WE’RE A WEEK INTO THE 2018-2019 NBA SEASON WHICH HAS THE NUGGETS AT UNDEFEATED, AND THE LAKERS AT 1-3. SO, WHO WINS THE MVP? I BREAK DOWN THAT AND MUCH MORE.
By Will Satler | wsatler@msudenver.edu | October 24th, 2018
DENVER— The Toronto Raptors are 5-0 and sit at the top of the Eastern Conference. The Cleveland Cavaliers are 0-4 and sit at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. You could’ve guessed that before the start of the season. But would have you of guessed that the Los Angeles Lakers, with newly acquired all-time great, LeBron James, would be 1-3 sitting in the bottom of the Western Conference with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets who were both playoff teams last year and predicted to finish in the top 4 again this year?
If you did, you should be getting paid a lot more for your predictions. Denver, New Orleans, Detriot, and Milwaukee join Toronto as teams still to lose a game in 2018. Don’t get me wrong. It’s still early. We’re barely in the first month of basketball, and everything will fall back to earth soon enough. So when that happens and the season is all set and done and the Golden State Warriors complete the three-peat, taking down Kyrie Irving and the Boston Celtics in 7 games in the NBA Finals, here’s who will take home the hardware at the NBA Honors show in June.
Coach of the Year: Mike Malone, Denver Nuggets
Malone’s Nuggets are off to a flaming hot start, going 4-0 and dethroning the Golden State Warriors on a last-second block by Juancho Hernangomez Saturday night. Despite his 119-127 record in three seasons in Denver, Malone recently signed an extension with the Nuggets, although the details of the extension still haven’t been released by the club.
Malone’s team, led by all-star center Nikola Jokíc and young guards Jamal Murray and Gary Harris, look to build on a hot start and finish in the top of the Western Conference come April. If they’re hopes come true, Mike Malone will be the Coach of the Year in the NBA.
Comeback Player of the Year: Zach Lavine, Chicago Bulls
While his time in Minnesota was like a rollercoaster, Zach Lavine showed much promise after being a 13th overall pick of the club back in 2014. Last year after being traded to Chicago in the blockbuster trade that brought Jimmy Butler to Minnesota, Lavine only ended up playing 24 games while battling a knee injury. He averaged 16.7 points a game as well as almost 4 rebounds and 4 assists.
To start the year, Lavine is averaging close to 32 points per game as well as holding up his 4 rebounds and 4 assists. If he can stay healthy and work either his rebounds or assists into the 6 range, he will finish the Comeback Player of the Year in the NBA.
Defensive Player of the Year: Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors
The most underrated Warrior and one of the most controversial players of all time; Draymond ‘Money’ Green. After a year where he was left off the 1st team All-Defense, Green took offense to being snubbed.
“I was second-team all-defense (last season). That’s crazy.”
When asked a follow-up question of “Was that on you or the voters?”
Green said, “Probably a little bit on me, but I don’t think any voter can tell me, five defensive players, better than me…I’ll wait.” via Complex
This year, even after adding fellow front-court all-star Demarcus Cousins, Green will have an especially big year defensively for the Warriors. Anyone who has watched Green play or talk with the media the last few years knows he gets motivated easily. With a fire lit up under him, Draymond Green will be the Defensive Player of the Year in the NBA.
Most Improved Player: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
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Rookie of the Year: Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks
Man, have I wished that this would be Micheal Porter Jr. for the Nuggets in 2019. While that won’t be the case just because Porter Jr. won’t play enough games in 2019 if he plays at all, another one-and-done player out East will take home the award.
Trae Young was one of the most polarizing players coming out of Oklahoma last year due to the gaudy numbers he put up for the Sooners. There were many concerns about whether Young shot too much or didn’t value the ball enough. So far, those concerns have been absent for Young.
Although the Stephen Curry comparison for Young is a tad unfair, their games share many great similarities. On a team that isn’t set to go anywhere anytime soon, Young will put up those same gaudy numbers in a weak Eastern Conference. I expect Dallas Mavericks point forward Luka Doncic to give Young a challenge, but ultimately if Young can keep his team out of the 12th spot in the East, this is his award to lose. In the end, Trae Young will be the Rookie of the Year in the NBA.
Most Valuable Player: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
While I truly think that LeBron James is the most valuable player in the league still to this day, we are just a few years away from that being a different name; Steph Curry. After winning the MVP back-to-back years, one unanimously, Curry has exchanged NBA championships for individual awards. The addition of all-star Kevin Durant has deflated Curry’s number (as well as Klay Thompson’s) and dimmed his MVP light.
This year will change that. Curry brings something that no other player in NBA history has ever brought to the table, and there are many people who consider him the best player in the NBA today. It’ll be hard for Curry to replicate his 2014 numbers, but he will very well put up MVP caliber numbers once again, and be rewarded with a 3rd MVP award. There will be much controversy around this award this year, but when the fat lady sings, Stephen Curry will be the Most Valuable Player in the NBA.
Will Satler 
This is some great insight, I do agree with most of your picks but not all. I do think that Zach Lavine is due for a bounce-back year. Last year was one that I am sure he is looking to forget. Another thing is this offseason he got paid so I am sure he is ready to show his worth. I do think the rest of your picks do make a lot of sense, but there are a couple I disagree with. I personally think Anthony Davis will win DPOY. He is just such a monster on defense. Also, I think that Giannis Antetokounmpo will have to absolutely go off to win most improved player so I actually think it may be more likely for him to win MVP.
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