER
Devin "Poker Face" Booker is one of the few players whose jump shots are entertaining; his face is like emotionless, and he just straightup embarrasses defenders. When you combine those three factors with the fact that his team actually wins, he's more like Kobe than any other current NBA player.
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