With the Oklahoma City Thunder’s historic 68-win regular season officially over, it is time to give the players their flowers.
This article will consist of the typical awards like MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Most Improved Player. However, there will also be different awards, such as “Best New Player” and “Most Surprising Player.”
Most Valuable Player: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
After a perfect regular season, nobody else comes to consideration.
SGA has the most points per game in NBA history for a team with 65+ wins (32.7). Because of SGA’s superior play this season, OKC is 13-0 in games that Jalen Williams has missed, and has a record of 42-8 with Chet Holmgren out.
Nobody has contributed to winning like SGA this season. SGA had a plus/minus of +918 this season, the fifth most in NBA history, just behind the Golden State Warriors dynasty. SGA is also the leader in win shares this season (16.7). The ceiling SGA has brought to OKC this regular season is a generational occurrence.
Defensive Player of the Year: Jalen Williams
One of the best defenders in the league, OKC’s defensive anchor Chet Holmgren, missed 50 games this season, which meant someone had to step up.
That person was J-Dub. J-Dub’s defensive versatility helped make OKC one of the best defenses ever. OKC had the lowest defensive rating in the NBA this season (107.5), and J-Dub had the lowest defensive rating this season (107.3).
J-Dub brought phenomenal rim presence and his usual perimeter destruction in Chet’s absence. J-Dub forced players to shoot 10.9% worse at the rim when he was there, the 96th percentile of the NBA. If it weren’t for J-Dub’s rise to defensive stardom this season, OKC wouldn’t even be close to the success they are having. And because of this, he will likely find his way to an All-NBA Defense spot.
Sixth Man of the Year: Isaiah Joe
Isaiah Joe has stepped up big off the bench by leading OKC in bench points (544) and the whole team in three-pointers made (192).
Joe has proven to be OKC’s best shooter and one of the best shooters in the NBA this season. Of the extremely high-volume three-point shooters this season (400+ attempts), Joe is third in three-point percentage (41.2%).
In his last 40 games this season, Joe shot 45.6% from three and 51% on catch-and-shoot threes (via databallr.com). If it weren’t for Joe’s consistent shooting off the bench this season, OKC would have worrisome bench spacing, leaving them with many problems in the playoffs.
Most Improved Player: Jalen Williams
In his first All-Star season, J-Dub has been nothing short of incredible.
Last season, the blueprint was clear on how he would be great one day; he was not expected to take all those strides in one season. As stated before, J-Dub leaped to defensive stardom, solidifying himself as one of the best defenders in the league. On top of that, he has become a reliable offensive engine.
J-Dub is in the top 15 in scoring for pick-and-roll ball handlers (15th), fourth-quarter points (11th), and field goals made from 10-14 feet per game (9th). In last season’s playoffs, J-Dub was an unreliable second option, a key reason for OKC’s second-round departure. This season, J-Dub has fixed those issues and has put OKC in the driver’s seat of the Western Conference.
Best New Player: Isaiah Hartenstein
Joining his eighth NBA team, Hartenstein has finally found his home.
Signing a three-year, $87 million deal this offseason, OKC had high hopes for Hartenstein. Hartenstein has been well worth the money this year, averaging 11.2 points and 10.7 rebounds per game, and is sixth in assists per game among centers/forwards (3.8).
With Hartenstein’s addition, OKC gets the chance to run one of the biggest lineups in the league, having Chet and Hartenstein on the floor together. Hartenstein’s playmaking, paint touch, and rim protection have added an element to OKC that makes them nearly unstoppable on both ends of the floor.
Most Surprising Player: Aaron Wiggins
The unsung hero of OKC’s success, Aaron Wiggins, has filled in any role that OKC needs.
Outside of SGA and J-Dub, a reliable primary ball handler could never run the offense until Wiggins stepped up. Wiggins has become a reliable scorer who must bring a heavy bench presence in the playoffs. Wiggins flashed this last season, but was never expected to play like it for a whole season.
In 26 games as a starter this season, Wiggins averaged 15.2 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, shooting 49% from the field and 39% from three. Wiggins will play a pivotal playoff role by scoring off the bench and being a primary ball-handler when needed.
Leave a comment