NBA awards watch: Atkinson eyeing top coach, ROY race open

Welcome to our monthly look at the various individual awards in the Association and who merits a mention for their performances across the season.

Rookie of the Year

3. Zach Edey (Grizzlies): The 7-foot-4 Canadian has faced some injury troubles this season, but he has been remarkably dominant when healthy. Edey is pouring in 10.9 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game on impressive 59.6% shooting. The big man has also shown an ability to step out beyond the arc, shooting 40.9% from three.

2. Alex Sarr (Wizards): After a slow start, the second-overall pick has turned it up a notch. Sarr contributed 13.8 points and 6.3 rebounds on 56.4% true shooting in December. He also improved his 3-point shooting from 24.4% in October and November to 45.5% last month. He is second in rookie scoring (12.1) and leads all first-year players with 1.6 blocks per game.

1. Yves Missi (Pelicans): New Orleans hasn't had much to rave about this season except the 6-foot-11 Missi. He's leading all rookies in rebounds (8.4), offensive rebounds (3.8), and double-doubles (eight) while posting the eighth-most points per game (9.6). The Belgium-born big has also been an elite rim protector with 1.4 blocks a night.

Defensive Player of the Year

3. Jaren Jackson Jr. (Grizzlies): Only 70 players in the NBA defend at least 12 shots per game (minimum 23 games played so far). Of those, Jackson boasts the best defended field-goal percentage at a strict 38.8%, with just 4.9 field goals made on average against the Grizzlies center.

2. Dyson Daniels (Hawks): Daniels' active hands are still making life a nightmare for opponents. He surpassed 100 steals Saturday against the Los Angeles Clippers and continues to lead the NBA at 3.2 per game - the highest mark since John Stockton's 3.21 in 1988-89. Daniels' league-high 6.7 deflections per contest also indicate his individual effort is resulting in so many cookies.

1. Victor Wembanyama (Spurs): Teams are trying nearly twice as many threes when Wemby's on the court (26.8 attempts per game at 35.3%) compared to when he sits (14.9, 34.0%). To be fair, he impacts anything inside the arc, holding opponents to 47.4% on shots compared to 54.6% otherwise. That difference climbs the closer you get to the rim. He's no perimeter slouch, either; he defends 5.5 threes per game, on which he holds shooters to 30.3%.

Most Improved Player

3. Jalen Johnson (Hawks): Johnson is averaging career-highs in points (19.8), assists (5.3), and rebounds (10.1). The versatile wing is also 12th in the NBA in stocks (steals plus blocks) with 2.5. His impact on winning becomes apparent when he has been absent from the Hawks' lineup: Atlanta is 1-3 without the 23-year-old and is a combined minus-74 in those four games.

2. Cade Cunningham (Pistons): The No. 1 pick in 2021 has taken a massive leap in his fourth year, shepherding Detroit to a 17-18 record. Cunningham is on pace to become only the eighth player in NBA history to average 23 points, nine assists, and six steals. We should expect his production to continue after Jaden Ivey broke his leg. In the two games without his running mate, Cunningham is averaging 24.1 points, 9.5 assists, and 6.7 rebounds.

1. Tyler Herro (Heat): The Heat needed a new offensive engine as Jimmy Butler's feud with management hindered his output; Butler is averaging his lowest points per game (17.6) since joining Miami in 2019. Herro has settled into that role, averaging a team-high 23.8 points while shooting 47.5% from the field and 40.3% from deep. The Kentucky product has also improved his playmaking, dishing out a career-high 5.1 assists.

Sixth Man of the Year

3. Santi Aldama (Grizzlies): The Spaniard has found his groove leading Memphis' bench, which is tops in the NBA in scoring (47.4). Aldama is contributing career-highs in points (13), rebounds (7.3), assists (3.0), field-goal percentage (50.8), and 3-point percentage (38.8) for the third-place Grizzlies. He has scored 20-plus points six times this season, a feat he accomplished only eight times across his first three years in the league.

2. Payton Pritchard (Celtics): The 26-year-old has been the lone bright spot on a fairly underwhelming Celtics bench unit. He owns the fifth-highest scoring average on the team courtesy of a career-high 15.2 points, and he's splashing more than three 3-pointers a game on 8.4 attempts. The Oregon product leads the Celtics in 3-point percentage (42.4%) and is fourth in field-goal percentage (47.1%).

1. De'Andre Hunter (Hawks): Since becoming the Hawks' sixth man, Hunter has been a force. The Hawks own the third-highest scoring bench in the NBA (43.5), and a large part of that is because of Hunter's 19.8 points per game. The 27-year-old also holds the second-highest offensive rating (113.7) on Atlanta and the third-best net rating (0.6). Hunter's shooting splits are sitting at an impressive 47.9/43.3/86.2.

Coach of the Year

3. Mark Daigneault (Thunder): The NBA has never had a repeat winner for Coach of the Year. But if Oklahoma City overtakes the Cavaliers for the best record in the league, Daigneault could make history. The Thunder coach has his squad in the midst of a 15-game win streak. OKC could reach the 60-win mark after posting 57 victories last season.

2. Taylor Jenkins (Grizzlies): Despite consistent injuries, Jenkins has kept Memphis near the top of the Western Conference logjam. Thirteen players have logged more than 250 minutes this season, a testament to the team's versatile depth. The Grizzlies are getting contributions from rookies such as Edey and Jaylen Wells, role players such as Aldama and Scotty Pippen Jr., and their main core of Ja Morant, Jackson, and Desmond Bane.

1. Kenny Atkinson (Cavaliers): Atkinson has Cleveland playing like a bona fide championship contender. The Cavs rank first in offensive rating and ninth in defensive rating, contributing to the Association's best record at 31-4 thanks to two winning streaks of at least 10 contests. Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland are contributing more than 20 points a night, while Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen provide stellar paint protection.

Most Valuable Player

Please check out our most recent MVP Rankings for a detailed look at the top 10 candidates for the award.

3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder): Oklahoma City is creating significant breathing room in a loaded Western Conference, and Gilgeous-Alexander is a major factor why: Amid the Thunder's 15-game winning streak, the Canadian guard is averaging 33.1 points on 54.9/38.2/93.8 shooting splits while boasting a team-best 16.8 net rating (minimum 50 minutes this season).

2. Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks): Milwaukee's turnaround has catapulted Antetokounmpo to serious MVP consideration. Not only do his 32.3 points per game lead the NBA, but opponents shoot nearly 7.4% worse on twos when he's the primary defender.

1. Nikola Jokic (Nuggets): If you thought the Serbian superstar would slow down as 2024 wrapped up, you were all kinds of wrong. In seven games dating back to Denver's Christmas Day loss to the Phoenix Suns, Jokic is putting up an absurd 33.6 points, 14.9 rebounds, 9.7 assists, and 1.9 steals on 50.9/37.2/83.7 splits. The Nuggets are only 4-3 in that time, but their All-Star center is putting up numbers worthy of a second consecutive MVP honor.