The Western Conference’s top team didn’t have a top-three player, rookie, defender, coach or reserve this season, according to the panel that determines finalists for the NBA Awards.
The Warriors were shut out of the finalists groupings, which were determined by media across the league, the NBA announced Friday.
The three candidates for most valuable player are Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, Thunder forward Paul George and last year’s winner, Rockets guard James Harden.
Steph Curry and Kevin Durant have both won MVP awards in the past, and many around the league would concede that Durant is the league’s best player, but the panel determined that the three finalists all had better 2018-19 seasons than any Warrior.
Golden State’s real surprise snub is in the defensive player of the year category, which does not feature Draymond Green. While the Warriors lobbied for Klay Thompson to make the NBA’s all-defensive team, most would agree Green is the lynchpin to Golden State’s defense, as evidenced by his 2016-17 DPOY award.
Instead, the league identified Antetokounmpo, George and Jazz center Rudy Gobert as its top defenders, all three of whom ranked in the top five by defensive win shares this season. By that metric, Green ranks 36th, behind teammate Curry (23rd), who wouldn’t make many observers’ all-defensive teams, even if he’s made strides on that end.
The three finalists for #KiaDPOY… @Giannis_An34, @Yg_Trece, and @rudygobert27!
The 2019 #NBAAwards air 6/24, 9:00pm/et on TNT! pic.twitter.com/L9z1Jpbafu
— NBA (@NBA) May 18, 2019
Green’s supporters would argue what is often said about him: He helps the Warriors in ways that don’t show up on the stat sheet, even in advanced metrics.
But Green’s omission may also be affected by the fatigue some around the league feel at the team’s five-year run of near-total dominance.
The winners of the NBA Awards will be announced June 24. Here are the finalists:
MVP
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Paul George, Oklahoma City Thunder
James Harden, Houston Rockets
Rookie of the year
Deandre Ayton, Phoenix Suns
Luka Dončić, Dallas Mavericks
Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks
Sixth man
Montrezl Harrell, LA Clippers
Domantas Sabonis, Indiana Pacers
Lou Williams, LA Clippers
Defensive player of the year
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Paul George, Oklahoma City Thunder
Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz
Most improved player
De’Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings
D’Angelo Russell, Brooklyn Nets
Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors
Coach of the year
Mike Budenholzer, Milwaukee Bucks
Michael Malone, Denver Nuggets
Doc Rivers, LA Clippers
