The Sixer Sense
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Philadelphia 76ers: 2019-20 NBA award predictions

By Christopher Kline

Joel Embiid | Philadelphia 76ers (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Joel Embiid | Philadelphia 76ers (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Justin DiVirgilio

  • MVP — Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
  • Defensive Player of the Year — Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
  • Sixth Man of the Year — Lou Williams, Los Angeles Clippers
  • Most Improved Player — Aaron Gordon, Orlando Magic
  • Rookie of the Year — Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies
  • Coach of the Year — Luke Walton, Sacramento Kings
  • 1st Team All-NBA
    • Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
    • James Harden, Houston Rockets
    • LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
    • Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
    • Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
  • 2nd Team All-NBA
    • Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
    • Russell Westbrook, Houston Rockets
    • Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers
    • Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers
    • Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
  • 3rd Team All-NBA
    • Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn Nets
    • Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards
    • Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers
    • Blake Griffin, Detroit Pistons
    • Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
  • 1st Team All-Defense
    • Jrue Holiday, New Orleans Pelicans
    • Marcus Smart, Boston Celtics
    • Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers
    • Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers
    • Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
  • 2nd Team All-Defense
    • Malcolm Brogdon, Indiana Pacers
    • Josh Richardson, Philadelphia 76ers
    • Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
    • Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors
    • Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz
  • 1st Team All-Rookie
    • Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies
    • R.J. Barrett, New York Knicks
    • Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans
    • Rui Hachimura, Washington Wizards
    • Goga Bitadze, Indiana Pacers
  • 2nd Team All-Rookie
    • Nickeil Alexander-Walker, New Orleans Pelicans
    • Tyler Herro, Miami Heat
    • Cam Reddish, Atlanta Hawks
    • Brandon Clarke, Memphis Grizzlies
    • Jaxson Hayes, New Orleans Pelicans

No KD and no Klay Thompson will force Steph Curry shot attempts and usage rate to skyrocket. Even though Curry has D’Angelo Russell as a new running mate, Unanimous MVP Curry will have to make a comeback. Curry averaging 30 points again and leading the Warriors to a top four seed will ensure him his 3rd MVP award.

Joel Embiid will finally earn his credit as one of the best defensive players in the form of the Defensive Player of the Year award. Despite being regarded as one of the best defenders, Embiid has finished behind the Utah Jazz’s Rudy Gobert in the award voting in back to back years. With a vaunted defense playing alongside him, Embiid is primed to claim something he fell short of the past 2 seasons.

Aaron Gordon is my pick for Most Improved Player award. Gordon was key in the Orlando Magic making a playoff push. Gordon averaged 16 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 44.9 field goal percentage and 34.9 3-point percentage in 78 games last season. In his age 24 season, Gordon projects to make another jump statistically and help lead the Magic back to the postseason.

The Coach of the Year award will make its way back out west to Luke Walton in Sacramento. The 1st year coach has good a young core (De’Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Marvin Bagley III) and veterans (Trevor Ariza, Harrison Barnes, Nemanja Bjelica, and Cory Joseph) to work with. Walton helping lead the Kings to their 1st playoffs since 2005-06 will have him being named the Coach of the Year.