By: Ben Sawyers
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – After a strange season in the Bubble, the NBA is kicking off its 2020-21 regular season a little over two months after the Lakers toppled the Miami Heat in game six of the Finals. Every sports news site is making their picks as to who will win MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Rookie of the Year. Here I am, albeit a bit late, typing this while watching opening night, with my way-too-early picks for this season’s awards.
Most Improved
Markelle Fultz
Most Improved Player is often an overlooked award. Last season, Brandon Ingram of the New Orleans Pelicans took home the hardware by improving his scoring from 18.3 points per game to 23.8. That around 5-point improvement can be attributed in large part to Ingram’s improvement from the charity stripe, moving from a 67.5 free throw percentage to a stellar 85.1 percent. The player that I am looking at to make that jump to improve is Markelle Fultz, the former first pick in the 2017 draft. Fultz struggled early in his career with the 76ers, with a free throw performance akin to early 2000s Shaquille O’Neal. Fultz has shown improvement since being traded for a single first round pick to the Orlando Magic, jumping from 56.8 percent from the free throw line to an even 73 percent. He also improved his scoring from 8.2 points per game in his sophomore season to 12.1 in his third. It may seem that with a jump that big, that Fultz is capped, unable to progress any further. However, there is one field that he could improve on that is integral to success in the modern NBA: three-point percentage. Fultz attempted a measly 1.9 three-point attempts last season, and made .5 of those on average. With a major improvement on the free throw line, it is clear Fultz’s shooting mechanics can be reworked, and he ought to be allowed to let it fly this season from behind the arc given the low expectations for this season’s Magic team. With all of this in mind, Fultz is my favorite for the MIP award.
Rookie of the Year
James Wiseman
With all of the LaMelo Ball hype, this might seem like an edgy pick. The fact is, James Wiseman was the best high school player in the nation for a reason. James Wiseman is the most NBA ready rookie in his class, and Golden State, who picked him at number two, will need him to produce. In his high school career, he was coached by former NBA All-Star Penny Hardaway, and despite a shortened college career with Memphis, the seven-footer went immediately to training after the NCAA infraction. Wiseman is a natural shot blocker, rebounder, and put-back scorer, and with the amount of three-pointers this Golden State team shoots, he will get second-chance opportunities. Last season, Golden State sorely missed the shot-blocking that players like Kevin Durant and JaVale McGee provided, going from being first in the league in blocks per game to near last. Wiseman will be able to protect the paint better than any other player on the current roster, and it will show on the box score. Another important note is that Klay Thompson is out for the season. The rest of the team will have to shirk the massive hole in production that Klay leaves. LaMelo Ball is playing on a team with two other point guards and will have to compete for those minutes, whereas Wiseman is the only true center on this Golden State team. Devonte Graham and Terry Rozier will not be as willing to give up their minutes with the Hornets compared to say a Kevon Looney or Marquese Chriss for the Warriors. Wiseman will be given ample opportunity to shine for this Golden State team, and it will reflect in a Rookie of the Year trophy.
Sixth Man of the Year
Montrezl Harrel
If there was a cold take for the 2020-21 season, this would be it. Montrezl Harrell won the Sixth Man of the Year award last season leading the Clippers second unit. He’s renewed his lease at the Staples Center, but with the team with much higher odds to win the championship—the Los Angeles Lakers. Harrell’s role will be the same pivotal role he had with the Clippers, leader of the second unit while the stars get their rest. The runner-up for Sixth Man of the Year last year, Dennis Schroeder, joins Harrell on the Lakers, but given he will likely start later in the season, Harrell’s competition for this award is slim.
Defensive Player of the Year
Giannis Antetokounmpo
This is perhaps my most non-controversial pick. Giannis is clearly a defensive powerhouse in the NBA. His speed, length, and strength make him one of the scariest players to post up against or try to outrun in a fast break. Being both last season’s DPOY and MVP—his second MVP award in two seasons—I predict a second DPOY award is on the horizon. Giannis’ defensive prowess is something that shines both on the stat sheet and in just watching how he affects shots. The general consensus is that Antetokounmpo will not threepeat the MVP award, merely due to voter fatigue, but a DPOY award will serve as a consolation prize.
Most Valuable Player
Luka Doncic
Luka Magic is a very real thing. Luka’s production in nearly every field increased in his sophomore season. In only two stats did we see a drop: three-point percentage by one percent, even with taking about two more attempts a game, and steals from 1.1 steals per game to 1 steal per game. Those two stat drops, as you may have already ascertained, are miniscule, and have no real impact on his game. All of these stats increased exponentially, despite an increase of only 1.4 minutes per game played. Luka also recorded seventeen triple-doubles last season, doubling his rookie season total. Doncic is a sensational player and a true phenomenon to behold. His team—the Dallas Mavericks—have also made a leap. In one of the sneakier trade acquisitions, Dallas now has former starting 76er, Josh Richardson. This team is one to look out for, and I fully expect to see them run deep into the playoffs, even in the competitive Western Conference. Luka will lead it all. That triple-double count will go up, his minutes will go up, and in turn his stats will make another jump to the next level. Keep a close eye on the Mavericks this year, hoops fans, and an even closer eye on number 77.