Way-Too-Early NBA Award Predictions

The NBA season, so far, has been exciting to say the least. With that being said, there's still plenty of time for everything to revert back to normal [the Bucks return to being the Bucks, Kobe Bryant remembers how to shoot, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist forgets how to shoot, etc.], or maybe for even more surprises [the Pacers find life, anyone?]. Anyways, here are your way-too-early NBA Award Predictions.

Andrea Bargnani gets an A for effort.

NBA Most Valuable Player:
Anthony Davis, PF/C/God, New Orleans Pelicans

Anthony Davis is 21 years old, that means he's supposedly a few years away from his prime. I, for one, can't wait to see what his prime is if this isn't it. Davis playing unbelievable basketball. He is 4th in the league in points per game [24.9], 8th in rebounds per game [11.3], 11th in field-goal percentage[.556] among qualified players, 2nd in steals per game [2.31], 1st, by a mile, in blocks per game [3.06], and 3rd in the league in double-doubles [11]. His only flaw is his passing, as he averages less than 2 assists per game. Nonetheless, Davis is a ridiculously multi-faceted player who thrives in virtually every aspect of basketball. He's improving at an otherworldly rate, and he's miles ahead of everyone in his draft class, including Damien Lillard. Anthony Davis is the NBA's best player at the moment.
Honorable Mention: Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Kevin Durant


NBA Rookie of the Year:

McDaniels has been a nice
surprise for the otherwise
gut-wrenchingly bad 76ers

K.J. McDaniels, SG/SF, Philadelphia 76ers
McDaniels is a cautionary tale for NBA executives. Kevin McDaniels Jr. was a projected mid-1st round pick, [which, in hindsight, would've been a bit low anyways], until he had a poor shooting day at the combine, which led to his free-fall on draft night into the 2nd round. Now, McDaniels [in my opinion] has been the most impressive rookie so far this season, as he's certainly blown expectations out of the water. He is averaging 10.3 points per game, good for 3rd among rookies. He ranks 6th among rookies [1st among perimeter rookies] in rebounds per game [3.8], and he leads all rookies in blocks per game [a 6'6 wing leads all rookies in blocks per game], he's 11th in the NBA in block percentage [5%], and ranks 2nd among rookies in three-pointers made, so much for his poor shooting at the combine.. There will be plenty of opportunities for McDaniels to rack up minutes and stats on a talent-deprived 76ers team that lost its first 17 games. I don't think McDaniels will win the award, but I do think he should if he sustains this level of play.
Honorable Mention: Jabari Parker, Andrew Wiggins, Elfrid Peyton

Your NBA Coach of the Year frontrunner,
 ladies and gentlemen!

NBA Coach of the Year:
Jason Kidd, Milwaukee Bucks
What a difference a year makes. Last season, Brooklyn fans were calling for his head, as he was a coaching monstrosity [let's not forget the "spilling incident"]. This season, Kidd has helped turn the Milwaukee Bucks into a decent, competent NBA team. They currently sit at 10-10 and if a few fluke things went their way [ex: Monta Ellis turning into a contortionist with 2 seconds left in regulation and the score tied], they may have been looking at an above .500 record 20 games into the season. The Bucks are a serious candidate to make the playoffs in the lowly Eastern Conference, one year after out-tanking the 76ers, and it's largely due to the presence of Kidd.
Honorable Mention: Rick Carlisle, Dave Joerger, Tom Thibodeau

NBA Most Improved Player:
Jimmy Butler, SG/SF, Chicago Bulls

Butler's offense is finally catching up to his defense

So we weren't all wrong about Jimmy Butler! We were just one year early. After being widely considered an extreme breakout candidate heading into the 2013-14 season, Butler produced an underwhelming offensive season which saw Butler come nowhere close to the high expectations placed on him and average 13 points per game on 39% shooting, Butler has turned up the heat this year. He's averaging 21 points per game on 49% shooting while maintaining his elite level of on-ball and team defense. It may not seem like such a drastic improvement, being that every other aspect of Butler's game has remained at the same level, but for Butler, scoring makes a world of difference. As tough as it may be to realize, Derrick Rose will never be at 100% for more than 50 games in a season. Since that has now become evident and apparent, it's safe to say that Chicago needs more scoring. Pau Gasol is a fantastic offensive player, but there's only so much he can do on the perimeter. Joakim Noah is more of a defender and hustle guy, and while Nikola Mirotic has shown signs of being an effective complimentary scorer, there's no room for a 3rd big man in the starting lineup. Doug McDermott is a deadeye shooter, but Tom Thibodeau has a notorious reputation of keeping rookies off the court [i.e.: Jimmy Butler]. Therefore, it's pivotal that Butler steps up, and thus far, he has.
Honorable Mention: Gordon Hayward, Tony Wroten Jr., Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

The best perimeter defender of this generation, here seen
harassing the NBA's best scorer

NBA Defensive Player of the Year:
Tony Allen, SG/SF, Memphis Grizzlies
If you watched only offensive film of Tony Allen, you'd wonder why on Earth this excuse for an NBA player starts and plays meaningful minutes on a title contender, and has been for several years. Then you'd see his defense, and it would all make sense. When Allen is on the court, he's putting in twice as much effort as everyone else. As his nickname, "The Grindfather", suggests, Tony Allen is a hustler. He dives for every lose ball and will do whatever it takes to win, particularly on the less-glamorous end of the court. He's currently 4th in the league in steals per game, 1st among non-point guards. He also ranks 3rd in the NBA in defensive plus/minus, at 4.4 [meaning that the Grizzlies are 4 points worse with him on the bench than they are with him in the game], 7th in the league in defensive rating, and 1st in steal percentage [4.2%]. He does all of this while guarding the opposing team's best perimeter player night in and night out. But Allen's contributions go beyond even the most advanced stat sheets. He's the heart and soul of the Grizzlies' defense that is arguably tops in the NBA.
Honorable Mention: Andrew Bogut, Kawhi Leonard, Tim Duncan

-Jack Benun

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