NBA: The 2020-21 Midseason Awards Show

Who am I handing out the hardware to at the halfway point of the 2020-21 NBA season?

The second half of the 2020-21 NBA season is set to launch this evening. With 20 postseason spots on the line this year, it’s going to be a mad dash to the finish line. But before we embark on the 10-week rat race, let’s take one more look at the players that stood out during the first half of this unprecedented campaign.

Who are your first half award winners? Hit me up on Twitter and let me know!

Individual Awards

First Half Most Valuable Player

Joel Embiid, 76ers

LeBron James and Nikola Jokic are very much in the conversation for this award. In the end, however, I had to side with the Sixers center. His is scoring at an incredibly efficient rate (30.2 points per game on a 64.6 true shooting percentage) on the third-highest usage in the league (34.1 percent usage rate) while also making a sizable defensive impact (5.5 steal & block percentage). Most importantly, Embiid’s impact has led the 76ers to a 24-12 record and the top spot in the Eastern Conference. It’s a major step up for a player that seemed to be trending down in 2019-20.

Rookie of the First Half

LaMelo Ball, Hornets

Despite the controversy ahead of his entrance in the league, I figured LaMelo would develop into a very good NBA player. However, I definitely didn’t expect him to get this good this quickly. He leads all rookies in scoring (15.8 points per game), assists (6.3 per game), rebounds (6.0 per game as a guard!), and steals (1.6 per game). Not to mention he already has a triple-double under his belt.

As expected, he’s far from the most efficient shooter (56.1 true shooting percentage, 24th among all rookies), but his overall production still helped him force his way into the starting lineup. The Hornets went 9-11 before he was call to start, and have gone 8-7 since, now sitting seventh in the Eastern Conference. As Charlotte’s season re-starts on Thursday against Detroit, this full-season version of this award is LaMelo’s to lose.

Sixth Man of the First Half

Jordan Clarkson, Jazz

Clarkson has been the quintessential microwave scorer off the bench. He is second on the team in scoring (17.9 points per game) while being second in the Jazz rotation in usage rate (28.3 percent), despite starting none of the 36 games he has played this season. His production (namely his 3.2 threes per game; 2nd on the team) is a key reason why the Utah Jazz have the best record in the NBA (27-9).

Defensive Player of the First Half

Rudy Gobert, Jazz

When it comes to the DPOFH, we have to give the award to the anchor behind the league’s fourth-staunchest defense. Gobert holds the league’s fourth-highest block percentage (7.1) and the eighth-best relative defensive field goal percentage inside six feet (minimum 100 shots contested). He manages to hold these marks while playing 1,105 minutes in the first half of the season. Needless to say, he is a key part of the Jazz’s success this year.

Most Improved Player of the First Half

Julius Randle, Knicks

This ascendance was a long-time coming. From a per-36-minute standpoint, Randle has averaged a double-double since his second season in the league. He has averaged at least 20 points and 10 rebounds ever since his fourth. Now, in his seventh year in the league, Randle has finally been put in the position to excel. As a result, he is averaging 23.2 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game. All of those numbers are team and career highs. They were good enough to earn him his first All-Star appearance, and they’re good enough for the MIPFH award.

Coach of the First Half

Tom Thibodeau, Knicks

What a difference a coach makes. Thibodeau returns to a team he was an assistant coach for from 1996 through 2004. Almost overnight, they go from moribund to emerging! The key ingredient to their success is their defense, rated second-best in the NBA. A much improved scheme as well as full buy-in from the roster has gone a long way towards pulling this team out of the basement and into fifth place in the Eastern Conference. If the Knicks hold form, Thibodeau should be the favorite for the full season award.

All-NBA Teams

All-NBA First Team

Joel Embiid, C, 76ers
Giannis Antetokounmpo, F, Bucks
LeBron James, F, Lakers
Stephen Curry, G, Warriors
Damian Lillard, G, Trail Blazers

All-NBA Second Team

Nikola Jokic, C, Nuggets
Kevin Durant, F, Nets
Kawhi Leonard, F, Clippers
James Harden, G, Nets
Luka Doncic, G, Mavericks

All-NBA Third Team

Rudy Gobert, C, Jazz
Zion Williamson, F, Pelicans
Julius Randle, F, Knicks
Zach LaVine, G, Bulls
Chris Paul, G, Suns

All-Defensive First Team

Rudy Gobert, C, Jazz
Myles Turner, C, Pacers
Nerlens Noel, C, Knicks
Chris Paul, G, Suns
Ben Simmons, G, 76ers

All-Defensive Second Team

Draymond Green, F/C, Warriors
Kelly Oubre, F, Warriors
Jimmy Butler, F, Heat
Mike Conley, G, Jazz
TJ McConnell, G, Pacers

All-Rookie First Team

James Wiseman, C, Warriors
Patrick Williams, F, Bulls
Jae’Sean Tate, F, Rockets
Tyrese Haliburton, G, Kings
LaMelo Ball, G, Hornets

All-Rookie Second Team

Saddiq Bey, F, Pistons
Desmond Bane, F/G, Grizzlies
Anthony Edwards, F/G, Timberwolves
Immanuel Quickley, G, Knicks
Cole Anthony, G, Magic