NBA 2022-23 Season Preview: Predicting Standings, Playoffs and Awards
NBA 2022-23 Season Preview: Awards
MVP: Joel Embiid, C, Philadelphia 76ers
The runner-up two seasons in a row, Embiid’s stats and on/off impact will be high, the narrative for him to win will be strong, and the Philadlephia 76ers should be a regular season wins machine.
Defensive Player of the Year: Rudy Gobert, C, Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves are going to have a really good defense this year, and Gobert will get the lion’s share of the credit. He is going to look even better with real wing defenders around him, and the Wolves finishing top-3 in the West will only help his case.
Sixth Man of the Year: Jordan Poole, G, Golden State Warriors
It’s hard to pick anyone else at this point. Poole is a top-30 guard in the league and yet is coming off the bench in Golden State. Resting the team’s stars will hand Poole some starts to go wild, and his insane scoring ability and improved passing will be on full display on the league’s best team.
Most Improved Player: Anthony Edwards, G, Minnesota Timberwolves
The hype train has left the station and is screaming down the tracks, but that doesn’t mean it is wrong. Edwards is primed to take a huge step forward this year as a scorer and defender, and with the Wolves winning more games and his acting chops on full display in Hustle, Edwards will capture the narrative and the award.
Rookie of the Year: Paolo Banchero, F, Orlando Magic
The Magic are going to surprise some people and break the 30-win mark, which will put them a cut above the other tanking teams. That will be driven in large part by Banchero, who is NBA-ready and a sublime passer and scorer as a 6’10” power forward.
Coach of the Year: Chris Finch, Minnesota Timberwolves
It’s a Minnesota bonanza as Chris Finch wins Coach of the Year as well. Making Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns fit together is not an easy task, and if Finch makes it work (as we are predicting he will) that will make the Wolves this year’s fun new “contender” (taking the torch from Memphis) and earn him some hardware in the process
Executive of the Year: Daryl Morey, Philadelphia 76ers
Months after trading for James Harden, Morey and the Sixers added some excellent role players around them in PJ Tucker, Danuel House and De’Anthony Melton. Philly should rack up the wins during the regular season and it will reflect very positively on Morey.
All-NBA First Team: Stephen Curry, Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum, Joel Embiid
All-NBA Second Team: Devin Booker, Paul George, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Nikola Jokic
All-NBA Third Team: Ja Morant, Donovan Mitchell, Jimmy Butler, Kawhi Leonard, Rudy Gobert
All-Defensive First Team: Jrue Holiday, Marcus Smart, Draymond Green, Bam Adebayo, Rudy Gobert
All-Defensive Second Team: Herb Jones, Paul George, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Evan Mobley, Joel Embiid
All-Rookie First Team: Paolo Banchero, Bennedict Mathurin, Keegan Murray, Jalen Williams, Tari Eason
All-Rookie Second Team: Jabari Smith Jr., Jaden Ivey, Dyson Daniels, Walker Kessler, Jeremy Sochan