NBA title or not, these playoffs could be the last time we see Warriors core together
USA TODAY Sports’ Jeff Zillgitt explains why, win or lose, we should expect big changes for the Golden State Warriors come next season.
Sports Seriously, USA TODAY
Tasked with more responsibility, especially offensively, Lauri Markkanen showed marked improvement in his first season with the Utah Jazz.
Coming to Utah from Chicago, Markkanen averaged a career-high 25.6 points (seven points better than his previous best), shot a career-high 49.9% from the field and lifted his 3-point percentage to 39.1% from 35.8% last season and increased his rebounds per game to 8.6 from 5.7 last season.
The league’s first Finnish All-Star, he also had career-highs in field goals made (8.7) and field goals attempted (17.3) per game.
For his season, Markkanen, 25, was named the NBA’s 2022-23 Most Improved Player. He accepted the award from Helsinki, where he is fulfilling his mandatory Finnish military service. Markkanen received 69 of the 100 first place votes. The Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Knicks’ Jalen Brunson were the other finalists.
Markkanen’s improvement was clear from the start of the season, a carryover from Finland’s EuroBasket performance last summer.
“I know I’ve got a ways to go to be the best player I can be,” Markkanen told USA TODAY Sports earlier this season. “But I’m excited about the journey, and I’m in the right spot to work on my game. It’s a great organization to be a part of, and there’s guys that help me with it, so I couldn’t be more happy.”
Defensive Player of the Year: Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies
Jaren Jackson was a shot-blocking, shot-altering, rim-protecting force for the Grizzlies this season, and on April 17, the 23-year-old All-Star was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year for the first time in his five-year career.
Jackson led the league in blocks per game (3.0) for the second consecutive season and was No. 2 in total blocks (189) behind Milwaukee’s Brook Lopez, who also was a finalist for the award with Cleveland’s Evan Mobley. Had Jackson played more than 63 games, he would’ve easily passed Lopez in total blocks. (And note, starting next season, under rules in the new collective bargaining agreement, Jackson would not have been eligible for the award because he didn’t play in a minimum of 65 games.)
Clutch Player of the Year: De’Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings
Pick your favorite clutch shot from Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox.
Was it:
► The just-across-mid-court 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Kings a 126-123 victory against Orlando?
► The 3-pointer with .7 seconds remaining for a 117-114 win over Chicago?
► Or the driving layup with .4 seconds left to give the Kings a 117-115 victory against Utah?
Maybe it was another clutch performance he had this season.
For all of his big-time made shots with the game on the line, Fox on April 18 won the NBA’s first Clutch Player of the Year Award. He captured 91 of 100 possible first-place votes.
Coach of the Year: Mike Brown, Sacramento Kings
Mike Brown can add another coaching award to his trophy case.
The Sacramento Kings head coach was named NBA Coach of the Year, the league announced Wednesday. Brown, who received all 100 votes to become the first unanimous winner of the award, led the Kings to their first playoff berth since 2006, ending the longest playoff drought in NBA history.
It’s the second time Brown has won the award. He previously received the honor in 2009 as the Cleveland Cavaliers head coach.
Sixth Man of the Year: Malcolm Brogdon, Boston Celtics
“My game is suited for being versatile, doing what the team needs, being skilled in multiple areas of the game so I can have an impact no matter how you play me,” Malcolm Brogdon said earlier this season.
Brogdon appeared in 67 games this season, all on the bench, averaging 14.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists and shot 48.4% from the field and 44.4% on 3-pointers.
For his work, he was named the NBA’s 2022-23 Sixth Man of the Year on April 20. Brogdon earned 60 of 100 first-place votes, with the Knicks’ Immanuel Quickley and Bucks’ Bobby Portis as the other finalists.
When will NBA rookie of the year be announced?
April 25. Finalists for the award are Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic; Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz; and Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder.
When will NBA MVP be announced?
The date has not been announced. Finalists for the award are Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks; Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers; and Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets.
