The Finals MVP has done well with the Warriors second unit. Last season Coach Steve Kerr made a decision to start Harrison Barnes over Igoudala two seasons ago. Since then, when Iggy comes into the game he has been a great spark for the team and is one of the many reasons why Golden State was been successful from the starting five to the backups. His scoring isn’t as eye popping as some of the other members in the running, but the 31 year old does a little bit of everything while contributing to this powerhouse team.

Others in the running: Ryan Anderson, Mo Williams (might not qualify now with the amount of games he has started), Will Barton, Enes Kanter, Jeremy Lamb

4. Defensive Player of the Year: Hassan Whiteside

What a great story. After playing only 19 games for the Kings his first two seasons in the league, then bouncing around between overseas and the D-League,  Whiteside is now making a name for himself in the NBA. His four blocks a game are the highest heading into the New Year since Dikembe Mutumbo was around wagging his finger saying “No, No, No”. He’s had multiple games with five blocks while some other teams have not even had five blocks as a team. He is one of the top rim protectors in the league and has plenty of room to grow on the offensive end. But defensively, he’s on the right path.

Others in the running: Kawhi Leonard, Draymond Green, Rudy Gobert, Serge Ibaka, Anthony Davis

5. Most Improved Player: C.J. McCollum

With all the pieces lost this past summer, someone had to step up in Portland with Damian Lillard. McCollum has been that guy, by tripling his scoring from last season. Part of it has been that he has been given more playing time; but still this guy has done great so far this year as he is now starting to look like the top 10 selection he was back in 2013. Along with Lillard, he looks to be the backcourt of the future for Portland and that is something to keep an eye on for the next  couple of seasons.

Others in the running: Paul George, Will Barton, Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, DeMar DeRozen 

6. Coach of the Year: Luke Walton*

Record: 31-2*

I put * up there for reasons every basketball fan should know by now. With Steve Kerr unavailable to coach because of back surgery Luke Walton has been the interim coach for the time being. That being said, since he is under interim it means that he takes over for a period of time until the full time coach comes back. Bottom line, his wins and losses do not count to him, they count to Steve Kerr. While I had talk about this in the past I do think that he should get these wins credited to him. What Walton has done so far is incredible. Taking over a team at the start of the season and making them as dominant as they are. He has been able to make the right corrections and adjustments during the game which shows that he has certainly learned from Kerr.

Others in the running: Gregg Popovich, Rick Carlisle, Billy Donovan, Scott Skiles, David Blatt

7. All-NBA Teams

First Team   

• PG Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
• SG James Harden, Houston Rockets
• SF Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
• SF LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
• PF/C DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings

The first team are usually the obvious ones. Curry has been playing fantastic as stated before making another run for the MVP. James Harden despite his teams troubles is still putting up great numbers and keeping his team in contention in the wild Western Conference. Kevin Durant so far, after his injury plagued season last year has also been great. LeBron James after 12 seasons in the NBA is still finding a way to be in the conversation as the best player in the world. The final frontcourt spot was a toss up. I ended up giving it to DeMarcus Cousins because he is averaging a double double and is one of the dominant and few centers left in this league.

Second Team

• PG Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
• SG Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls
• SF Paul George, Indiana Pacers
• PF Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans
• PF/C Chris Bosh, Miami Heat

Russell Westbrook and Jimmy Butler have both been doing great for their teams by doing just about everything. A year ago Paul George had doubts of coming back and is now in contention for the MVP as well as an All-Star nod currently averaging 24 points a game. Despite his team not being competitive, Anthony Davis is still dominant night in and night out. If the Pelicans can bring in more pieces these can be a dangerous team. Chris Bosh has been a multiple time All-Star but has only been named to an All-NBA Team once (2007 second team as a member of the Toronto Raptors). I think this time around he should get recognized for what he has done for the Heat.

Third Team

• PG Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
• SG DeMar DeRozen, Toronto Raptors
• SF Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks
• SF Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs
• C Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons

The entire third team is always a toss up so this is what I came up with. Damian Lillard is never in the top discussion for points guards because it is such a heavy PG league. DeMar DeRozen has been playing great also this year as he looks to make a deep playoff run with Toronto. Carmelo Anthony is back for the Knicks and is actually playing a lot better than people expected coming in. Kawhi Leonard is becoming something special down in San Antonio averaging 20 points a game and is one of the top defenders this league has. Andre Drummond is currently leading the league in rebounding with 16.1 a game.

8. All-Defenisve Teams

First Team

• PG Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
• SG Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls
• SF Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs
• PF Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors
• C Hassan Whiteside, Miami Heat

When I said Westbrook, Butler and Leonard do everything for their team I meant it. They are all one of the best on-ball defenders. Draymond Green has also been doing great leading the Warriors intense defense and is one of the better paint defenders. Like I said with Whiteside he is a great rim protector but the sky is the limit for this Defensive Player of the Year candidate.

Second Team

• PG John Wall, Washington Wizards
• PG Ricky Rubio, Minnesota Timberwolves
• PF Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans
• PF Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City Thunder
• C Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons

John Wall and Ricky Rubio are right behind those first team guys and great guard defenders. Both guys are averaging over two steals a game. Anthony Davis, Ibaka and Drummond are great shot blockers that will give Whiteside a run for his money competing for the DPOY award.

9. All-Rookie Teams

First Team 

• PG D’Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers
• PG Emmanuel Mudiay, Denver Nuggets
• PF Kristaps Porzingis, New York Knicks
• C Jahlil Okafor, Philadelphia 76ers
• C Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves

Like I said about the Rookie of the Year race it is going to be a tight one between Towns, Okafor and the Latvian Locomotive. Next to the MVP, this has the potential to be one of the tighter award races for the rest of the season. Russell and Mudiay are the two best rookie guards that will also get a couple of ROY votes.

Second Team

• PG Jerian Grant, New York Knicks
• SG Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
• SF Justise Windslow, Miami Heat
• SF Stanley Johnson, Detroit Pistons
• PF/C Frank Kaminsky III, Charlotte Hornets

In much comparison with the All-NBA Third team, the Rookie second team can be a wide open race. Jerian Grant has been a great role player for the resurgent Knicks. The youngest player in the league Devin Booker has shown glimpses that he can be a great player in Phoenix for many years to come. A lot of people said that Windslow might be the steal of the draft and I agree. I also think that he can be one of the top players in this draft class when he eventually receives more playing time. Stanley Johnson has done great as a role player under Stan Van Gundy; its looking like he’ll be an important piece in the motor city for years to come. Kaminsky has also done well for the Hornets, also averaging 7 points in a reserve role.