Philadelphia 76ers: 2020 NBA award ballots

Joel Embiid | Sixers (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Joel Embiid | Sixers (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

Lucas Johnson

  • MVP — Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
  • Defensive Player of the Year — Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers
  • Sixth Man of the Year — Montrezl Harrell, LA Clippers
  • Most Improved Player — Brandon Ingram, New Orleans Pelicans
  • Rookie of the Year — Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies
  • Coach of the Year — Nick Nurse, Toronto Raptors

1st team All-NBA

  • Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
  • James Harden, Houston Rockets
  • LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
  • Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
  • Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers

2nd team All-NBA

  • Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
  • Russell Westbrook, Houston Rockets
  • Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers
  • Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
  • Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

3rd team All-NBA

  • Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards
  • Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
  • Khris Middleton, Milwaukee Bucks
  • Paul George, LA Clippers
  • Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers

1st team All-Defense

  • Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers
  • Patrick Beverley, LA Clippers
  • Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers
  • Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
  • Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers

2nd team All-Defense

  • Kris Dunn, Chicago Bulls
  • Marcus Smart, Boston Celtics
  • OG Anunoby, Toronto Raptors
  • Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat
  • Brook Lopez, Milwaukee Bucks

1st team All-Rookie

  • Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies
  • Kendrick Nunn, Miami Heat
  • Brandon Clarke, Memphis Grizzlies
  • P.J. Washington, Charlotte Hornets
  • Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans

2nd team All-Rookie

  • Coby White, Chicago Bulls
  • Tyler Herro, Miami Heat
  • Matisse Thybulle, Philadelphia 76ers
  • R.J. Barrett, New York Knicks
  • Rui Hachimura, Washington Wizards

Like in the preseason, I hold fast to the notion that Giannis Antetokounmpo will repeat as the MVP this season. Despite winning the honor last season, he’s primed to win it again this year by having even better stats. He’s improved his scoring, rebounding, and 3-point percent this season. He’s the best player on the best team and there seems there is no one to legit challenge him.

I had Joel Embiid winning Defensive Player of the Year in the preseason, but Anthony Davis has anchored an impressive Los Angeles Lakers defense that ranks second in points allowed per game (106.8) and third in defensive rating (105.5). This season he’s averaged 26.6 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 2.4 blocks per game.

More from Sixers News

Montrezl Harrell was my pick for Sixth Man of the Year in the preseason and he’s still my pick this year. Not only has he proven more essential to the Los Angeles Clipper’s success than Lou Williams, but Harrell’s also having a career year in scoring and rebounding. This season he’s averaging 18.6 points and 7.6 rebounds. I should note that Goran Dragic and Dennis Schroder were close second and third choices

Originally I had Lonzo Ball getting this award in the preseason, but I’m changing my pick to his teammate Brandon Ingram. Ingram took a huge step in his production and was named an All-Star this season. The small forward went from averaging 18.3 points last season to 24.1 points this year. He also saw an uptick in his rebounds, assists, and 3-point percentage. Jayson Tatum and Pascal Siakam were my other candidate.

I believed Zion Williamson’s conditioning would impede him from winning Rookie of the Year during the preseason and I was proven right. However, it’s also fair to say that while I choose Ja Morant to win the award, I didn’t anticipate him performing so well. The point guard is averaging 17.7 points and 7.0 assists.

Nate McMillan of the Indiana Pacers was my original pick for Coach of the Year, but let’s be fair Nick Nurse has been the best coach this season. He lost Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green, but yet he was able to coach an injury-ridden Toronto Raptors team to the second-best record in the Eastern Conference. Taylor Jenkins of the Memphis Grizzlies was also in the running for this award.