NBA Awards Race: Predictions for MVP, Rookie of the Year, and others through the end of the first quarter of the 2021-22 season
Just like that, in the blink of an eye, the first quarter of the 2021-22 NBA season has passed us.
With every team in the league hitting the 20-game mark, we’ve officially entered the phase of the season where the small sample size is no longer small. At this point, trends – both good and bad – may be what they represent.
Players and teams that are still thriving or experiencing success can keep things going for the rest of the year. The same can be said for those who are still struggling.
And while the 60-hour matches remain to change the trajectory of the season, let’s evaluate what we’ve seen so far and calculate the temperature for some end-of-season accolades.
Eight members of our Sporting News staff were asked to vote for their top three rankings for each of the major NBA awards. A first-place vote is worth five points, a second-place vote is worth three points, and a third-place vote is worth one point.
To be unambiguously clear: Voting based on performance so far in the season, Not who we believe will win the award at the end of the season.
If you want to see how our opinion has changed since before the start of the season, check it out Pre-season award ballot here.
No need to know more…who is the leader for each NBA tournament so far?
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NBA First Quarter Awards Race
Best Player: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Of the six awards surveyed, Curry for MVP was the only unanimous decision, winning eight votes in first place for a total of 40 points. And that’s right.
The only unanimous MVP in NBA history is back at it again, tied for the league lead while taking down 3s by historic proportions. He helped the Warriors have the best record in the NBA, looking like a real championship contender even though Klay Thompson and James Wiseman are yet to hit the floor this season.
THAN: Is this Curry’s best season ever?
Nets star Kevin Durant won all eight votes in second place (24 points), joining Curry for the most points per game in the league while shooting with an incredible performance of 54.8% from the pitch and 41.1% from 3.
Defending Bucks MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo finished third in the poll despite being the only player in the league to average at least 25 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 save and 1 steal. every match.
Others received votes: Chris Paul, Nikola Jokic, DeMar DeRozan
Rookie of the Year: Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors
Rookie of the Year is by far the closest race for the award, with Barnes (34 points) just ahead of Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley (30 points) for the first quarter title. Barnes won five of eight votes in first place against Mobley’s three, giving him the edge.
Both rookies have had an impressive start to their careers, acting as business men for their teams.
Barnes and Mobley have exceeded expectations as goalscorers and assists in attack while living up to the hype as supple and versatile defenders. So far, Barnes leads Mobley in points, rebounds, assists and steals per game, but the #3 overall pick isn’t far behind any of those categories.
While No. 1 pick Cade Cunningham is heading into the awards race after missing the first two games of the season, Thunder rookie Josh Giddey is third, winning five votes in second place. father. Giddey made headlines recently, joining LeBron James and LaMelo Ball as the only teens in NBA history to have 100 assists and rebounds in the first 20 games of their careers.
Others received votes: Cade Cunningham
Defensive Player of the Year: Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors
Green has anchored the Warriors’ defense for years and that hasn’t changed. Through the first quarter of the season, Golden State has by far the best defense in the NBA, possessing a defensive index of 99.4, and Green’s vocal leadership deserves a lot of credit for that.
Just ask the former Defensive Player of the Year who, himself, is the NBA’s best defender:
THAN: Western Conference levels: Warriors, Suns in a league of their own
Green (38 points) received seven out of eight votes in first place, while Bam Adebayo (14 points) stole the only remaining vote. Adebayo came in second in the vote while the two previous DPOYs, Rudy Gobert and Giannis Antetokounmpo, tied for third (9 points each).
Others received votes: Mikal Bridge, Alex Caruso
Sixth Man of the Year: Tyler Herro, Miami Heat
Another award is far from a unanimous vote.
Herro won seven of eight votes in first place (38 points), narrowly winning the honor. After bursting into the NBA Bubble during the rookie season, Herro struggled to live up to expectations in his sophomore year. The 21-year-old reacted in Year 3 by averaging career-high scores in every major statistical category, including his shootings.
And while he made his impact off the bench, he also came in late into the games, finishing sixth in the league in fourth quarter points, following a list of five former All-Stars.
In second place behind Herro was Montrezl Harrell (17 points), who passed by one vote in first place. Harrell returns looking like the player who won sixth Man of the Year award in 2019, playing a huge role in the Wizards’ early-season success. The Bulls’ Alex Caruso (7 points) just overtook the Nets’ Patty Mills (5 points) for third place.
Others received votes: Patty Mills, Jalen Brunson, Carmelo Anthony
Most Improved Player of the Year: Miles Bridge, Charlotte Hornets
Most Improved Player of the Year has the most diversity among votes in first place than any other award. Five (!) different players received votes in first place out of eight experts polled: Bridges, Herro, Ja Morant, Dejounte Murray and Jordan Poole.
However, three votes in first place and two votes in second place (23 points) gave him the advantage on the field.
The Hornets forward has had such a hot start to the season that he even Top 5 on our first MVP Scale of the year. He was that good. He hasn’t cooled down much since then, still averaging career-high while helping Charlotte get off to a better-than-expected start.
Morant (16 points) came in second in the vote, but for complete transparency, some voters felt it wasn’t right to give this particular award to a 2nd overall pick in the draft class. his. Poole’s breakout season for Golden State was recognized, coming in third in the poll (13 points).
Others received votes: Dejounte Murray, Tyler Herro, Tyrese Maxey
Coach of the Year: Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors
It’s hard to argue for anyone other than Kerr for Coach of the Year so far, although several other coaches have had a strong case to date.
Warriors are exceeding all expectations, came off one of the best starts in NBA history with a score of 18-2. Kerr has done all the right buttons, tapping into the roles of the likes of Poole, Gary Payton II and Juan Toscano-Anderson, and unleashing the full potential of Andrew Wiggins.
Warriors have the second best attack, the best defense and best net rating in the NBA, and Kerr deserves some credit for that.
He received seven out of eight votes in first place (35 points), with Bulls head coach Billy Donovan taking the vote in another first place.
Donovan did a great job with Chicago’s new roster, but despite receiving another first place vote, he finished third (8 points) in the vote. Second place went to Suns head coach Monty Williams (22 points), who earned all but one vote in second place.
Others received votes: Steve Nash, Wes Unseld Jr., Erik Spoelstra
