2022-2023 NBA Awards Predictions

The Dynasty was completed for the Golden State Warriors last season when they defeated the Boston Celtics for their fourth championship in eight years. As we turn the page and look ahead to the 2022-23 NBA Season, Nikola Jokic will be looking to take home his third consecutive MVP Award. Last season, we saw Ja Morant take home the Most Improved player award, Tyler Herro named the sixth man of the year, Marcus Smart as the defensive player of the year, Scottie Barnes was the best rookie, and Monty Williams took home Coach of the Year. Who will win NBA Awards in the 2022-23 Season?

Rookie Of The Year

The 2022 Draft Class might be one of the most talented we have seen in a few years. The upcoming rookies have been seen playing in Pro-AM games, as well as the Summer League. Unfortunately, we will not get to see the NBA debut of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s No. 2 overall selection Chet Holmgren, who underwent season-ending surgery on his foot. The rest of the class though is ready to compete in less than a week.

1. Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic, PF (4)- With four votes it was unanimous that Banchero is the leading candidate to take home the prestigious ROY award. As a freshman at Duke, Banchero averaged 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists. He will more than likely slide right into the starting rotation alongside Cole Anthony, Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner, and Wendell Carter Jr.
2. Jaden Ivey, Detroit Pistons, G (3)- The Detroit Pistons have a lot of young talent, and the addition of Ivey adds to that list. The Purdue alum is coming off of an improved year as a Boilermaker, in which he averaged 17.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.1 assists. Whether he starts at the beginning of the year or not will be unknown, but the expectation would be for him to start at the two-guard with Cade Cunningham playing point.
3. Keegan Murray, Sacramento Kings, F (3)- You could say that Ivey and Murray are tied for the runner-up, with both receiving three votes. Murray was a guy that shot up the draft boards originally being a late first-round prediction. If there was a most improved player for NCAA Basketball it would go to Murray, who went from 7.2 points per game as a freshman at Iowa to 23.5 as a Sophomore. The question surrounding Murray will be which forward spot he starts at.
4. Jabari Smith Jr., Houston Rockets, F (2) – His one season at Auburn, was enough to impress scouts that Smith Jr. was top three pick. Just like the players above, he will have a lot of young talent around him
5. Shaedon Sharpe, Portland Trail Blazers, G (2) – Many analysts say that Sharpe was a steal for the Blazers, if he would have stayed one more year in college, he might have been a No.1 overall selection. The Blazers rookie didn’t really get a chance to showcase his talent in the Summer league due to an injury early on but he did in training camp. If he can play the way, he did he may find himself in Chauncey Billups‘s rotation. The problem that Sharpe may face in regard to winning might be coming off the bench in a crowded backcourt.

Sixth Man Of The Year

1. Nah’Shon “Bones” Hyland, Denver Nuggets, G (4) – The young gun is headed into his sophomore year, with a big role coming off the bench. In his rookie season, Hyland finished with averages of 10.1 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists. He is projected to get better with a projected average of 19 points per game. The fact that Bones can play both guard positions plays in the favor of the Nuggets as they can get him minutes at both.
2. Christian Wood, Dallas Mavericks, F (3) – A seasoned veteran who has been around the league a little bit. He took a big leap in his production while he was with Houston, for the last two years. With Wood being projected to come off the bench at the Center position, he will be relied on to be the scoring center. The expectation would be for him to average anywhere between 13 and 20 points per game.
3. Jordan Poole, Golden State Warriors, G (2) – The fourth-year Warriors guard has been in the news for a couple of reasons; the fight with Draymond Green, but he also just got an extension with the Warriors. With Klay Thompson healthy and back in the starting lineup, Poole is expected to come off the bench like he did last year for the last half of the season. He has the ability to play both guard positions and could be a small ball three as well. He will get lots of playing time this coming season which makes him a favorite for sixth man of the year.
4. Malcolm Brogdon, Boston Celtics, G (2) – The 2016-17 Rookie of the Year is headed to a new team and will be the backup for the Celtics. With Marcus Smart and Derrick White starting, Brogdon will still see plenty of playing time at both positions. In fact, there may be a cycle between these three and Payton Pritchard. Depending on how the starters do, Brogdon could earn his way in, if he does he would lose out on his chance to be sixth man of the year.
5. Jordan Clarkson, Utah Jazz, G (2) – With Donovan Mitchell gone, the Jazz will need Clarkson to become the 2020-21 version they saw, when he won the coveted Sixth Man of the Year award. The Jazz did get Collin Sexton back in the Mitchell trade, which means Clarkson will see more time at PG, but he is listed as the third-string SG as well.

