NBA Awards Watch Quarter One: Where we stand after Thanksgiving

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 14: Draymond Green #23 and Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors look on against the Charlotte Hornets during their game at Spectrum Center on November 14, 2021 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) /

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NBA Awards Watch: Coach of the Year, Quarter One – Wes Unseld Jr.

Honorable Mentions: Billy Donovan, Monty Williams

Possibly the most difficult award to decide thus far, the coaching jobs being done so far this season have yielded some rather impressive results. First-year man Wes Unseld Jr. gets the nod for the first quarter of the season, getting the Washington Wizards off to one of the best starts in the history of the franchise.

After the first 20 games of the season, the Wizards find themselves only a game out of the top overall seed with the 11th ranked defense. The overall cohesion for an almost entirely new roster is a testament to what Unseld is doing already.

Keeping with that theme, the job Billy Donovan has done to integrate a roster overflowing with change has been stellar. The Bulls are 13th in offensive rating and a bewildering fifth in defensive rating. Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso, and DeMar DeRozan have been integrated seamlessly and Donovan deserves all the credit in the world.

The final spot came down to Monty Williams and Steve Kerr. With the Golden State Warriors getting some love later in the article, the spot went to Williams. It is hard to argue with a coach who is currently in the midst of a 16-game winning streak. With the impending showdown against the Warriors coming Tuesday night, the Suns have a chance to take the top seed in the league.