Dunking With Wolves
Fansided

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 7
Next
OAKLAND, CA – MAY 08: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans stands on the side of the court during player introductions before their game against the Golden State Warriors in Game Five of the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at ORACLE Arena on May 8, 2018 in Oakland, California. 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. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – MAY 08: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans stands on the side of the court during player introductions before their game against the Golden State Warriors in Game Five of the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at ORACLE Arena on May 8, 2018 in Oakland, California. 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. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Anthony Davis is often forgotten in New Orleans, and while most fans may want Joel Embiid for this award, he needs to wait his turn.

Embiid had a fantastic season, including signs of a future Hall of Fame player even, but Anthony Davis has the ceiling to be the best player in the NBA in only a few years – if not one more year.

This 25-year-old is now a five time All-Star and is looking for his first Defensive Player of the Year award. After leading the NBA in blocks for the third time in his career, and being one of the highest usage players on the offensive and defensive side of the ball – this choice seems too easy.

Anthony Davis is an absolute monster. If you watch above, you may think you’re watching one of the greatest players of all time, but you may just be watching the greatest 24-year-old of all time (at the time he was 24).

If Davis doesn’t win this award, it’s strictly due to favoritism of ‘fun’ teams or ‘fun’ players, Embiid doesn’t beat out Davis in any category that would win this award. The only other nominee is Rudy Gobert, and unfortunately he only played 50ish games, so hopefully Gobert can pull one of these off in the near future – we’re rooting for you.

Much like Victor Oladipo, you can assume that Anthony Davis is coming for more playoff success and MVP awards in the near future, he actually has an argument for this year.

Timberwolves Defensive Player of the Year:

Jimmy Butler missed close to 30 games but due to his defensive prowess, he was named to an All-NBA team with Karl-Anthony Towns, as well as being named to an All-Defensive team.

Butler isn’t paid respect, rather it is earned around the league and he proved that for the Timberwolves. Having the best defensive plus/minus on the team and also leading them in steals.

Aside from being our Coach of the Year too, Butler seemed to create everything good on the defensive end of the floor constantly shouting out plays and who should be playing on who. Expect Butler to be more improved next year, as well as more healthy, almost nothing can hold that man back from success.