Who will take home award honors this NBA season? TheCrossover staff make their predictions as the 2022-23 season begins
. He should become even more important as the Warriors’ original core ages, so I believe his production will only increase this season.Jordan Poole. This feels like an easy one. With Klay Thompson healthy, Poole figures to slide into a full-time reserve role, bringing the 18.5 points per game to the bench. Poole looked sharp in the preseason and with the Draymond Green incident behind him—and a $140 million contract extension in his pocket—Poole looks in line for another strong season.
But for now, we’re stuck with “most improved,” which might be the silliest of all the awards to predict in October, since it’s literally predicated on what a playerdone until now. At least when we’re guessing MVP or DPOY, there’s a track record to go on. Ah, well. If we’re guessing blindly, let's guess Cam Johnson, whose development has been so impressive that the Suns elevated him to starter at the expense of alienating Jae Crowder.
“can no longer be denied as the foremost two-way wrecking ball” in the NBA. He enters his 10th season being not only the league’s most dominant offensive force but perhaps its most impactful defensive one as well. He’s made four consecutive All-Defensive first teams and taken home this honor once before. How about he does it again to cap off a prolific decade in the NBA?Rudy Gobert. New team, same Rudy Gobert. A change in scenery should only add to Gobert’s motivation and defensive prowess.