Most Improved Player of the Year

1. Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers, G (4) – When Haliburton was traded to the Pacers he saw an uptick in his production across the board. Now with him looking to complete a full season as the Pacers PG, he is the favorite to win one of the most coveted NBA Awards – Most Improved Player of the Year. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he gets up over 20 points per game in the new campaign.
2. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves, G (3) – The Timberwolves guard was a favorite to win the award last year, but just lost out to Ja Morant. This year, he would need to maintain his points production and improve everywhere else on the court, but it shouldn’t be put past him.
3. Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans, PF (3) – With the addition of CJ McCollum, Williamson will not be relied on to score as much. He will be relied on to improve other aspects, such as defense and rebounding. He may be a little rusty out of the gate, but Zion will be fun to watch and may propel the Pelicans into being contenders.
4. Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks, G (2) – Many believe that Brunson could fuel a playoff return for the Knicks. He definitely could with a starting spot, he will no longer be In The Shadows of Luka Doncic. Brunson will have a few good players around him, the Knicks are a young team that could surprise the East.
5. Nassir Little, Portland Trail Blazers, G-F – Little wasn’t able to play a full season last year due to the concussion he had, as well as contracting Covid right before the season. With Chauncey Billups as the head coach, Nassir Little may become the player that he has been projected as for years.

Defensive Player of the Year

1. Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves, C – In the new campaign, the Timberwolves will not need Gobert to score many points for them. With Both Karl-Anthony Towns and Gobert, they are projected to start Towns at the four and Gobert at the five. The transition to the new team will give the three-time Defensive Player of the year more time to focus on that side of the ball.
2. Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat, C – The fifth-year veteran has never won the actual award, but he is a three-time NBA All-Defensive player. Adebayo is expected to make big strides on defense this year and is being projected by our staff as the No. 2 candidate.
3. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers, C – Just like Adebayo, Embiid has never won the coveted NBA Award, but he is also a three-time NBA All-Defensive player. He’s also a four-time All-NBA recipient. If he can get up two blocks per game, he may win but he is Fantom Sports third-favorite.
4. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers, PF – It sounds like the Lakers will be putting Davis back at the Center position. The Lakers big man is a perennial candidate to win Defensive Player of the Year. However, winning an NBA Award will depend on if he can stay healthy.
5. Mikal Bridges, Phoenix Suns, SF – Bridges may be the biggest surprise to win this award. Though, he took some strides in the right direction, he still has some big steps to take before he wins DPOY.

Most Valuable Player

1. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks, PG – Doncic was the runner-up to win the NBA Award last season. After averaging a near Triple Double it was a surprise that he didn’t win. According, to our staff this will be the year that Doncic will win.
2. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks, F – As the Point Forward for the Bucks, the team will go where Giannis does. The “Greek Freak” has won almost every NBA award, and has won MVP Twice before, and is a favorite to do so again.
3. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors, PG – Another perennial favorite to win the award. Curry helped lead the Warriors to their fourth title in the last eight seasons.
4. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers, C – Not only is Embiid a favorite to win DPOY, but also for MVP this season.
5. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets, C – As the MVP last season, Nikola Jokic is a favorite to win again but he will fall to fifth so that the others have a chance.

COACH of the Year

1. Taylor Jenkins – Memphis Grizzlies
2. Chris Finch – Minnesota Timberwolves
3. Erik Spoelstra – Miami Heat
4. Darvin Ham – Los Angeles Lakers
5. Steve Kerr – Golden State Warriors

NBA Champions

1. Golden State Warriors
2. Milwaukee Bucks
3. Boston Celtics
4. Dallas Mavericks
5. New Orleans Pelicans

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