Dunking With Wolves
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2017-18 NBA Award Predictions: Donovan Mitchell wins Rookie of the Year

By Trey Flynn

HOUSTON, TX - MAY 2: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz speaks with the media after the game against the Houston Rockets in Game Two of Round Two of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 2, 2018 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - MAY 2: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz speaks with the media after the game against the Houston Rockets in Game Two of Round Two of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 2, 2018 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Every year we have at least one surprise for an award, this year I believe it will be in the rookie of the year (ROY) race.

Unfortunately, here at Dunking With Wolves, we don’t get many players to add to these lists. Although, we did have Karl-Anthony Towns and Jimmy Butler make some of the All-NBA teams, so we had our moment.

But for every slide, we’ll be adding our own guys into this to give our franchise some hope!

Tonight on TNT at 9 PM EST, we’ll see several awards be handed out. These awards Include – Most Valuable Player, Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY), Rookie of the Year, Sixth Man of the Year (SMOY), Most Improved Player (MIP), and Coach of the Year (COY).

While some of these awards seem to have obvious winners, some were not obvious last year.

For the 2016-17 NBA award night last year, we had some great winners. These winners included – Russell Westbrook (MVP), Draymond Green (DPOY), Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIP), Eric Gordon (SMOY), Malcom Brogdon (ROY), Mike D’Antoni (COY).

Whether it was the argument that Draymond doesn’t deserve DPOY over Rudy Gobert, or that Malcom Brogdon robbed both Joel Embiid and Dario Saric, there is always something for someone to be angry about.

That will be no different tonight.

Before we begin our predictions on the winners, take a look at the finalists for each award this year:

Kia NBA Most Valuable Player

  • Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans
  • James Harden, Houston Rockets
  • LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers

Kia NBA Rookie of the Year

  • Donovan Mitchell, Utah Jazz
  • Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers
  • Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics

Kia NBA Sixth Man Award

  • Eric Gordon, Houston Rockets
  • Fred VanVleet, Toronto Raptors
  • Lou Williams, LA Clippers

Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year

  • Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans
  • Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
  • Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz

Kia NBA Most Improved Player

  • Clint Capela, Houston Rockets
  • Spencer Dinwiddie, Brooklyn Nets
  • Victor Oladipo, Indiana Pacers

NBA Coach of the Year

  • Dwane Casey, Toronto Raptors
  • Quin Snyder, Utah Jazz
  • Brad Stevens, Boston Celtics