2023-2024 NBA Awards
Each season, each NBA Award is always so tightly contested. There are always players who have the possibility at one point during the season to be a heavy favorite to win a respective award, and either end up in the final voting or win the award in general. On Wednesday night the final NBA Award was announced, which was Nikola Jokić winning his third MVP Award in four years. With all the awards now announced, let’s check out who won, and how they can make an impact for their respective teams moving forward.
Most Valuable Player - Nikola Jokić
“The Joker” has become the first center since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to win three MVP Awards. This is Jokić’s third MVP in four years, as he was the runner-up in 2023 to Joel Embiid. Now, the three-time MVP played in 79 games with the Nuggets this season. He roughly averaged around 26 points, 12 rebounds, nine assists, a steal, and a block a game in 35 minutes of action. With “The Joker” making history, there is no doubt he’s going to end up in the Hall of Fame after his playing career comes to a close. If he becomes a multiple-time champion, there will be a case for Jokić as one of the best centers in NBA history.
Rookie of the Year - Victor Wembanyama
Well, the San Antonio Spurs have reached a new era within their franchise, as another great center will be taking his game to new heights after 7 '4 Victor Wembanyama won the 2023-2024 Rookie of the Year Award. Wemby becomes the third Spur to win the Rookie of the Year Award with Hall of Fame big men David Robinson and Tim Duncan being the other two. The 7 '4 center will be ready to try and reach all-star status during his sophomore campaign. Wembanyama played in 71 games with San Antonio averaging about 21 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, a steal, and a ridiculous four blocks a game. He put up 43 double-doubles, and two triple-doubles in his rookie season. The sky's the limit for Wemby and many should be excited as he is the future of the NBA.
Sixth Man of the Year - Naz Reid
After four grueling seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves, center Naz Reid and the team came up big during this past season. The T-Wolves clinched the third seed in a loaded Western Conference with many of their guys making a leap within their games. Reid was one of those players as he put up a new season-high in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and three-point percentage. He missed just one game this season playing in 81 games and starting in 14. Reid averaged just about 14 points, five rebounds, an assist, a steal, and a block in 24 minutes of action a game. Minnesota’s big men like Rudy Gobert, and Karl-Anthony Towns must be making an impact on Reid’s game, helping him become a highly successful player.
Defensive Player of the Year - Rudy Gobert
For the fourth time in his career Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert has won the Defensive Player of the Year Award. This is Gobert’s fourth Defensive Player of the Year trophy in six years. The T-Wolves center is now tied with Ben Wallace, and Dikembe Mutombo for the most Defensive Player of the Year Awards won by one player. If Rudy wins a fifth one, he’ll have the most Defensive Player trophies in NBA history. The 31-year-old center played in 76 games averaging around 14 points, 13 rebounds, an assist, a steal, and two blocks in 34 minutes a night. If Minnesota somehow wins the NBA Finals this season, Gobert will certainly secure himself a spot in the NBA Hall of Fame.
Most Improved Player - Tyrese Maxey
Through the first four seasons of his career, Tyrese Maxey has blossomed into an NBA star. He helped carry the Sixers to the seventh seed as Joel Embiid was out for about half of the regular season with a left meniscus injury. Maxey became an all-star for the first time in his career after he averaged about 26 points, four rebounds, six assists, a steal, and a block a game. The 23-year-old shooting guard scored five more points, grabbed one more rebound, and dished out three more assists than he did last season. Now that he’s a pending free agent, it shouldn’t be a no-brainer for the Sixers to bring Maxey back on a full, and long-term deal, as he will look to carry Philly into the playoff picture once again.
Coach of the Year - Mark Daigneault
The Oklahoma City Thunder’s 39-year-old head coach Mark Daigneault has won the 2023-2024 Coach of the Year Award. Daigneault guided a promising, young, and tough Thunder team to the first seed in the Western Conference. Oklahoma City finished with 57 wins, which was led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who was the runner-up in the MVP voting. With a loaded team of young, promising potential, and a plethora of draft picks, this Thunder team coached by Daigneault could be in the playoff mix for the next decade.
