2021-2022 NBA Preseason Awards Predictions

These are my predictions for the NBA Awards, end of the year teams, and All-Star nominations.  For most of the awards, I included the top 10 with the exception of MVP (15) and Coach of the Year (8, as I thought 8 stood out above the rest).  For the end of the year teams, I also included an honorable mention team and 5 others to watch.  For the All-Star teams, I included 11 additional players for the East (10 to watch and 1 to fill in if one player doesn't play) and 10 additional players to watch in the West.

As a note, these are not who I think should win the awards, but who I am currently predicting will be favorites.


MVP

1.      Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL, F

2.      Luka Doncic, DAL, G

3.      Damian Lillard, POR, G

4.      Kevin Durant, BRK, F

5.      LeBron James, LAL, F

6.      Nikola Jokic, DEN, C

7.      Stephen Curry, GSW, G

8.      Jayson Tatum, BOS, F

9.      Joel Embiid, PHI, C

10.  James Harden, BRK, G

11.  Trae Young, ATL, G

12.  Donovan Mitchell, UTA, G

13.  Devin Booker, PHO, G

14.  Bradley Beal, WAS, G

15.  Paul George, LAC, F

 

Rookie of the Year

1.       Jalen Green, HOU, G (2nd pick)

2.       Cade Cunningham, DET, G/F (1st pick)

3.       Jalen Suggs, ORL, G (5th pick)

4.       Evan Mobley, CLE, F/C (3rd pick)

5.       Scottie Barnes, TOR, F (4th pick)

6.       Franz Wagner, ORL, F (8th pick)

7.       Trey Murphy III, NOP, G/F (17th pick)

8.       Josh Giddey, OKC, G (6th pick)

9.       Corey Kispert, WAS, G/F (15th pick)

10.   Chris Duarte, IND, G (13th pick)

 

Defensive Player of the Year

1.       Rudy Gobert, UTA, C

2.       Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL, F

3.       Myles Turner, IND, C

4.       Draymond Green, GSW, F/C

5.       Jrue Holiday, MIL, G

6.       Clint Capela, ATL, C

7.       Bam Adebayo, MIA, C/F

8.       Joel Embiid, PHI, C

9.       Royce O’Neale, UTA, F

10.   Marcus Smart, BOS, G

 

Most Improved Player

As a caveat, I never get this award right; typically, my choices either have bad seasons or get injured, so I apologize in advance if I jinx anyone on this list….

1.       Keldon Johnson, SAS, G/F

2.       Terance Mann, LAC, F/G

3.       Jaren Jackson Jr., MEM, F

4.       Robert Williams, BOS, C

5.       Nassir Little, POR, F

6.       Cam Reddish, ATL, F

7.       Tyler Herro, MIA, G

8.       Cam Johnson, PHO, F

9.       Miles Bridges, CHO, F

10.   OG Anunoby, TOR, F

 

6th Man of the Year

1.       Tim Hardaway Jr., DAL, G/F

2.       Jordan Clarkson, UTA, G

3.       Joe Ingles, UTA, F/G

4.       Miles Bridges, CHO, F

5.       Tyler Herro, MIA, G

6.       Jalen Brunson, DAL, G

7.       Jordan Pool, GSW, G

8.       Cam Johnson, PHO, F

9.       Payton Pritchard, BOS, G

10.   Davis Bertans, WAS, F


Coach of the Year

1.       Monty Williams, PHO

2.       Ime Udoka, BOS

3.       Quinn Snyder, UTA

4.       Mike Budenholzer, MIL

5.       Steve Nash, BRK

6.       Nate McMillan, ATL

7.       Frank Vogel, LAL

8.       Erik Spoelstra, MIA


All-NBA

First Team

·         Luka Doncic, DAL, G

·         Damian Lillard, POR, G

·         Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL, F

·         Kevin Durant, BRK, F

·         Nikola Jokic, DEN, C

Second Team

·         Stephen Curry, GSW, G

·         James Harden, BRK, G

·         LeBron James, LAL, F

·         Jayson Tatum, BOS, F

·         Joel Embiid, PHI, C

Third Team

·         Trae Young, ATL, G

·         Donovan Mitchell, UTA, G

·         Paul George, LAC, F

·         Jimmy Butler, MIA, G/F

·         Rudy Gobert, UTA, C

Honorable Mention Team

·         Devin Booker, PHO, G

·         Bradley Beal, WAS, G

·         Zion Williamson, NOP, F

·         Anthony Davis, LAL, F/C

·         Bam Adebayo, MIA, C/F

Five Others to Watch

·         Chris Paul, PHO, G

·         Jaylen Brown, BOS, G/F

·         Khris Middleton, MIL, F

·         Ja Morant, MEM, G

·         Julius Randle, NYK, F

 

All-Rookie

First Team

·         Jalen Green, HOU, G (2nd pick)

·         Cade Cunningham, DET, G/F (1st pick)

·         Jalen Suggs, ORL, G (5th pick)

·         Evan Mobley, CLE, F/C (3rd pick)

·         Scottie Barnes, TOR, F (4th pick)

Second Team

·         Franz Wagner, ORL, F (8th pick)

·         Trey Murphy III, NOP, G/F (17th pick)

·         Josh Giddey, OKC, G (6th pick)

·         Corey Kispert, WAS, G/F (15th pick)

·         Chris Duarte, IND, G (13th pick)

Honorable Mention Team

·         James Bouknight, CHO, G (11th pick)

·         Tre Mann, OKC, G (18th pick)

·         Alperen Sengun, HOU, F/C (16th pick)

·         Davion Mitchell, SAC, G (9th pick)

·         Ziaire Williams, MEM, F (10th pick)

Five Others to Watch

·         Ayo Dosunmu, CHI, G (38th pick)

·         Moses Moody, GSW, G/F (14th pick)

·         Quentin Grimes, NYK, G/F (25th pick)

·         Keon Johnson, LAC, G (21st pick)

·         Jalen Johnson, ATL, F (20th pick)

 

All-Defense

First Team

·         Jrue Holiday, MIL, G

·         Marcus Smart, BOS, G

·         Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL, F

·         Draymond Green, GSW, F/C

·         Rudy Gobert, UTA, C

Second Team

·         Jimmy Butler, MIA, F/G

·         Matisse Thybulle, PHI, G/F

·         Bam Adebayo, MIA, C/F

·         Royce O’Neale, UTA, F

·         Myles Turner, IND, C

Honorable Mention Team

·         Juan Toscano-Anderson, GSW, G

·         Bruce Brown, BRK, F/G

·         Aaron Gordon, DEN, F

·         Mikal Bridges, PHO, F/G

·         Clint Capela, ATL, C

Five Others to Watch

·         Joel Embiid, PHI, C

·         Nerlens Noel, NYK, C

·         Mitchell Robinson, NYK, C

·         Dillon Brooks, MEM, G/F

·         Kyle Lowry, MIA, G

 

All-Star

East

Starters

·         James Harden, BRK, G

·         Trae Young, ATL, G

·         Kevin Durant, BRK, F (most votes in East)

·         Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL, F

·         Joel Embiid, PHI, C

Reserves

·         Bradley Beal, WAS, G

·         Kyrie Irving, BRK, G (if he plays)

·         Jayson Tatum, BOS, F

·         Jimmy Butler, MIA, G/F

·         Khris Middleton, MIL, F

·         Jaylen Brown, BOS, G/F

·         Zach LaVine, CHI, G

My additional selection in case Kyrie Irving doesn’t play

·         Bam Adebayo, MIA, C/F (will be an All-Star if Irving doesn’t play)

10 Others to Watch

·         Domantas Sabonis, IND, F/C

·         Jrue Holiday, MIL, G

·         Julius Randle, NYK, F

·         Kyle Lowry, MIA, G

·         DeMar DeRozan, CHI, F

·         LaMelo Ball, CHO, G

·         Ben Simmons, PHI, G/F (depending on how that situation plays out)

·         Clint Capela, ATL, C

·         Nikola Vucevic, CHI, C

·         RJ Barrett, NYK, F/G

 

West

Starters

·         Luka Doncic, DAL, G

·         Stephen Curry, GSW, G

·         LeBron James, LAL, F (most votes in West)

·         Nikola Jokic, DEN, C

·         Anthony Davis, LAL, F/C

Reserves

·         Damian Lillard, POR, G

·         Donovan Mitchell, UTA, G

·         Paul George, LAC, F

·         Devin Booker, PHO, G

·         Rudy Gobert, UTA, C

·         Zion Williamson, NOP, F

·         Chris Paul, PHO, G

10 Others to Watch

·         Michael Porter Jr., DEN, F

·         Russell Westbrook, LAL, G

·         Ja Morant, MEM, G

·         De’Aaron Fox, SAC, G

·         Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN, C

·         Mike Conley, UTA, G

·         CJ McCollum, POR, G

·         Brandon Ingram, NOP, F

·         Deandre Ayton, PHO, C

·         Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC, G


Who do you think will win the awards this year?  Any races your looking forward to?  Let me know in the comments!

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