NBA Futures, Tips and Previews
Rookie of the Year
Jabari Smith
Paolo Banchero
The number one draft pick has a chance to stamp his authority on an inexperienced Magic team and starts as the favourite for this one.
He has the pedigree as a product of college powerhouse Duke, which has produced the previous rookie of the year contenders in Kyrie Irving, Elton Brand and Grant Hill. He played just the two summer league games but was impressed with his scoring ability and efforts at the free-throw line.
Keegan Murray
The Sacramento forward has shown plenty of promise both with the rock in hand and on defense. Some minor wrist surgery in August may mean he takes a while to find his groove, but it’s a long season, and the glimpses seen from him so far suggest he will be right in the mix.
Jaden Ivey
Paired with 2021 number one pick Cade Cunningham at the Pistons, he has a great first step and should see plenty of minutes at the Pistons. An injury-interrupted off-season may scare off some punters, but there is already some talk he will be the best of this draft class.
Jabari Smith
He is young at 19, so he may be a little greener than some other contenders, but youth has won this award. The Rockets are still in rebuilding mode, and Parker looks to be one of the most ready-made players of this year’s rookie class, and the number three pick will be right in contention.
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Defensive Player Of The Year
Giannis
Rudy Gobert
After winning this award on three previous occasions, an off-season move to Minnesota will mean Gobert is keen to add to his already glittering trophy cabinet. The only question is where his role sits alongside Karl Anthony-Towns, but that might hamper any offensive side of his game rather than the defensive.
Anthony Davis
Nobody questions Davis’ defensive attributes, as he’s been among the best in the league for over a decade. He may be expected to be more on defense for the Lakers, with LeBron James preserving his ageing body and possibly not being as significant a factor in the D. Davis is good value at $15 but the question, as always with him, is around his durability.
Bam Adebayo
Few can match Adebayo’s tenacity in guarding the ball, and it can often be a hassle for all five opposing players in the same play. He finished fourth in this award last year and will again be in contention with one of the most technically sound defensive games in the NBA.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Young fans worldwide wear his jersey mainly for what he does with the ball, but he is elite when in defense. A previous winner of the award, Antetokounpo has made the last four All-Defensive first teams, and there is no reason to think he will be on the decline this season. With minimal change to the Bucks’ line-up in the off-season, it is unlikely there will be any significant change in his defensive game.
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Sixth Man Of The Year
May, 2023
Jordan Poole
The favourite for this award after playing a pivotal role in Golden State’s championship win last season, Poole perfectly complements the Warriors’ star-studded starting five and may even push his way in there at some point this season.
Tyler Herro
The reigning sixth man of the year with 20.7 points per game average, there is no doubt about Herro’s impact when he comes on the court. There is plenty of buzz about the prospect of him being in the starting five permanently, but if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, and Herro could well stay in his role and have an even more significant impact this season for Miami.
Malcolm Brogdon
An off-season move to the Celtics sees Brogdon likely to start most games on the bench in a career-first. A lot depends on how he jells with the Boston rotation, but he has all the ability and game sense to be an explosive sixth man with his new team.
Christian Wood
Coach Jason Kidd has recently said Wood would start off the bench after arriving at Dallas in the off-season, Wood has higher plans for himself, but he doesn’t quite fit in the starting five the way it sits. He seems better suited coming in as a sixth man and will be a genuine X-factor for the Mavericks as their new-look team takes shape.
