We’re halfway through the NBA season, and the league’s standouts are making themselves known. Who deserves the league’s major awards at the midway point?
The NBA’s annual awards are a hot topic of debate throughout every season. NBA fans and media all have an opinion, and they’re all willing to defend it to the death.
Last year, it was Russell Westbrook’s triple-doubles against James Harden’s leadership and wins. It was Joel Embiid’s fleeting excellence against Malcolm Brogdon’s steady play.
At the halfway point of the 2017-18 season, the narratives for this year’s awards have already started to emerge. And while the second half of the season often sticks in the minds of voters, the first half is where the contenders become clear.
That’s why now is the perfect time to hand out some mid-season NBA awards. We’ll be choosing a winner for each of the six major awards – Rookie of the Year, Most Improved Player, Sixth Man of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Coach of the Year and Most Valuable Player – and seeing who has had the biggest impact over the first half of the season.