As the NBA reaches the quarter point through its 82-game season, looking at those who have come out of the gates strong is imperative. In this case, I will be selecting winners for the award as if the season ended today. Who are some of the best, and most surprising performers through a fourth of the season?
Most valuable player:
Stephen Curry is the front-runner for me. The Warriors point guard is just too good. The two-time NBA MVP is averaging 29.5 points, 6.5 assists, 6.1 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game on an efficient 46.3% from the field, 41.9% from beyond the arc and 95.8% from the stripe. In the process, Curry has led his Warriors to an NBA-best 14-2 record.
Defensive player of the year:
The Heat’s big man possesses a skill that nobody else in the NBA has: the ability to guard every position. Bam Adebayo’s stats may not tell you “DPOY candidate,” with the center averaging just 1.2 steals and 0.4 blocks per game, but the versatility is key in why I believe he deserves the award. When I think about what DPOY means, I think the player that gives his team the most is more deserving than just blocks or steals. Adebayo has no problem guarding the quickest players in the NBA on the perimeter and then locking down a center on the next possession.
Sixth man of the year:
According to covers.com, the odds-on leader for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award is the Miami Heat’s third-year guard, Tyler Herro. The former Kentucky Wildcat has finally taken the leap that everyone wanted him to. Thus far, he’s averaging 21.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game on an efficient 45.7% field goal percentage.
Jordan Clarkson is always a threat to explode, saving him a spot in the race for the Sixth Man of the Year award. The Utah guard is averaging 15.3 points per game in 2021 but hasn’t really had that dominant stretch like he did last year. In 2020, Clarkson had a seven-game stretch where he averaged 27.6 points per game on 50% shooting.
Most improved player:
This is one of the harder awards to give at this point, but I think Spurs’ guard Dejounte Murray is the leader. The once-challenged scorer has completely changed his game. In 2020, Murray averaged 15.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.5 steals per game. In 2021, Murray has improved in every major category. In 2021, the six-year veteran averaged 18.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, 8.1 assists and 2.1 steals per game.
Rookie of the year:
The Rookie of the Year award is hard to predict because most rookies are still adapting to the NBA, though one player has done great in their young careers in my opinion. Cavaliers center Evan Mobley was the third overall pick in the NBA Draft. Before suffering an elbow injury, Mobley was averaging 14.6 points, 8 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and a steal per game on 49.4% from the field. The rookie’s 1.6 blocks per game is good for eighth in the NBA. With No. 1 overall pick Cade Cunningham playing inconsistent, Mobley is the easy pick for the award in my eyes.
