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NBA Awards Watch: Three-Man Race for Rookie of the Year?

By Brad Rowland

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Andrew Wiggins (22) dribbles the ball as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) defends during the third quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Andrew Wiggins (22) dribbles the ball as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) defends during the third quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr addresses the media in a press conference before the game against the Washington Wizards at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr addresses the media in a press conference before the game against the Washington Wizards at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Coach of the Year

  1. Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors – Don’t look now, but the Warriors now have a four-game advantage in the race for homecourt throughout the playoffs. Golden State has won six consecutive games, including a rout over Washington on Monday, and Kerr currently presides over the league’s best offense (109.4 points per 100) and the league’s best defense (97.4 points allowed per 100). That is, quite obviously, a picture of dominance, and Kerr’s influence on his team can be felt on both ends. His debut has been impressive, and the Warriors will likely enter the playoffs as the consensus favorite.
  2. Mike Budenholzer, Atlanta Hawks – The Hawks are struggling a bit right now, as the team has encountered its first three-game losing streak of the season. Admittedly, Atlanta has run into some injury and scheduling issues, as the three losses came to the Warriors, Thunder and Spurs in succession, but the Hawks could also be coasting toward the playoffs with the East’s top seed all but locked up at this juncture. Budenholzer has turned a band of solid players into a legitimate title contender, and it is a system-based club with his fingerprints on everything.
  3. Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs – Shouldn’t he always be a candidate here? Popovich is (still) considered to be the best coach in the league and the Spurs are suddenly red-hot as winners of three straight and eight of their last ten contests. It will be interesting to see how hard Popovich drives his team versus providing rest over the season’s final weeks, but the Spurs are the team that no one wants to see in the Western Conference Playoffs and he is the wizard.

Next: Most Improved Player

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