NBA: 2018-19 mid-season leaders for each of the major awards

Coach of the Year: Mike Budenholzer, Milwaukee Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks won 44 games last year and made the playoffs, but they had no real system or identity and crashed out in the first round. With many of the same core players and a few handy additions, Mike Budenholzer has completely overhauled their style of play and has them on track for 60-plus wins and the East’s top seed.

Under Jason Kidd and Joe Prunty last season, just 31.2 per cent of Milwaukee’s shots came from behind the arc, which ranked them 25th in the NBA. This season, they’re up to second in the league as 42 per cent of their shots are threes.

While they’re only hitting a below-average 35.1 per cent of those shots, Budenholzer understands that threes are worth more than twos. It’s a philosophy that has his team sitting third in the league in offensive rating.

As great as their offense has been, their defense has somehow been better. Budenholzer seems to have revitalized a group of theoretical defenders, and has them playing hard and as a team. The front office’s vision of a long, athletic and tough defensive unit has finally been realised with a new face leading the way.

Perhaps the easiest decision for Budenholzer was to have Giannis Antetokounmpo as the centerpiece of his plans, but the Greek Freak’s improvement under the new coach has still been impressive. Antetokounmpo has become a true MVP candidate as Budenholzer’s three-heavy offense has given him more space to operate than ever before.

Coach of the Year can be tough to judge, especially in a season where plenty of teams are outperforming expectations. However, it’s impossible to ignore the huge strides that the Bucks have made since last season, as they’ve transformed from a fringe playoff team into a championship contender.

Honorable mentions: Mike Malone, Denver Nuggets; Kenny Atkinson, Brooklyn Nets; Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs