Victor Wembanyama looks like a lock to win Defensive Participant of the 12 months and get an All-NBA spot if he’s eligible. Is there an opportunity he may additionally win MVP if the Spurs keep sizzling?
Marilyn Dubinski: The MVP hype is unquestionably on the rise for Wemby, however I can’t see him successful each in the identical season this early in his profession for a number of causes. One is that voters could concern future voter fatigue will finally set in, so that they don’t need to give him an excessive amount of, too early. I additionally consider many citizens have a block in opposition to giving gamers multiple award per season. (I consider this is identical cause Tim Duncan by no means received DPOY: voters already had him on their MVP poll.) This isn’t to say Wemby won’t ever win each in a single season, however he’d be simply the fourth participant to ever do it, together with Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Giannis Antetokounmpo, which results in my remaining cause why it received’t occur this season. Understanding the media, they’ll need Wemby to show himself within the playoffs earlier than placing him in that esteemed group (even when they’re regular-season awards).
Invoice Huan: I really like Wemby to demise, however MVP is out of attain. Shai has locked it up, and rightfully so: he’s been one of the best participant within the league this 12 months (and that’s additionally coming from a Jokic “glazer”) whereas additionally enjoying on one of the best staff, and the narrative is on his aspect too after breaking Wilt’s 20-point streak. Wemby’s time will come, possibly as quickly as subsequent 12 months, however for now, it’s Shai’s.
Devon Birdsong: As Marilyn has very precisely identified, the MVP- DPOY double has solely occurred thrice within the historical past of each awards present. It’s extremely uncommon to start with. Does Wemby have an argument for each? Yeah, I feel he does. However so did David Robinson and Tim Duncan, with 1995 and 2002 each serving as maybe essentially the most obtrusive examples of seasons deserving that distinction. You may name it media bias, you’ll be able to name it voter fatigue, you’ll be able to name it a sure diploma of veiled pettiness, however I simply don’t see it occurring this season (until the games-played threshold is exceeded by the frontrunners). And in all equity, each of Dave and Tim’s seasons had been higher than this season for Wemby. I completely see it occurring sooner or later, maybe much more than as soon as, however I feel we’ll all must fulfill ourselves with the information that Wemby is already adequate on each ends to be having this dialog in any respect. Moreover, with the best way issues are going, there’s an opportunity that Wemby may pull off an excellent rarer feat: turning into solely the 2nd participant to ever win DPOY and Finals MVP in the identical season.
Jeje Gomez: I don’t suppose it’s going to occur this season, until he’s the one one out of the contenders to be eligible for the award. Loads of the dialog in regards to the Spurs within the media, even amongst some apologists, is that their success is spectacular, however they’ll want to indicate how good they’re within the playoffs. I really feel like they seemingly really feel the identical is true for Wembanyama. It’s not essentially the most cheap of takes, however I can perceive the concern of anointing somebody essentially the most helpful participant within the league solely to see them flame out early within the postseason. Plus, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander truly does have a stronger case after placing collectively an much more environment friendly scoring season than final, whereas seemingly main the Thunder to the league’s finest file regardless of Jalen Williams’s lengthy absence.
Keldon Johnson has a powerful case for Sixth Man of the 12 months, and Stephon Citadel ought to get consideration for an All-Defensive staff. Will they get the distinctions?
Dubinski: Whereas each are equally deserving, I feel Citadel stands a greater likelihood at All-Protection than Keldon does at Sixth Man. I’ve been hyping Keldon’s case all season, however his influence appears to go comparatively unnoticed by outsiders, and the percentages have constantly had him behind Naz Reed, Jaime Jaquez and even Reed Sheppard at occasions. Most likely the truth that the Spurs’ second unit is so deep, mixed with gamers like Dylan Harper stealing some highlight from intrigued viewers, shouldn’t be serving to his case, however the good factor is, like Manu Ginobili earlier than him, he doesn’t care.
Huan: I don’t suppose that there’s any likelihood Keldon truly wins 6MOY, and I’d nonetheless guess on Citadel getting on an All-Defensive staff over Keldon being a finalist for sixth man. Presently, there are 12 names I’d say are combating for 10 All-Protection spots, whereas Keldon appears to be behind the likes of Naz Reid, Isaiah Stewart, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and even Reed Sheppard for sixth man. Whether or not or not that’s truthful is a separate dialogue, however these are the the reason why I’d guess on Citadel over Keldon.
