IMH's 2020 NBA Award Predictions

Ryan Martin
Apr 13, 2020
5 min read

Sorry, NBA Fans, but now that it's been over a month since Jazz C Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19, it is looking more and more likely that we have watched the last game in the 2019-20 Season. If the season were to come back, ESPN's Brian Windhorst has detailed an unofficial plan the NBA is intending to impose if they get the all-clear from doctors. Windhorst notes that team trainers and medical personnel have proposed at least a 25 day period to get players re acclimated with play, including 11 days of individual workouts (to promote social distancing) and two weeks of training camp-like preparation. However, members around the league have said 4-5 weeks would be needed to get back to play.

Long story short, even if this season isn't over yet, it seems to be in the best interest of the league to go right into the playoffs. With this timeline, basketball will be back in the first few weeks of June at the earliest, and even that seems improbable. Remember, that time last year Kawhi Leonard and Co. were delivering Toronto their first championship in franchise history, defeating an injury-ridden Warriors team 3-2.

So, with the regular season being unofficially over, it's a perfect time for...

IMH's Inaugural NBA Awards Predictions:

Most Valuable Player: Bucks F Giannis Antetokounmpo

Even though LeBron James made a run for Giannis' crown right before the season got cancelled, The Greek Freak has been playing out of his mind all season, and he'll become the first player since Stephen Curry to win his second straight MVP award. While leading the Bucks to the NBA's best record, Antetokounmpo's posted a 31.63 PER that ranked seventh-best in NBA History, not to mention he had 29.6 PPG and 13.7 RPG (good for 3rd in both categories) before a joint sprain against Lebron's Lakers (that occurred five days before the league got postponed) caused him to miss two games.

Runner-Ups: Lakers F LeBron James, Rockets G James Harden

Defensive Player of the Year: Lakers F Anthony Davis

Ever since Davis got to LA, his work on the defensive end has been even better than the high expectations Laker fans set for him. Davis is the only player this season to average over four blocks and steals combined, and has defensively led a Lakers team that ranks second in OPPG (a stat in which they ranked 21st in last season when Davis was still in NOLA). Watch out for other intriguing options for this award, such as Antetokounmpo, who has a chance at joining MJ and Hakeem Olajuwon as the only players in NBA History to win MVP and DPOY in the same season.

Runner-Ups: Bucks F Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jazz C Rudy Gobert

Rookie of the Year: Grizzlies G Ja Morant

Although all eyes were on Pelicans F Zion Williamson during last June's draft, 2nd-overall pick Morant takes home ROTY following Williamson's limited season. During his rookie campaign, Ja has shown that he's very well capable of being the franchise-changing player Memphis drafted him to be. While leading the Grizzlies to a scarce western conference playoff spot, Morant proved to be a prolific scorer (17.6 PPG) while leading all rookies in assists and shooting over 36% from deep. Zion played well when healthy, but you can't win rookie of the year with a 19-game resume.

Runner-Ups: Pelicans F Zion Williamson, Heat G Kendrick Nunn

Most Improved Player: Heat C Bam Adebayo

It's tempting to say Pelicans F Brandon Ingram deserves to win this award, and the numbers might agree. But when looking at the situations of Ingram and Adebayo, Adebayo should walk away with MIP. Ingram's numbers seem better than Adebayo's, but he's coming off a season where he was was on a team with LeBron James and entered the season on one with possibly the greatest player over the next decade sidelined by injury; of course his stats are going to get juiced. Adebayo, also a DPOY candidate, showed major improvements on the offensive side of the ball (+7.3 PPG from last season) while sharing the court with high-profile G Jimmy Butler (20 PPG), and young sharpshooters Tyler Herro and Kendrick Nunn (both averaging 13+ a game).

Runner-Ups: Pelicans F Brandon Ingram, Mavericks G Luka Doncic

Coach of the Year: Raptors HC Nick Nurse

This one's an easy choice. Before the season came to a halt, Nurse had been leading the Raptors to achieving the unthinkable: losing a top five player in Kawhi Leonard to FA and having an identical record as last year. At the time when games were postponed, Toronto had a 48-18 record (the same record they had last year through the first 64 games) and had just won four straight. As if that's not impressive enough, Raptors stars Pascal Siakam and Kyle Lowry have both missed key stretches due to injury. Nurse has shown in ability to develop his players to the best of their potential, with the best example of that being Siakam's journey from a late first-round pick to MVP candidate. He's the COTY.

Runner-Ups: Grizzlies HC Taylor Jenkins, Heat HC Erik Spoelstra

Executive of the Year: Clippers GM Lawrence Frank (Far Left)

Here's where things start to get a little divided. Remember, these are award predictions, not who should win each of these awards. Frank is most likely to win this award. Although he had to give up five first-round picks (!!), Frank was able to swing a trade that landed F Paul George to play alongside Kawhi Leonard. Leonard was also part of the Frank's impressive off-season: Frank's signing of Leonard marked the first time in NBA History a player won Finals MVP then changed jerseys the next season. Both of those moves are nice and have paid off for the 2nd-seeded Clippers, but the real executive of the year should be Miami's Pat Riley. Although it's unlikely he'll beat out Frank for the award, Riley has made equally impressive moves without giving up near the assets Frank did. Riley drafted Kentucky's Tyler Herro with the 13th overall pick, a selection that seems to be an absolute steal. He took a chance on undrafted G Kendrick Nunn who now looks to be a ROTY candidate, not to mention he was able to land Star G Jimmy Butler in FA. But what's most admirable about Riley's transactions is his ability to move on from players at the perfect time. By shipping off Josh Richardson to Philadelphia, injury-prone Justice Winslow to Memphis, and Hassan Whiteside to Portland, Riley allowed many of his young players to have breakout seasons: Herro (12.9 PPG), Nunn (15.6) and Bam Adebayo (16.2). These actions will more than likely go unnoticed as Frank will win Executive of the Year.

Runner-Ups: Heat President Pat Riley, Lakers GM Rob Pelinka

Sixth Man of the Year: Thunder G Dennis Schröder

The 6MOTY could be the closest race we see this NBA award season, and it looks to be almost a toss-up between Schröder and Clippers G Lou Williams. Schröder has been a key figure (19PPG) behind Chris Paul and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on a 40 win OKC team that like Toronto, is somehow sitting with a top-five playoff seed despite their best player from a year ago becoming a Clipper. Williams is already a three-time sixth man of the year winner and has won two straight; it should be intriguing for voters to give the award to a new face.

Runner-Ups: Clippers G Lou Williams, Clippers F Montrezl Harrell

2019-20 All-NBA First Team: