The NBA season is just around the corner, and the league has already made some big moves. Kevin Durant will be returning to Oklahoma City after signing with the Golden State Warriors in free agency, while LeBron James has announced he will leave Cleveland for Los Angeles.
Kevin Durant is the favorite to win his second MVP award in 2022. He is also predicted to be named Rookie of the Year, and will lead the NBA in scoring.
The 2022 season is just a few months away, but there has already been some major free agency news, such as the Lakers’ signing of Russell Westbrook and the Heat’s signing of Kyle Lowry. With the Milwaukee Bucks aiming to repeat as champs and the Brooklyn Nets superteam returning, all NBA fans can’t wait for the new season to begin.
But, come next season, who will be the outstanding players? It’s time to forecast the preliminary award winners for the 2022 season in all major categories. While some names may be anticipated, others may surprise you.
Monty Williams was named Coach of the Year.
Last year, Tom Thibodeau was a great option for the Knicks since he guided them to the playoffs for the first time since 2013, but Monty Williams came in second. Monty led the Suns to the second best record in the Western Conference during his first season as head coach.
Monty Williams is expected to compete for the top seed in the Western Conference this season. The coach, who is 49 years old, has a bright future ahead of him and is already regarded as one of the finest in the league. Monty will most certainly have a good squad in 2022, headed by Chris Paul, Devin Booker, and Deandre Ayton, who are all on the rise.
Nate McMillan received an honorable mention.
Lonzo Ball is the player who has improved the most.
Apart from Ben Simmons, no other young player has received as much criticism as Lonzo Ball. Because of his father’s marketing, the touted point guard was anticipated to be a star from the start of his rookie season, but he has yet to achieve that level. Ball was under too much pressure in Los Angeles, and his position with the Pelicans was not ideal.
Finally, Ball has the ability to play for a large market with little expectation. Ball has room to be the playmaker and defender he is because the Bulls signed DeMar DeRozan in free agency to combine with Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic. Ball will be in line for a Most Improved Player of the Year award if he can help the Bulls secure one of the Eastern Conference’s top four spots.
Christian Wood was given an honorable mention.
Derrick Rose is the 6th Man of the Year.
via ESPN
Derrick Rose had a fantastic comeback season with the Knicks, averaging 14.9 points per game and 4.2 assists per game. Rose didn’t get a chance to compete for 6th Man of the Year with Jordan Clarkson last season, but he will this year. Rose may not be an MVP candidate, but he is the most skilled player off the bench in the NBA.
Rose, who is averaging 19.4 points per game in the playoffs for the Knicks, is settling into his new position with his new club. He possesses excellent scoring and playmaking abilities, and as a 6th man, he will most certainly put up the greatest statistics on his way to his first major award since 2011.
Jordan Clarkson was given an honorable mention.
Jalen Green, Rookie of the Year
Cade Cunningham is the greatest all-around rookie in the NBA Draft, but he will lose out to offensive standout Jalen Green for the Rookie of the Year Award. Green is a more explosive scorer than Cade, having scored 25 points in a preseason game against the No. 1 selection.
Jalen Green believes he should have gone No. 1 and will remember that throughout the season. The Houston Rockets are in the midst of a total rebuild, and Green will have a better record and a better shot at Rookie of the Year if he can lead the offense with emerging star Christian Wood.
Cade Cunningham received an honorable mention.
Ben Simmons is the Defensive Player of the Year.
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Ben Simmons is said to have snubbed the Philadelphia 76ers this summer and is aware of all the accusations leveled at him. Even his own head coach, Doc Rivers, was unsure whether Simmons would be the solution at point guard for them. While Philadelphia’s future seemed bright, it is now beginning to look bleak.
Simmons, on the other hand, will be back, eager to show why he is one of the greatest defensive players in the league. Simmons has a lot of natural skill, regardless of what many say about his shooting ability. Simmons will be hell-bent on winning his first major award as a member of the 76ers or any other team, after finishing second to Rudy Gobert last year.
Rudy Gobert (Honorable Mention)
Kevin Durant was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player.
Credit: Associated Press/Frank Franklin II
Kevin Durant has been deserving of an MVP Award for a long time. Because of the amount of skill on his team, he earned his first and only MVP award in the 2014 season, and playing for the Golden State Warriors harmed his prospects every year. While Durant has a lot of talent in Brooklyn, Kyrie Irving and James Harden have missed a lot of games in recent seasons and are expected to miss even more this season.
Durant is coming off his third Olympic gold medal and is widely regarded as the greatest player in the world right now. Durant will have stiff competition in the form of Slovenian sensation Luka Doncic, but the Mavericks are unlikely to be a good team this season, while the Nets may finish as the NBA’s top seed.
Luka Doncic (Honorable Mention)
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