Birdsong: Keldon was arguably the frontrunner for the primary two-thirds of the season, however his performances have been extra uneven since his shoulder damage, and it’s been noticeable within the video games the Spurs misplaced in opposition to the Knicks and Nuggets. The truth is that now greater than ever, you actually need a story to promote for awards, and Keldon’s isn’t the flashiest of sells. He’s not main the opposite candidates in scoring and the Spurs are nonetheless actually good with out him, whereas the Warmth and Timberwolves are extra visibly depending on Jaquez and Reid. The sixth-man award has lengthy been a scoring award, which is a part of why Manu had so few. Like Manu, Keldon has some superior stats that present his worth, however they’re not obscene, so my guess is that it goes to Reid, particularly if Minnesota secures a Prime 4 seed within the West. Citadel, then again, must be a lock for All-Protection. The one query (in my thoughts) is whether or not it’s first staff or second. My guess is he lands on the second, although it ought to arguably be the primary. Good luck getting two Spurs on the primary staff, although, because it’s solely ever occurred as soon as (Duncan and Bowen in ‘07), which feels insane.
Gomez: I feel the truth that 10 guys make the All-Defensive Groups whereas just one participant will get 6MOY provides Citadel a transparent benefit. He undoubtedly deserves a spot, and I’d be shocked if he wasn’t picked, assuming voters have been paying consideration, which isn’t a given contemplating how some within the media nonetheless mispronounce Wembanyama’s identify. Since Wemby goes to be within the first staff, I really feel like Citadel is probably going going to be on the second staff. For Keldon to get some {hardware}, he must go on a tear on this final stretch, and he may need the chance with the Spurs resting some gamers. However I doubt Johnson would drive the problem, and he is likely to be getting rested as effectively sooner or later. Hopefully, he’ll at the very least be one of many finalists.
Mitch Johnson is main the Spurs again to the playoffs whereas surpassing expectations. Can he win Coach of the 12 months, or do others have higher circumstances?
Dubinski: I actually suppose he has the most effective circumstances, however once more, from what I’ve seen from the media, it’d go to the Celtics’ Joe Mazzula for the job he’s carried out protecting them close to the highest of the East after most figured it might be a “hole” 12 months, with Jayson Tatum lacking many of the season and Boston having to salary-dump a whole lot of key gamers from their 2024 championship staff. Is he extra deserving than Mitch? I don’t really feel prefer it since they’re already a confirmed commodity and nonetheless have one other MVP-level participant in Jaylen Brown and a borderline All-Star in Derrick White, however I’d perceive the logic if Mazzula received over Mitch.
Huan: I’d firmly place Johnson within the second tier of Coach of the 12 months candidates, with Joe Mazzulla and JB Bickerstaff combating for first. Johnson is up in opposition to the likes of Charles Lee, Jordan Ott, and Mark Daigneault for that third and remaining spot, and there are credible arguments for every of them to be nominated. Even with my Spurs bias, I feel Mazzulla is the plain alternative given what he’s achieved with an undermanned Celtics roster this 12 months, so Johnson received’t (and shouldn’t) win. Like Wemby, although, his time will come.
Birdsong: I actually suppose that he *can*, however I’m unsure it’s seemingly until the Spurs go on one other extended tear. A lot of the dialog appears to favor Mazzula in Boston and Jordan Ott in Phoenix. I feel all three are deserving, however Ott’s is probably essentially the most stunning, and Mazzula’s options essentially the most well-known damage. If Mitch had, as an example, gotten the staff to 50+ wins with Victor out many of the season, that in all probability would have earned him the award, however that’s simply the form of season it’s. Take into account that Pop solely received three, and two of them got here in championship seasons. The nationwide media all the time needs the flashiest story, and that’s nearly by no means the Spurs. My guess is that Ott goes to take it, particularly if the Suns handle to get near 50 wins and keep away from the play-in.
Gomez: All awards are about narratives, and Johnson has been, truthful or not, nearly a footnote in what has been Wembanyama’s huge comeback season after the deep vein thrombosis. It appears that evidently Mazzula and Ott are getting rewarded for overachieving and not using a high participant, and that doesn’t match what Johnson has carried out, which is hold a younger group engaged on each ends and enjoying selflessly regardless of this being simply his first 12 months as a head coach. Bickerstaff, in the meantime, will get consideration if the Pistons end first, which isn’t one thing that the Spurs are prone to replicate within the West. It simply doesn’t really feel like it’s going to occur for Mitch, sadly, however he at the very least obtained to teach an All-Star staff.
