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This was going to be another installment of the Right Hook rankings, but with us being at the midway point of the regular season decided to do my mid-season awards. The rankings will return possibly around the trade deadline or all-star weekend so here are my mid-season award winners and my starters for the all-star game.
Mid-Season MVP: Joel Embiid
He may be setting up for a back-to-back MVP run but Joel Embiid has been simply incredible, averaging 35 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists makes it hard to not have him as the mid-season MVP considering the potential disaster that has been avoided from the James Harden trade drama to start the season.
Mid-Season Rookie: Chet Holmgren
This being his first full season after missing last season due to season-ending injury, Chet Holmgren came in to this season and has taken the rookie of the year award away from phenom Victor Wembanyama. Although Wembanyama has been incredible on a poor Spurs team, Holmgren has been an impact player on a young promising Thunder team that could make some noise this postseason.
Mid-Season Defensive Player: Bam Adebayo
For a split second I almost gave this award to Anthony Davis, yes, I was going to give Davis some props which he totally deserves considering his play on defense that has keep the Lakers in the fold out west, but Bam Adebayo is single handedly keep the Heat competitive with his defense. Adebayo has been a menace all year on a Heat team that has not been full strength but is still dangerous because of his defensive versatility that keeps Miami in games.
Mid-Season Sixth Man: Malik Monk
The Kings are quietly in the mix at top of the western conference and the firepower from their sixth man Malik Monk is one reason for that. Monk has been under the radar for a couple of seasons but this year he is certainly taking that leap of being the Jamal Crawford/Lou Williams explosive sixth man that keeps the lead for Sacramento when the starters need a breather, Orlando’s Cole Anthony is deserving of this award, but Monk is a step above him at the halfway mark of this season.
Mid-Season Coach: Chris Finch
Again, have to tip my cap to Timberwolves coach Chris Finch who has this team playing elite level defense that has them number one in the west. Rudy Gobert looks like Gobert back in Utah, Edwards and McDaniels have been awesome on the perimeter, and has Karl-Anthony Towns playing respectable defense while expecting his secondary role on offense is the thing that gave him the nod over Thunder coach Mark Daigneault, Rockets coach Ime Udoka, and Magic coach Jamahl Mosley for this award.
Mid-Season Clutch Player: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
I had to show some restrain for my fandom of SGA who is taking the NBA by storm. Hopefully, he will be an MVP finalist because he is star of that talented Thunder team who has been on most night the best player on the floor. Along with Luka Doncic, Jayson Tatum and Nikola Jokic who were in the mid-season MVP discussions with Gilgeous-Alexander but SGA in those clutch minutes of games has been incredible and may not have win the mid-season MVP but is unquestionably the clutch player at the halfway point of this season.
My All-Star Starters
Western Conference
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder)
- Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves)
- Lauri Markkanen (Jazz)
- Anthony Davis (Lakers)
- Nikola Jokic (Nuggets)
Eastern Conference
- Jalen Brunson (Knicks)
- Tyrese Haliburton (Pacers)
- Paolo Banchero (Magic)
- Bam Adebayo (Heat)
- Joel Embiid (76ers)
I voted for guys who are deserving of the starting spot and don’t have huge fan bases that almost guarantee them large votes (LeBron, KD, Giannis, Steph, Luka, and Tatum now). Yes, it usually is a popularity contest, but hopefully these guys get their recognition for the play throughout the season and deserve to start.