NBA Awards Watch: Week 2
By Ben Nadeau
Rookie of the Year
1. Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves (Last Week: 1, –)
If you were one of the many that wondered if there would be an adjustment period for Karl-Anthony Towns, the answer is a vehement no. Thanks to Nikola Pekovic’s ongoing recovery from April’s Achilles surgery, Towns was immediately thrown into the fire against the Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, and Portland Trail Blazers.
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Needless to say, you’d be hard pressed to find three more generously thin teams in the Western Conference for the shinny rookie to start his career against and he didn’t disappoint.
According to Elias Sports, Towns is the only teenager in NBA History to record a double-doubles in the first two games of their career. Yeah, not LeBron James, not Anthony Davis, not even Kobe Bryant. That alone is probably worth the No. 1 spot for a second week, but he also put up an insane 28 points, 14 rebounds, and four blocks against the Nuggets on Friday.
Perhaps most impressively, Towns has the Minnesota Timberwolves at 2-1. At this rate, we’re going to have to start including Towns in our MVP discussions! Long live Towns!
Towns’ Line of the Week: 10/30 vs. DEN — 28 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 blocks, 1 TO, 11-19 FG%
Week Grade: A
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- Way too early predictions for the 2024 Most Improved Player Award
- Way too early All-NBA team predictions for 2023-2024
- Way too early predictions for each NBA Award for the 2023–24 season
2. Kristaps Porzingis, New York Knicks (Last Week: Unranked, Up 3)
Factually, Kristaps Porzingis’ statlines may not have been stuffed like Towns or Jahlil Okafor this week, but the rookie has made immediate waves in Manhattan. Porzingis, who wasn’t supposed to contribute for the Knicks until after the All-Star Break, has helped his team to an impressive 2-2 record, including solid wins over the Milwaukee Bucks and Washington Wizards.
For a team that was supposed to struggle with their brutal first-month schedule, Porzingis has energized the franchise and city undoubtedly. Paired with Carmelo Anthony and anchored by the improved defense of Robin Lopez, the Knicks could be dark-horse contenders in the weaker conference.
Porzingis’ Line of the Week: 10/29 vs. ATL — 10 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals, 1 block, 4 TOs, 4-10 FG%
Week Grade: B
3. Jahlil Okafor, Philadelphia 76ers (Last Week: Unranked, Up 1)
Trusting the process may finally start yielding positive results for the lost Philadelphian franchise as Jahlil Okafor looks like the real deal. Unfortunately, the 76ers are still losing badly, which is the only reason he hasn’t leapfrogged into second place. The talented center has proven his offensive worth quickly and has Nerlens Noel to help support his defensive deficiencies as well.
With an already impressive resume of post moves, Okafor will be a nightmare to guard for most opposing teams. But until the 76ers start winning a little bit more, Okafor won’t be any higher than three.
Okafor’s Line of the Week: 10/28 vs. BOS — 26 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 8 TOs, 10-16 FG%
Week Grade: B
Bounced Out: Emmanuel Mudiay, Denver Nuggets; Bobby Portis, Chicago Bulls
Honorable Mentions: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Brooklyn Nets; Stanley Johnson, Detroit Pistons; Montrezl Harrell, Houston Rockets; Myles Turner, Indiana Pacers; D’Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers; Mario Hezonja, Orlando Magic; Willie Cauley-Stein, Sacramento Kings
Week 1: Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
Week 2: Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
Next: The Brow Slides