We’re only one quarter into the NBA period, but first impressions matter. Here are the latest frontrunners for each honours competition.
We’re only one month into the NBA time. Just 18. 6 % of the games have been played. That’s nothing in the great system of an 82-game crush. Teams are also finding their names, newbies are adjusting to the league’s rate, and we have n’t also hit the trade rumor fury yet.
But first impressions problem. The second month sets the tone, establishes finalists and gives us a picture into who’s prepared to dominate the discussion all season. So, while it ’s way too early to draw any definitive opinions, it ’s the perfect time to set a baseline with my one-month award vote. Think of it as a preview of the club straight now before chaos certainly takes over.
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
1. Nikola Jokić, Nuggets
Pittsburgh rookie year
Washington quarterback time
Dribble jumper 3PT %
32%
39%
% FGA at seal
14%
22%
Snatches per game
0.6
1.2
Carrington was a premium large player as a college freshman who seldom got to the seal and did n’t shot well from 3 off the spin. So far this year, he’s getting to the box more often and shooting greater on pull-up 3s while furthermore making a far greater protective effects.
At 2-11 on the time, the Wizards odor again. But they are no more an eyesore to observe, in large part because of young men like Carrington. The future is bright in Washington in more ways than one.
ALL-ROOKIE TEAMS
Second TeamJared McCain, 76ersDalton Knecht, LakersBub Carrington, WizardsZach Edey, GrizzliesJaylen Wells, Raptors
Following TeamRyan Dunn, SunsZaccharie Risacher, HawksYves Missi, PelicansDonovan Clingan, Trail BlazersStephon Castle, Spur
Two Raptors area on the first team for then, and it won’t get a shock if my summer pick to win Rookie of the Year — Zach Edey — ends up back in the best 3. But his missed games and inconsistent minutes knock him down a spot for now.
In the months to come I fully expect Castle and Clingan to also make a push for ROTY. Risacher could too since he gets regular minutes and already checks a lot of boxes, but it will be dependent on the consistency of his jumper.
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER OF THE MONTH
1. Christian Braun, Nuggets
Stats: 16. 2 points, 60 2P %, 42. 5 3P %, 5. 3 rebounds, 2. 1 stocks
The Nuggets let Kentavious Caldwell-Pope walk and that opened a starting spot for Braun, who's playing the best basketball of his life. Averaging 35. 3 minutes, Braun is playing heavy minutes and scoring the hell out of the ball for Denver while also playing versatile defense both on the perimeter and at the rim.
Braun epitomizes the meaning of the award in the sense that he was already good at some of these things, and he's still doing it while playing way more minutes. But his skill has also improved as a shooter from 3 and as a driver.
2. Bilal Coulibaly, Wizards
Stats: 14. 8 points, 63. 9 TS %, 5. 8 rebounds, 2. 6 assists
I don’t discriminate against second-year players like some voters do. Sure, they’re “supposed to get better, ” but they often don’t. Some get worse. And few improve as much as Coulibaly has for the Wizards, nearly doubling his production while improving his efficiency from last season.
Last year, he was brutal in the pick-and-roll, shooting 29. 3 % ( 12-for-41 ). This year? He’s at 58. 3 % ( 14-for-24 ). He’s way more confident and playing a controlled style, hitting pull-ups and turnarounds from midrange. Plus he’s throwing down some highlight-reel finishes at the rim. It’s like he woke up and realized," Oh yeah, I’m allowed to be awesome. "
3. Bennedict Mathurin, Pacers
Stats: 18. 8 points, 47. 4 3P %, 82. 1 % on 5. 6 FTA, 6. 6 rebounds
Mathurin was a volume scorer plagued by inconsistency, but he appears to be turning a corner this season. He’s still relentlessly attacking the rim but finishing at a higher clip and shooting career-best numbers from deep.
There’s a maturity to his game now— Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle credits his improved shot selection, and Mathurin looks noticeably more locked in on defense as well.
On the radar: Norm Powell, Guerschon Yabusele, Dyson Daniels, Gradey Dick, Jalen Johnson, Franz Wagner, RJ Barrett, Jakob Poeltl, Jaden Ivey
SIXTH MAN OF THE MONTH
1. Payton Pritchard, Celtics
Stats: 15. 3 points, 42. 3 % on 8. 7 3PA, 2. 8 assists
Pritchard becomes what the Celtics need from him. Need a sharpshooter to fly around the arc? He can have 28-point scoring outings on 8-for-12 shooting from 3 like he did against the Bucks. Need playmaking? He can log 8 assists to only 1 turnover like he did against the Nets.
Every night, Pritchard provides something positive to the Celtics, with his shooting, with his midrange fadeaways, with his paint penetration, with his gritty defense. He’s the best backup point guard in the NBA, and so far, the best Sixth Man.
2. Tari Eason, Rockets
Stats: 11. 7 points, 6. 4 boards, 2. 2 steals, 1. 1 blocks, 1. 1 assists
Eason is First Team All-Defense-caliber. Houston has stuck him on players of different shapes and sizes like Giannis Antetokounmo, Pascal Siakam and Jalen Williams. But more importantly, away from the ball he’s a destructive defender who gets his hands in the mix with 2. 2 steals and 3 deflections per game. He’s everywhere, like a sentry targeting the ball on passes into the paint, a vacuum inhaling boards. Rockets head coach Ime Udoka compared Eason to Kawhi Leonard for good reason.
But Eason is n’t just a one-way player. He's shooting 37 % from 3, hustling in transition, cutting in the halfcourt and doing dirty work on offense.
BetMGM has Eason listed as +4000 for Sixth Man of the Year, which means hitting a$ 1 bet would win you$ 41. There is not a better value bet right now. As his minutes continue to tick up after missing 60 games last season, it won’t shock me one bit if he’s soon the favorite to win it.
3. Buddy Hield, Warriors
Stats: 16. 5 points, 45. 1 % on 8. 1 3PA
Hield fits perfectly in Golden State’s system, sprinting to a spot in transition and thriving off screens and handoffs to unleash 3s or slingshot toward the rim.
The Warriors have a plus-32 net rating with Hield sharing the floor with Steph Curry, and he’s looking every bit like an adopted Splash Brother.
On the radar: Naz Reid, Jonathan Kuminga, Tre Mann, Amen Thompson, Caris LeVert, Dereck Lively, Malik Monk, Devin Vassell, Dalano Banton
COACH OF THE MONTH
1. Kenny Atkinson, Cavaliers
Stats: 16-1 record, +11. 7 net rating
Even putting aside the 15-0 record to begin the season, Atkinson had the Cavaliers simply looking more cohesive than they ever did under their former head coach, J. B. Bickerstaff.
There was a clunkiness to the top-four of Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. But now, no matter the lineup combination, Atkinson is pushing the right buttons to get them all to produce.
2. Ty Lue, Clippers
Stats: 9-7 record, +1. 3 net rating
The NBA is filled with teams missing stars who are losing games night after night. And then there are the Clippers: 9-7 without Kawhi Leonard.
Lue has installed a system that has the Clippers playing elite defense, while surviving enough on offense without their superstar. Just imagine if they get Kawhi back healthy.
3. Steve Kerr, Warriors
Stats: 11-3 record, +10. 2 net rating
Gotta love how Kerr has somehow made it work with a rotation that often goes beyond 10 guys. The Warriors gave him depth and he knows how to use it. New players have successfully been integrated too.
On the radar: Joe Mazzulla, Jamahl Mosley, JJ Redick, Mark Daignault, Mike Budenholzer, Ime Udoka
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