The NBA season is about half-way over, which means it’s time to predict awards for the end of the season. So far, this season has been very interesting when it comes to award races, with players constantly falling up and down the award race ladders. With that said, here are the awards for the NBA season for midway through the season.

Coach of the Year: Quin Snyder

Quin Snyder is the head coach of the Utah Jazz, the number one team in the entire NBA right now. The Jazz doesn’t have a single superstar on the same level as the other top teams in the league. The wins they’ve had so far have been valid ones as well, while consistently beating championship contenders on a weekly basis. This race wasn’t even close.

Most Improved Player: Jerami Grant

Jerami Grant switched teams this offseason after playing a major role in the Nuggets playoff run last summer. His stats made a major leap, including his points per game jumping from 12 to 23 points. He was known league-wide as a solid bench player last year and is now considered a borderline NBA All-Star.

Sixth Man of the Year: Jordan Clarkson

Jordan Clarkson has always been known as a player who can get you two points when you need them. He is a straight-up scorer who plays a major role in leading the bench unit for the Jazz. He is the best bench scorer in the entire NBA at 18.2 points per game. Clarkson is a leader and a reliable player who has had an impressive season.

Rookie of the Year: LaMelo Ball

LaMelo Ball has proved his worth this season after being drafted by the Charlotte Hornets with the number two overall pick. Coming off the bench, he has still managed to put up some serious stats. Averaging 15.7 points, six rebounds and six assists, Ball is undoubtedly the best statistical rookie this year. Not only has he put up some serious stats, but he also managed to become the youngest player of all time to record a triple-double (at least 10 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists).

Defensive Player of the Year: Myles Turner 

Myles Turner leads the NBA in blocked shots, and it’s not even close. With 3.5 blocks a game, putting him at the highest average since 2011, and 1.1 steals, this 6’10 monster is a matchup nightmare for even the best players in the league. Turner has always been a threat near the basket, but not even close to what he is this season.

Most Valuable Player: Joel Embiid

The MVP race has been a close one all season, but one player has consistently been in the conversation; that player is Joel Embiid. The 7-foot monster from Cameroon has the footwork and inside scoring of NBA legends, like Hakeem Olajuwon, has the defense of players like Tim Duncan and has the ability to hit the outside shot. Nobody in the NBA can stop him from scoring consistently. With Embiid’s defense, athleticism and scoring, he is hands down the NBA MVP this season. If he wins this award, he will be the first center to do this since Shaquille O’Neal in the 1999-2000 Season.

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