Ahh yes, it’s that time of year again. The moment basketball fans have been waiting for since the buzzer sounded last June–tip-off is merely hours away.
With the dawn of a new season, comes the birth of new storylines. Familiar faces in new places, wide-eyed rookies getting their first taste of a lifelong dream being realized, around this time of year, hope springs anew.
To ring in the new season, the Dallas Sports Fanatic Staff makes their picks for this season’s award and title winners.
Eastern Conference Winner
Reese Konkle: Cleveland Cavaliers
Michael Lark: Cleveland Cavaliers
Zack Cunningham: Cleveland Cavaliers
Dylan Duell: Cleveland Cavaliers
Michael Mulford: Cleveland Cavaliers
Ryan Wilson: Cleveland Cavaliers
Consensus: Cleveland Cavaliers (6)
Western Conference Winner
Konkle: Golden State Warriors
Lark: Golden State Warriors
Cunningham: Golden State Warriors
Duell: Golden State Warriors
Mulford: Golden State Warriors
Wilson: Oklahoma City Thunder
Consensus: Golden State Warriors (5)
NBA Champion
Konkle: Golden State Warriors
Lark: Cleveland Cavaliers
Cunningham: Golden State Warriors
Duell: Cleveland Cavaliers
Mulford: Golden State Warriors
Wilson: Cleveland Cavaliers
Consensus: Split Clevland Cavaliers (3), Golden State Warriors (3)
Finals MVP
Konkle: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Lark: Lebron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
Cunningham: Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors
Duell: Lebron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
Mulford: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Wilson: Lebron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
Consensus: Lebron James (3)
League MVP
Konkle: Kyrie Irving, Boston Celtics
Lark: Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs
Cunningham: Lebron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
Duell: James Harden, Houston Rockets
Mulford: Lebron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
Wilson: Lebron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
Consensus: Lebron James (3)
Rookie of the Year
Konkle: Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers
Lark: Dennis Smith Jr., Dallas Mavericks
Cunningham: Dennis Smith Jr., Dallas Mavericks
Duell: Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers
Mulford: Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers
Wilson: Dennis Smith Jr., Dallas Mavericks
Consensus: Split Dennis Smith Jr. (3), Ben Simmons (3)
Most Improved Player
Konkle: Gary Harris, Denver Nuggets
Lark: Brandon Ingram, Los Angeles Lakers
Cunningham: Wesley Mathews, Dallas Mavericks
Duell: Gary Harris, Denver Nuggets
Mulford: D’Angelo Russell, Brooklyn Nets
Wilson: Brandon Ingram, Los Angeles Lakers
Consensus: Brandon Ingram (2)
Defensive Player of The Year
Konkle: Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors
Lark: Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz
Cunningham: Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs
Duell: Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz
Mulford: Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz
Wilson: Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors
Consensus:Rudy Gobert (3)
Coach of the Year
Konkle: Brad Stevens, Boston Celtics
Lark: Brad Stevens, Boston Celtics
Cunningham: Erik Spoelstra, Miami Heat
Duell: Jason Kidd, Milwaukee Bucks
Mulford: Brad Stevens, Boston Celtics
Wilson: Brad Stevens, Boston Celtics
Consensus:Brad Stevens (4)
Executive of the year
Konkle: Danny Ainge, Boston Celtics
Lark: Sam Presti, Oklahoma City Thunder
Cunningham: Daryl Morey, Houston Rockets
Duell: Danny Ainge, Boston Celtics
Mulford: Sam Presti, Oklahoma City Thunder
Wilson: Sam Presti, Oklahoma City Thunder
Consensus:Sam Presti (3)
Sixth Man of the Year
Konkle: Eric Gordon, Houston Rockets
Lark: Eric Gordon, Houston Rockets
Cunningham: Greg Monroe, Milwaukee Bucks
Duell: Lou Williams, Los Angeles Clippers
Mulford: Lou Williams, Los Angeles Clippers
Wilson: J.R. Smith, Cleveland Cavaliers
Consensus: Split Eric Gordon (2), Lou Williams (2)
Best Newcomer
Konkle: Chris Paul, Houston Rockets
Lark: Carmelo Anthony, Oklahoma City Thunder
Cunningham: Kyrie Irving, Boston Celtics
Duell: Kyrie Irving, Boston Celtics
Mulford: Paul George, Oklahoma City Thunder
Wilson: Kyrie Irving, Boston Celtics
Consensus: Kyrie Irving (3)
Most Surprising Team
Konkle: Denver Nuggets
Lark: Philadelphia 76ers
Cunningham: Brooklyn Nets
Duell: Sacramento Kings
Mulford: Charlotte Hornets
Wilson: Denver Nuggets
Consensus: Denver Nuggets (2)
Most Disappointing Team
Konkle: San Antonio Spurs
Lark: Houston Rockets
Cunningham: Minnesota Timberwolves
Duell: Toronto Raptors
Mulford: Toronto Raptors
Wilson: Toronto Raptors
Consensus: Toronto Raptors (3)
Best Under the Radar Acquisition
Konkle: Milos Teodosic, Los Angeles Clippers
Lark: Jae Crowder, Cleveland Cavaliers
Cunningham: Jonathan Simmons, Orlando Magic
Duell: P.J. Tucker, Houston Rockets
Mulford: Patrick Patterson, Oklahoma City Thunder
Wilson: Jae Crowder, Cleveland Cavaliers
Consensus: Jae Crowder (2)
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