NBA Awards Show 2017: Full List of Awards and TV Schedule
The first-ever NBA Awards show is set to take place Monday in the Big Apple, and all of the league's biggest regular-season honors will be handed out.
Chief among them is the Most Valuable Player award, which boasts the closest race in recent memory, as there is little separating Houston Rockets guard James Harden, San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook.
Here is all the information you need to know in order to watch the 2017 NBA Awards show, along with nominees and predictions for who will take home every major award.
Where: Basketball City at Pier 36 in New York City
When: Monday, June 26 at 9 p.m. ET
Watch: TNT
Awards
Most Valuable Player
Nominees: James Harden (HOU), Kawhi Leonard (SA), Russell Westbrook (OKC)
All three nominees were the lifeblood of their respective teams, but only Westbrook enjoyed a truly historic season.
With 42 triple-doubles, he broke Oscar Robertson's single-season record and put the Thunder on his back more often than not.
Westbrook had far less support than Harden and Leonard over the course of the campaign, and it may not be a stretch to suggest OKC may have been one of the NBA's worst teams without him.
The 28-year-old averaged 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists per game while shooting 42.5 percent from the field and 34.3 percent from long range as a high-volume shooter.
While it would be tough to argue against any of the three candidates coming away with the award, Westbrook was truly more valuable to his team than the others in 2016-17.
Prediction: Westbrook
Rookie of the Year
Nominees: Malcolm Brogdon (MIL), Joel Embiid (PHI), Dario Saric (PHI)
If Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid had managed to play at least 50 games in 2016-17, he would be the runaway choice for Rookie of the Year, but he instead played in just 31.
Because of that, it may come down to a two-horse race between Sixers teammate Dario Saric and Milwaukee Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon.
While Brogdon was a cog in a playoff team, Saric really came into his own down the stretch and was a go-to guy for the Sixers with Embiid and Ben Simmons out for the season.
The Croatian averaged 12.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game, showing that he will be a key part of the core that also includes Embiid, Simmons and 2017 No. 1 overall draft pick Markelle Fultz.
Prediction: Saric
Sixth Man
Nominees: Eric Gordon (HOU), Andre Iguodala (GS), Lou Williams (HOU)
Golden State Warriors small forward Andre Iguodala may have been a runaway choice for the Sixth Man award if it counted postseason contributions, but that isn't the case.
Since it's a regular-season award, Houston Rockets sharpshooters Eric Gordon and Lou Williams can't be ignored.
Gordon was with the team for the entire season, while Williams came over in a trade from the Los Angeles Lakers and saw his numbers drop a bit.
Despite being used to playing a starting role, Gordon transitioned seamlessly, putting up 16.2 points per game and knocking down more than three trifectas per contest.
Prediction: Gordon
Coach of the Year
Nominees: Mike D'Antoni (HOU), Gregg Popovich (SA), Erik Spoelstra (MIA)
The NBA Coach of the Year award takes into account both excellence and exceeding expectations, and Houston Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni scored points in both areas.
Houston hovered around .500 in 2015-16 and barely reached the playoffs, but it improved to 55-27 under D'Antoni, which was good for third place in the Western Conference.
San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich's excellence is often taken for granted, but he deserves a long look after leading his team to a 61-21 mark.
Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra is an interesting case due to the fact that his team missed the playoffs at 41-41, but they finished 30-11 and were among the NBA's hottest teams down the stretch.
Prediction: D'Antoni
Most Improved Player
Nominees: Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL), Rudy Gobert (UTAH), Nikola Jokic (DEN)
All three Most Improved Player award nominees made huge jumps in 2016-17, but only one of them reached an All-Star level.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo was a promising young player in 2015-16, but his stats ballooned last season to the tune of 22.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.9 blocks and 1.6 steals per game.
The Greek Freak is a true stat-sheet stuffer, and every indication is that he will be an All-Star for many years to come.
Both Jokic and Gobert are on the precipice of reaching those heights and are already nightly double-double threats, but it will be tough for voters to ignore the magnificence of Antetokounmpo.
Prediction: Antetokounmpo
Defensive Player of the Year
Nominees: Rudy Gobert (UTAH), Draymond Green (GS), Kawhi Leonard (SA)
Comparing the defensive contributions of players with different responsibilities is difficult, which is why the Defensive Player of the Year voting promises to be so close.
From a purely statistical standpoint, Gobert may have a leg up on the competition. The 7'1" rim protector turned in a dominant season, as he ranked fourth in the NBA in rebounds per game (12.8) and first in blocks per game (2.0) among players who appeared in at least three games.
He was also a key reason for Utah's ascent and the fact that it finished with an impressive 51 wins.
Both Leonard and Green are wing players who are invaluable due to their toughness, grit, athleticism and ability to guard multiple positions.
Gobert is a game-changer in the paint, though, and that should garner him plenty of support.
Prediction: Gobert
In addition to the aforementioned awards, honors will be given out for NBA Basketball Executive of the Year, Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year, the NBA Sportsmanship award and the NBA Cares Community Assist award.
To cap off what figures to be an entertaining night hosted by Drake, the NBA will also name its All-Defensive Team and All-Rookie Team.
