The NBA regular season has come to an end, and with it comes the announcement of the season’s award winners. Undoubtedly, the 2022-23 NBA awards included a diverse spectrum of outstanding nominees, but only a few were able to take home the silverware. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the notable winners.
Coach of the Year: Mike Brown
Mike Brown, the Sacramento Kings’ head coach, won the NBA Coach of the Year for the 2022-2023 season. Brown guided the Kings to a 48-34 regular season record, which earned them a spot in the playoffs. Under his direction, the Kings have improved considerably on both ends of the court, possessing one of the league’s finest offences and a top-ten defence.
Kia NBA Clutch Player of the Year: De’Aaron Fox
Guard De’Aaron Fox of the Sacramento Kings won the Kia NBA Clutch Player of the Year for the 2022–2023 campaign. Evidently, Fox had a breakthrough season, leading the league with 194 points in 39 games in clutch moments. A few of the Kings’ tight victories this season have been made possible by his clutch scoring.
Kia NBA Sixth Man of the Year: Malcolm Brogdon
The Kia NBA Sixth Man of the Year for the 2022-23 season was Malcolm Brogdon of the Boston Celtics. Brogdon is an essential member of the Celtics’ bench squad, contributing much-needed playmaking and scoring when called upon. He shot an impressive 42% from the field and averaged 14.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game.
Kia NBA Rookie of the Year: Paolo Banchero
Paolo Banchero of the Orlando Magic was named the 2022–2023 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year. Additionally, Banchero averaged 20 points per game during his outstanding rookie season. Further, he became the third member of the Magic to earn the honour, demonstrating his ability on both ends of the court.
Kia NBA Most Improved Player: Lauri Markkanen
The 2022–2023 season’s Kia NBA Most Improved Player is Lauri Markkanen of the Utah Jazz . Averaging 25.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game while shooting an impressive 49.9% overall, Markkanen had a career resurgence this season. He was a major contributor to the Jazz’s success this season, and his development has been noted.
Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year: Jaren Jackson Jr.
Jaren Jackson Jr. of the Memphis Grizzlies was the Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year for the 2022-2023 season. Jackson was a powerful force on defence, averaging 3.0 blocks per game and anchoring the Grizzlies’ defence. He also demonstrated his flexibility by guarding several positions and was an important component of the Grizzlies’ success this season.
Kia NBA Most Valuable Player: Joel Embiid
In conclusion, Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers was awarded the Kia NBA Most Valuable Player for the 2022-2023 season. Embiid had a fantastic season, dominating on both ends of the court and establishing himself as one of the league’s greatest players.
Embiid’s MVP award is a testimonial to his outstanding play on the court this season, as he led the Philadelphia 76ers to a great season by dominating in scoring, rebounding, and shot-blocking.