NBA awards 2020: Are any Celtics in the running? What latest odds say

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NBA awards 2020: Are any Celtics in the running? What latest odds say



Darren Hartwell
NBC Sports Boston

July 21, 2020, 9:10 AM



The 2020 NBA championship is up for grabs in Orlando, but several other races already have been decided.

The NBA announced last Friday that the league's eight "seeding games" won't factor into any postseason awards, meaning the races for the NBA MVP and other 2019-20 season honors already have been decided.

So, did any Boston Celtics players or coaches do enough from October to mid-March to warrant consideration for a major NBA award? The short answer is yes, but don't expect any C's players to take home any hardware.

Here are DraftKings Sportsbook's updated odds for the major 2020 NBA individual awards:


NBA MVP
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks: -5000
LeBron James, Lakers: +1000
Anthony Davis, Lakers: +10000
Luka Doncic, Mavericks: +10000
James Harden, Rockets: +10000

No surprises here. Antetokounmpo should run away with his second consecutive NBA MVP award.


Rookie of the Year
Ja Morant, Grizzlies: -10000
Zion Williamson, Pelicans: +1400

Another no-brainer. Williamson might have had a shot if played more than 19 games in the shortened season, but Morant is more than deserving after averaging 17.6 points and 6.9 assists per game.


Defensive Player of the Year
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks: -500
Anthony Davis, Lakers: +350
Rudy Gobert, Jazz: +2500
Patrick Beverley, Clippers: +10000
Joel Embiid, 76ers: +10000
Kawhi Leonard, Clippers: +10000
Marcus Smart, Celtics: +10000
Jrue Holiday, Pelicans: +10000
Ben Simmons, 76ers: +10000
Brook Lopez, Bucks: +10000

The Celtics can campaign for Smart all they want, but he's not winning this award. More fascinating is if Antetokounmpo can become the third player in NBA history after Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon to win MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season.


Sixth Man of the Year
Dennis Schroder, Thunder: -355
Montrezl Harrell, Clippers: +250
Lou Williams, Clippers: +800
Derrick Rose, Pistons: +5000

Williams' own teammate may be his downfall in his quest for a third consecutive Sixth Man award. Schroder averaged 19 points and 4.1 assists per game as Chris Paul's backup and is the current front-runner.


Most Improved Player
Bam Adebayo, Heat: -148
Brandon Ingram, Pelicans: +260
Luka Doncic, Mavericks: +550
Jayson Tatum, Celtics: +1000

Tatum represents Boston's best chance to win an individual award, as the 22-year-old has blossomed into a superstar in his third NBA season. Tatum's own talent may work against him, though: He already was a rising star entering this season, while Adebayo nearly doubled his point total from last season to transform from role player to all-around force for Miami.


Coach of the Year
Nick Nurse, Raptors: -1000
Mike Budenholzer, Bucks: +2000
Frank Vogel, Lakers: +2000

You could argue Celtics coach Brad Stevens deserves consideration for getting Kemba Walker, Enes Kanter and a new-look C's squad on the same page after last season's failed chemistry experiment. But Nurse should win this award, considering his Raptors had a better record than Boston despite losing superstar Kawhi Leonard.



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