NBA Awards Watch: Week 4
By Ben Nadeau
Rookie of the Year
1. Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves (Last Week: 1, –)
Why ruin something great? Somehow, Karl-Anthony Towns, now 11 games into his young career is averaging 15.4 points, 10.5 rebounds, one assist, and two blocks per game on 49 percent shooting. Those 10.5 rebounds are good for sixth in the NBA, ahead of Jonas Valanciunas, Chris Bosh, and Anthony Davis.
Additionally, his 2.0 blocks slot him in at ninth, ahead of Nikola Vucevic, Al Horford, and Derrick Favors.
And, oh yeah, Towns turned 20 years old on Sunday. So, uh, we’ll be seeing him for a very long time. Dog lovers beware, this KAT ain’t goin’ nowhere.
Towns’ Line of the Week: 11/17 vs. MIA — 14 points, 14 rebounds, 0 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 4 TOs, 6-12 FG%
Week Grade: B+
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2. Kristaps Porzingis, New York Knicks (Last Week: 2, Up –)
Admittedly, Kristaps Porzingis doesn’t always shoot that well, but can’t you argue with the results. For a team that’s had to run through the Milwaukee Bucks, Atlanta Hawks, Washington Wizards, Toronto Raptors, and Cleveland Cavaliers twice, the Knicks are 6-6. And, believe it or not, most of this relatively early success can be traced back to “Zinger” himself.
Although he may not love his nicknames, it looks like Porzingis will be a staple in New York culture for years to come. Well, at least until he leaves in a couple summers to play for the Los Angeles Lakers and everybody in New York claims he wasn’t that good anyways. For now, however, Porzingis is providing some seriously needed bliss in a massively important basketball town.
Despite his shooting woes, Porzingis is averaging 12.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, and just more than a block per game — and for a player that wasn’t supposed to contribute until March, this forward is lightyears ahead of schedule.
Porzingis’ Line of the Week: 11/11 vs. CHO — 10 points, 15 rebounds, 0 assists, 0 steals, 2 blocks, 3 TOs, 5-10 FG%
Week Grade: B
3. Jahlil Okafor, Philadelphia 76ers (Last Week: 3, –)
This might’ve been the first week of the season in which I was willing to bump Jahlil Okafor up a spot because damn if this guy hasn’t been impressive as well. Okafor is averaging 19.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks, he’s just unfortunately stuck on a team that’s determined to prove to the world that they’ll suck at basketball as long as they want to, thank you very much.
The power forward’s offensive stats are borderline demanding-consideration-for-Eastern-Conference-All-Star-Team level; however, the Sixers are 0-11 and while that’s no major fault of Okafor’s, he is negatively docked nonetheless. You can take the mushrooms out of a Philly Steak & Cheese but it’s still a gross meat sandwich from the sidewalk.
Someday, you’ll win something Jahlil, but this week is not that week.
Okafor’s Line of the Week: 11/16 vs. SAS — 21 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 0 steals, 2 blocks, 2 TOs, 9-17 FG%
Week Grade: B+
Honorable Mentions: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Brooklyn Nets; Stanley Johnson, Detroit Pistons; Montrezl Harrell, Houston Rockets; D’Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers; Justise Winslow, Miami Heat; T.J. McConnell, Philadelphia 76ers; Willie Cauley-Stein, Sacramento Kings
Week 1: Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
Week 2: Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
Week 3: Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
Week 4: Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
Next: Destroyer of Worlds