{"id":60858,"date":"2024-04-13T08:13:03","date_gmt":"2024-04-13T12:13:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ngscsports.com\/?p=60858"},"modified":"2024-04-13T08:13:03","modified_gmt":"2024-04-13T12:13:03","slug":"nba-swing-end-of-season-award-predictions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ngscsports.com\/2024\/04\/13\/nba-swing-end-of-season-award-predictions\/","title":{"rendered":"NBA Swing: End-of-Season Award Predictions\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
The 2023-24 NBA season is coming to a close with teams playing their final games this week. The playoffs start a week from Saturday, and awards season is around the corner as well. It is expected that NBA awards will start being announced near the end of the month and in early May. As most teams have played around 79-80 games at the time of this writing, NBA award winners can be predicted<\/a> after an eventful 2023-24 season.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sixth Man of the Year: Malik Monk<\/strong><\/p>\n Runner-Up: Naz Reid<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Of those coming off the bench, there has been no player making a significant impact other more than Malik Monk. After a season with the Lakers, Monk has been a key role player for the Kings over the last two seasons. This season, Monk is not only having his best year with the Kings, but his best career year overall. Playing 72 games this season (all off the bench), Monk has averaged a career-high 15.4 points and 5.1 assists in addition to 2.9 rebounds per game in just 26 minutes per game. While the Kings have taken a small step back due to the competition in the West, they owe just as much credit to Monk as they do to their superstars.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Of those in the race, the closet threat to Monk winning the award would be Minnesota Timberwolves big man Naz Reid. Like Monk, Reid is having a career year in his fifth season with the Wolves. In 79 games (65 off the bench), Reid has put up a career-high 13.4 points and 5.3 rebounds. With Karl-Anthony Towns missing a small chunk of games, Reid has spent some time in the starting lineup, but not enough to disqualify him from award contention.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Coach of the Year: Mark Daigneault<\/strong><\/p>\n Runner-Up: Chris Finch<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n While there have been many surprises in the West this season, there has been no bigger surprise than the Oklahoma City Thunder. After several years near the bottom of the West post-Russell Westbrook, the Thunder are on the rise. Last season, the team finished 40-42, losing in the Play-In Tournament to the Minnesota Timberwolves. This season, the Thunder have jumped to the top of the West. Currently at 56-25 and now in a three-way tie with the Nuggets and Timberwolves in the West. The Thunder have been in the top three most of the season. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has looked like an NBA MVP, Chet Holmgren has been one of the best rookies in the league, and Jalen Williams has taken a big leap in his second season. Leading the team is Mark Daigneault. Daigneault has gotten the best out of his players, leading the team to a better record every one of the four seasons he has been head coach. One of the youngest coaches in the league, Daigneault will only continue to grow as an NBA coach in the league.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Another coach who deserves his flowers this season is Chris Finch from the Minnesota Timberwolves. Like OKC, Minnesota has been on the rise in recent years. With Anthony Edwards taking that step into superstardom and the duo of Karl Anthony-Towns and Rudy Gobert being one of best frontcourts in the league, they have jumped to the top of the West as well. Currently 56-25, the Wolves have been led by Finch, who may be one of those most overlooked coaches in the NBA<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Clutch Player of the Year: Stephen Curry<\/strong><\/p>\n Runner-Up: DeMar DeRozan<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n In the clutch, no player has been more impactful than Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry. Via <\/span>covers<\/span><\/a>, Curry has played in 41 clutch games which leads the league.\u00a0 He is shooting over 50% from the field, over 45% from beyond the arc, and tied for the most clutch points per game (4.5), Curry is one of the most dependable NBA players in the clutch. Without Curry, the Warriors would likely have a much worse record than they currently have. <\/span><\/p>\n