It’s time for another edition of our weekly NBA awards series, where we dish out a major accolade to every deserving player for their prior week of service in the Association.
MVP of the Week: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Weekly stats: 33.3 ppg, 16.0 rpg, 5.0 apg, 2.7 bpg, 58.2 FG%
It was a monstrous, statement-making week for Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks, who reeled off three wins in a row, including a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers last Wednesday.
It was in that contest that Antetokounmnpo particularly shined, as the Greek Freak exploded for 47 points on 18-for-23 shooting to go with nine rebounds, three assists and two combined steals and blocks.
It’ll be interesting to see if this is a sign of things to come for Antetokounmpo and the Bucks, as the club currently sits with a disappointing 9-8 record and a mediocre -0.3 net rating. Either way, it’s impossible to blame Antetokounmpo for Milwaukee’s slow start, as he’s been as outrageously impactful as ever in 2021-22.
For the latest Giannis Antetokounmpo rumors, click here.
Rookie of the Week: Cade Cunningham
Weekly stats: 18.3 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 7.5 apg, 2.7 spg, 39.4 FG%
After a slow start to his inaugural campaign, Cade Cunningham has really turned things around recently, playing some of the best basketball of his young career over the previous week.
Cunningham flashed his do-everything ability for the Detroit Pistons over the past week, scoring at a respectable level but also rebounding and playmaking very well for his position while playing a highly stingy level of defense.
Cunningham will still need to get more efficient as a scorer, as he shot under 40 percent from the floor last week and under 28 percent from three, but the signs are all there that he was right pick for Detroit at No. 1.
For the latest Cade Cunningham rumors, click here.
Sixth Man of the Week: Larry Nance Jr.
Weekly stats: 12.7 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.7 spg, 76.2 FG%
When the Portland Trail Blazers acquired Larry Nance Jr. this past offseason, it was with the idea that he could provide the team with the exact production he gave them last week, scoring efficiently, doing some rebounding and playmaking, and causing havoc defensively with his plus-instincts jumping passing lanes.
It should come as no surprise that with Nance Jr. providing that much of a positive impact last week, the Blazers finished with a 3-0 record, including an impressive five-point win against the red-hot Chicago Bulls.
Nance Jr. will never be a nightly 20-point-per-game-scorer, but his understated impact can have a huge effect on winning, as the Blazers saw last week. If he can maintain that level, Portland will get a whole lot tougher to deal with for opponents.
For the latest Larry Nance Jr. rumors, click here.
Defensive Player of the Week: Jrue Holiday
Weekly stats: 9.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 5.7 apg, 2.7 spg, 30.6 FG%
It was a brutal week for Jrue Holiday as a scorer, but for how poorly he shot the basketball, he had the exact opposite impact as a defender.
Holiday racked up eight steals over his last three games and helped lead the Bucks to a week where they gave up just 98.4 points per 100 possessions, the second-stingiest mark in the NBA over that span.
It can’t be stated enough: Holiday is an outrageously effective defender, particularly for a player of his size, and as he continues to round into form, the Bucks will only get more dangerous on their quest to repeat as NBA champions.
For the latest Jrue Holiday rumors, click here.
Most Improved Player: Grant Williams
Weekly stats: 12.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.0 apg, 0.5 spg, 47.8 3PT%
It’ll come as no surprise to Boston Celtics fans, but Grant Williams is playing the best basketball of his career right now.
The third-year swingman is absolutely on fire shooting the basketball, as over his last five games, Williams is shooting 53.8 percent from beyond the arc.
That ability to knock down open threes is a game-changer for Williams, as he can no longer be ignored by opposing defenses, allowing the Celtics to play him big minutes, where he can make his usual awesome impact as a defender.
It’s doubtful Williams will remain this accurate as a three-point shooter, but even he dips down to league-average levels, that’ll still be huge for a Boston team that needs his two-way impact on a nightly basis.
For the latest Grant Williams rumors, click here.
Coach of the Week: Quin Snyder
The Utah Jazz just enjoyed a 3-0 week, so we went with Quin Snyder as our Coach of the Week.
Although they’ll continue getting little credit and recognition until they prove it in the playoffs, it’s still hard to fathom how under the radar Utah has flown this campaign, as the Jazz rank second league-wide in net rating (+9.8), proving that the Jazz are here to stay as an elite ball club.
And a lot of that is thanks to the systems Snyder has employed on both ends of the floor, and the leadership he displays on a nightly basis for the Jazz.
