Jazz Notes: Utah’s Midseason NBA Awards Update
Jan 23, 2025, 5:22 PM
Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller (24) and Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (24) battle for the ball as the Jazz and Charlotte play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. Hornets won 117-112.
(24)
SALT LAKE CITY – With half of the NBA season in the rearview mirror, it’s about time we revisit our preseason Utah Jazz award projections and update our picks.
Injuries, unlikely heroes, and inconsistent play make award predictions nearly impossible. With that said, these updated award picks are based on the 42 games we have already seen.
Jazz Notes Preseason Award Predictions
Most Valuable Player:
Consensus pick – Lauri Markkanen
Defensive Player of the Year:
Ben’s pick – Cody Williams
Chandler’s pick – Taylor Hendricks
Rookie of the Year:
Consensus pick – Cody Williams
Sixth Man of the Year:
Ben’s pick – John Collins
Chandler’s pick – Jordan Clarkson
Most Improved Player:
Ben’s pick – Johnny Juzang
Chandler’s pick – Walker Kessler
the fellas are absolutely, positively, undoubtedly 𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊 🤩#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/SNLWOvUjjM
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 22, 2025
Midseason Utah Jazz Award Picks
Most Valuable Player:
Ben’s pick – Lauri Markkanen
Chandler’s pick – Walker Kessler
Although it is no secret that Markkanen is Utah’s best player, being an MVP requires different criteria like availability and impact on winning.
Clearly, no one Jazz player has had a tremendous impact on winning this season. However, as the best defensive player and a more inconsistent offensive option than in years prior, Kessler has a real argument for being the most valuable.
With his fair share of missed time and coming in as the defense’s focal point on a night-to-night basis, Markkanen still leads the team in points per game and is second in total points.
Between Markkanen and Kessler, or even John Collins and Collin Sexton, you can’t really go wrong with your pick here.
𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐊𝐒𝐌𝐀𝐍 🎯#TakeNote | @MarkkanenLauri pic.twitter.com/qVQJ2CsZAS
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 23, 2025
Defensive Player of the Year:
Consensus pick – Walker Kessler
Utah’s leader in blocks and defensive rebounds. Even the eye test will tell you all you need to know.
Kessler has really come into his own this year on both ends of the ball. Some players like Steph Curry have offensive gravity, Kessler’s defensive gravity is more evident than it ever has been. Most players don’t want to go into the paint when they see the Sheriff down there.
You feel Walker Kessler’s size on the floor so much more now than you used to.
Length was always there, but he needed to add strength and now opposing teams just keep running into a brick wall against him.
With his athleticism, he’s extremely effective.
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) December 9, 2024
Rookie of the Year:
Consensus pick – Isaiah Collier
Making this pick in the first ten games of the season would have been a drag, From games 11 to 25, it would have been Kyle Filipowski. From games 26 to 41, it was Isaiah Collier.
The point is, that rookies are going to have highs and lows. Odds are by the end of the season, there won’t be a clear-cut choice for this award. All Jazz fans can hope for is progression.
Sixth Man of the Year:
Consensus pick – Brice Sensabaugh
Looking at games played and games started, there were really only two picks for this award. Brice Sensabaugh and Jordan Clarkson.
With Clarkson having played in 22 games to Sensabaugh’s 32, this award was more or less his to lose. Not to downplay the sophomore’s 10 points per game on solid efficiency though. He has played very well in year two.
🧊 𝗕𝗜𝗚 𝗕𝗨𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗧, 𝗕𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗘 🧊#TakeNote | @bricepsensa pic.twitter.com/HmSJcXOO5t
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 21, 2025
Most Improved Player:
Ben’s pick – John Collins
Chandler’s pick – Walker Kessler
Kessler without a doubt went through the notorious sophomore slump last season. Collins’s impact on winning was very much a question in his first year as a Jazzman.
Both players bounced back from their slightly concerning 23-24 campaigns and are having great years. Once again, can’t go wrong with either pick here.
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