Philadelphia 76ers: 2019-20 NBA award predictions

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 Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

Matt Burnham

  • MVP — Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
  • Defensive Player of the Year — Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
  • Sixth Man of the Year — Lou Williams, Los Angeles Clippers
  • Most Improved Player — Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies
  • Rookie of the Year — Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies
  • Coach of the Year — Frank Vogel, Los Angeles Lakers
  • 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
    • Kemba Walker, Boston Celtics
    • Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers
    • Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers
    • Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
    • 3rd Team All-NBA
      • Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn Nets
      • Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers
      • Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors
      • Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors
      • Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers
      • 1st Team All-Defense
        • Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers
        • Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers
        • Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers
        • Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
        • Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
        • 2nd Team All-Defense
          • Jrue Holiday, New Orleans Pelicans
          • Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat
          • Andre Roberson, Oklahoma City Thunder
          • Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors
          • Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers
          • 1st Team All-Rookie
            • Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies
            • Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers
            • R.J. Barrett, New York Knicks
            • Cam Reddish, Atlanta Hawks
            • Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans
            • 2nd Team All-Rookie
              • Coby White, Chicago Bulls
              • Tyler Herro, Miami Heat
              • Jarrett Culver, Minnesota Timberwolves
              • Michael Porter Jr., Denver Nuggets
              • Bruno Fernando, Atlanta Hawks
              • This will be the most enticing race for MVP in recent years. It’s more wide open than it has been in a decade.

                There is a chance that perennial candidates, James Harden, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant (injury) all find themselves off the ballot.

                With younger superstars like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, and Joel Embiid becoming some of the new faces of the league, we could see the foreigners take over. I think Giannis will get even better in his seventh season. With his video game numbers and the Bucks likely finishing as a top two seed in the East, I see him repeating.

                The other accolade to pay attention to is the First/Second All-NBA Teams.

                We are blessed to have so much talent in the NBA but when there are only five slots available per team, things get slippery.

                The small forward position alone has LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Paul George. The center position has Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic.

                Where does Anthony Davis fall in all of this? Will Damian Lillard earn honors over Kyrie Irving? Can Ben Simmons take that next step and get voter recognition?

                There are endless questions and each accolade is up for grabs, in my opinion. The only thing I’m sure of is Sweet Lou Williams three-peating with the Sixth Man of the Year award.