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2022-23 NBA Midseason Awards

NBA Awards

(Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

NBA Awards
(Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

2022-23 NBA Midseason Awards

We are roughly halfway through the 2022-23 NBA season. The scoring across the NBA has been elite; the Western Conference is still wide open; the Brooklyn Nets have won 14 of their last 15; the Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix Suns and Miami Heat are currently all play-in teams. Plus, the Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers are games out from being top-four seeds in their respective conferences.

There’s a lot to take away! But, for now, let’s hand out some regular ol’ midseason awards at the halfway point.

MVP: Nikola Jokic, C, Denver Nuggets

No, I don’t really care about voter fatigue — I would’ve voted for Jokic for MVP the last two seasons and I’m going to do it again!

There are good enough arguments for Luka Doncic — who’s having an other-worldly season statistically — Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum and Giannis Antetokounmpo. But Jokic is having as efficient of a season and is averaging 28.2 points, 11.9 rebounds and 10.2 assists on 59.7/38.6/80.6 shooting over his last 17 games. The Nuggets are an unmitigated disaster when he’s not on the floor and is the engine to their offense and is the biggest reason why the Nuggets are the top-seed in the West.

There’s a number of good candidates for this award, but Jokic takes the cake from me, again.

Rookie of the Year: Paolo Banchero, F, Orlando Magic

This is Banchero’s award to lose.

There’s not too much of a gap between Banchero, Bennedict Mathurin, Jabari Smith, Jaden Ivey, Keegan Murray, etc. But Banchero has been the league’s best rookie all season, totaling 21.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists on 54.8 percent true-shooting; that’s darn-near LeBron-esque numbers as a rookie. He’s racked up 20-point performances in 24 of his 33 games, including 30-plus in four of those games. His shot creation is already well above average and has shown the ability to score at multiple levels.

He looks every bit worthy of the No. 1 pick, and I don’t see him losing grip of this award, barring injury.

Coach of the Year: Jacque Vaughn, Brooklyn Nets

Vaughn has manifested one of the more improbable in-season turnarounds in recent memory. After Brooklyn started 2-5 under Steve Nash, Vaughn has gone 25-8, surging a game behind the Boston Celtics for the NBA’s top record.

The Nets sport a league-leading 7.0 NET Rating since Vaughn’s taken over. He’s fostered one of the league’s top defenses behind a remarkably switchy scheme, while Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant are arguably playing the best basketball of their careers. Nic Claxton‘s swatting shots left and right and appears to be the backbone behind Brooklyn’s surging defense; Royce O’Neale is a very good glue guy; Ben Simmons has looked miles better (relative to his start) under Vaughn while Brooklyn possesses a couple of good bench ignitors in T.J. Warren and Seth Curry.

Vaughn deserves all the credit for this swift turnaround.

Defensive Player of the Year: Jaren Jackson Jr., F, Memphis Grizzlies

One of the only arguments against Jackson is games played after missing his team’s first 14 games due to (recovering from an) injury. So, if you have Brook Lopez or perhaps someone else in this spot, I won’t fault you.

Still, Jackson anchors the league’s second-best defense and continues being one of the league’s top help defenders/roamers as a dynamic shot-blocker; he has more games (9) with four or more blocks than he does with two or fewer (8). Teams aren’t scoring in the half-court (86.9 points per 100 plays; 98th percentile) around the rim (52.4 percent; 100th percentile) with Jackson on the floor, and he continues to cut down on the fouls, which is also a positive development.

When it’s all said and done, barring injury, I think Jackson will have enough games to warrant the award.

Sixth Man of the Year: Ben Mathurin, G, Indiana Pacers

Mathurin might not be my midseason Rookie of the Year, but he is my Sixth Man of the Year. He leads all qualified sixth-man candidates in scoring — and typically the award rewards the player who’s at or near the league lead in bench scoring. Depending on what Indiana does at the trade deadline might move Mathurin to the starting lineup, but for now, he’s came off the bench in 39 of his 41 games, averaging 17.5 points on 42.4/34.1/82.4 shooting splits in such games. The future is bright in Indiana.

Most Improved Player: Lauri Markkanen, F, Utah Jazz

Most improved is always a tricky award to give out. Markkanen wasn’t a bad player when he was in Chicago and Cleveland. But, man, he’s surged since arriving in Utah, averaging 24.5 points and 8.3 rebounds on greater volume (11.5 FGA to 16.0) and efficiency (58.2 TS% to 66.9 TS%).

The Jazz have one of the best offenses in the league and Markkanen’s emergence has been arguably the biggest reason why. He’d have my vote if the season ended today.

Let’s visit back to these after the season with how smart/good, or dumb/bad (more likely) these awards are!

***

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