NBA Hands Out Hardware

Last night was a way of closing the book on the 2018-19 NBA Season, handing out individual awards in the great team sport. Its a way to congratulate the individual efforts of some of the best players on the planet in one of the top leagues going. So lets not waste any time and lets dive right into it. Here's how the hardware was distributed last night.

All-NBA First Team
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
James Harden, Houston Rockets
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Paul George, Oklahoma City Thunder
Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets

NBA All-Rookie Team
Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks
Deandre Ayton, Phoenix Suns
Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies
Marvin Bagley III, Sacramento Kings

NBA All-Defensive Team
Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz
Paul George, Oklahoma City Thunder
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Marcus Smart, Boston Celtics
Eric Bledsoe, Milwaukee Bucks

NBA Basketball Executive of the Year: Jon Horst, Milwaukee Bucks
Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award Mike Conley, Memphis Grizzlies
NBA Sportsmanship Award Mike Conley, Memphis Grizzlies
NBA Cares Community Assist Award Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards
Lifetime Achievement Award Larry Bird and Magic Johnson
Sager Strong Award Robin Roberts
Hustle Award Marcus Smart, Boston Celtics

Kia NBA Most Improved Player: Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors
Siakam was a huge factor for Toronto during their push for the playoffs and title run. He could do a little bit of everything for the Raptors this year. The numbers really seem to speak for themselves. He went from averaging 7.3 points a game in 81 games last year, to 16.9 a game in game games and 79 starts this year. It was the biggest point jump by any player who played at least 40 games this season. And just to prove he was a capable defender, Siakam held opponents to 39.4 percent as the closest defender during the 2018-19 season, lowest by any player to face at least 500 shots. He is also the first Raptors player to win the award.

Kia NBA Sixth Man Award: Lou Williams, LA Clippers
Lou Williams is the second player to win Sixth Man of the Year three times, joining Jamal Crawford. Williams joins Kevin McHale and Detlef Schrempf as the only players to win the award in consecutive seasons. Williams pretty much did a little bit of everything coming off the bench for the Clippers this season. He leads the team in scoring and assists, despite playing just 26.6 minutes per game. Oh and the Clippers scored 7.2 more points per 100 possessions with Williams running the show,

Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year: Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz
Rudy may have to start taking hold of the trophy. After winning the award last season, Rudy Gobert is the first player to win Defensive Player of the Year in consecutive seasons since Kawhi Leonard in 2014-15 and 2015-16. Before that, it was Dwight Howard in three straight seasons from 2008 to 2011. Ruydy had himself a fine season. He finished the season averaging 12.9 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game, and was the leader of one of the best defensive units in the NBA. Utah finished the regular season with the second-best defensive rating in the league, allowing just 105.2 points per 100 possessions. Only the Milwaukee Bucks, who finished with the best record in the league, were better on that end of the floor. His stellar defensive play allowed Utah to surge ahead during the 2nd half of the year, ending with 50 wins and a 5th place finish in the West.

NBA Coach of the Year: Mike Budenholzer, Milwaukee Bucks
Comes off as a bit of a surprise that the guy who helped lead the Raptors to where they are, Nick Nurse, wasn't even a finalist for the award this year. The other two finalists did a fine job with their clubs this year. Doc Rivers, who led the Clippers to a playoff spot with a roster short on top-tier talent. Then you had Michael Malone, who took the Nuggets from outside of the playoff picture to the second seed in the ultra-competitive Western Conference. But the end result went to Budenholzer, who had Giannis and a cast of supporting characters and took them to the best record in the league

Kia NBA Rookie of the Year: Luka Dončić, Dallas Mavericks
This year's cl;ass of rookies didn't disappoint, with the three finalists posting fine seasons. Trae Young got off to a bit of a slow start this year, but came on extremely strong during the second half of the season when he often looked like a future All-Star. In Phoenix, the top overall pick from last season, Deandre Ayton had a bit more quiet, but still solid, season. He averaged a double double on the year with 16.3 points a game and 10.3 rebounds a game. But it was Luka Doncic that generated headlines almost immediately with his flashy, yet mature play. It was no surprise, with his 21.1 points a game and solid all around play in Dallas, that he walked away with the award


Kia NBA Most Valuable Player: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
It looked for most of the year like it was going to be Harden winning it for the second year in a row. I mean the numbers do say a lot for Harden, who averaged 36.1 points a game and had a historic offensive season while leading the league in scoring for the second time. But Giannis was the best player on the league's best team record-wise, and managed to average a double double for the year in 27.7 points a game and pulled down 12.5 boards a game. Sure, losing Harden in Houston was a loss, but I think had Giannis missed more time in Milwaukee, I don't think the Bucks would have finished with the best record in basketball.