By 
We are a little over a month into the NBA season. Naturally, there have been some pleasant surprises, shocking disappointments, and confusion to kick off the 2024-2025 season. So here are my RHR quarterly awards in the NBA.
Best Player
Candidates: Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Davis, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum
Winner: Nikola Jokic
Nikola Jokic has continued to be one of the best, if not the best, players in the world. Despite this Nuggets team not starting out great, Jokic has been simply incredible, dominating the game while keeping Denver afloat to potentially be a playoff or play-in team.
Best Rookie
Candidates: Jared McCain, Dalton Knecht, Zach Eddy, Zacchaire Risacher, Stephon Castle
Winner: Dalton Knecht
This rookie class may be better than we expected. Yes, there is no Victor Wembanyama or can’t-miss prospect. This class has many players who can become major players in the NBA. This is why the best rookie so far has been Dalton Knecht for the Lakers, who has certainly exceeded the expectations of the Lakers nation. In addition, Austin Reaves has been out with an injury, giving Knecht more playing time to grow and build chemistry with LeBron. AD should be a bonus for the Lakers if they want to remain competitive in the West this season.
Breakout Player
Candidates: Dyson Daniels, Gradey Dick, RJ Barrett, Jaden Ivey, Bennedict Mathurin
Winner: Dyson Daniels
Dyson Daniels has blown the doors off this season with the Hawks. The Great Barrier Thief (I love that nickname) has been incredible so far, proving that New Orleans certainly knows how to draft talent but does not know how to utilize it when it has it. Daniels’s defensive menace certainly puts him in the all-defense discussion and maybe defensive player of the year if he continues to excel in Atlanta.
Best Defensive Player
Candidates: Draymond Green, Dyson Daniels, Victor Wembanyama, Jalen Suggs, Bam Adebayo
Winner: Dyson Daniels & Victor Wembanyama
So far, the best defensive player came down to two players, and I couldn’t decide which one, so it is a tie between Dyson Daniels and Victor Wembanyama. Both players have been impactful on that end of the floor for their teams, which can be potential play-in teams as the regular season progresses. Wembanyama keeps evolving rapidly. It should be terrifying for the NBA, where he could be the defensive player of the year for half a decade, and it wouldn’t be surprising.
Most Improved Player
Candidates: Norman Powell, Franz Wagner, LaMelo Ball, Darius Garland, Buddy Hield
Winner: Norman Powell
Every candidate I had for the most improved player deserves this award. In the end, I went for Norman Powell for the Clippers, who has stepped up massively to salvage this potential nightmare start. Powell has certainly made the Clippers decision to not resign Paul George look good with his performance and has given the team hope this can get better when Kawhi Leonard returns to the floor this season.
Best Coach
Candidates: Kenny Atkinson (Cavs), Tyronn Lue (Clippers), Steve Kerr (Warriors), Ime Udoka (Rockets), Mike Budenholzer (Suns)
Winner: Kenny Atkinson
The Cleveland Cavaliers have had one of the most impressive starts this season, and that is because of head coach Kenny Atkinson, who seems to have figured out how to get the most out of their incredible core of Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen, and Evan Mobley. I am so happy that Atkinson has got another chance to coach a team because he is a good coach who may be able to get the Cavs over their postseason hump, hopefully.
Disappointing Team
Candidates: 76ers, Nuggets, Bucks, Timberwolves
Winner: 76ers
Without question, the most disappointing team so far is the Philadelphia 76ers, and I love it. The Sixer’s start has been filled with drama, chaos, and injuries. What a shocker! The common denominator is Joel Embiid, who is either seriously injured from the Olympics, out of shape to start the season again, or the likely scenario of all the above. This only highlights the obvious elephant in the room, Embiid, and his approach to everything, which will be why Philadelphia will have another embarrassing season if nothing changes.
Most Disappointing Player
Candidates: Joel Embiid/Paul George, Mikal Bridges, Tyrese Haliburton, Zion Williamson, Jamal Murray
Winner: Tyrese Haliburton
Unfortunately, Tyrese Haliburton is the most disappointing player to start this season. Despite putting up respectable numbers, he seems a bit off to start the season, but he certainly is not the same player he was to start last season, which made him a potential MVP candidate. Hopefully, this turns around for him and the Pacers, who have a strong chance to contend in a shallow Eastern conference as it stands currently.
NBA League Pass Delight
Candidates: Hornets, Rockets, Pistons, Spurs
Winner: Rockets
The team worth seeking out throughout the week in the NBA via league pass has been the Houston Rockets. Houston is a young and talented team in a position to usurp some of the contenders in the West this season. Having all that talent and only so much playing time probably means that Houston is in position for some big blockbuster trade this season before the deadline, which would make the Rockets legit threats in the future.
Biggest Offseason Regret
Candidates: Minnesota trading away KAT, Philadelphia signing Paul George, New Orleans giving away Dyson Daniels, Knicks giving away all those draft picks for Mikal Bridges, Denver not resigning Jay Huff
Winner: New Orleans trading Dyson Daniels
The Pelicans continued to be the most snakebitten or incompetent team in the NBA this summer. They made a trade for Dejounte Murray and threw in—yes, you read that correctly—THREW IN—Dyson Daniels to go to Atlanta, which has blown up in their faces. Trading Daniels and letting Naji Marshall go to Dallas have made the Pelicans’ front office and overall structure look horrible this season.
Most Confusing Team
Candidates: Kings, Timberwolves, Heat, Nets
Winner: Timberwolves
My last quarterly award is for the most confusing team: the Minnesota Timberwolves. Minnesota, so far, looks like the big loser from the Karl-Anthony Towns/Julius Randle trade, and it has been shown on the floor in several games. While Anthony Edwards has continued to improve his game, he has been held back by the spacing of this team with Gobert and Randle on the floor, resulting in this frustrating start for Minnesota. As the season progresses, things may be fleshed out, but this team has had one of the most significant drop-offs coming into this season.
