The NBA returns Tuesday with a double-header slate of games. In the first, former teammates Steph Curry and Kevin Durant will face off after each missing most or all of last year as the Golden State Warriors take on the Brooklyn Nets. Then, at 10:00 p.m. ET on Sportsnet, the battle of L.A. will resume with the defending-champion Los Angeles Lakers squaring off against the Los Angeles Clippers.
And that’s just day one of what will surely be a more bizarre season than most as the NBA attempts to play in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic without the shelter of a bubble. Additionally — and, again, because of the pandemic — this season will consist of only 72 games, and the fun play-in game from the bubble will be expanded into a full-on play-in tournament, meaning things could get really wacky come the post-season.
In other words, 2020–21 is promising to be highly unpredictable.
But despite how up in the air this season seems, Sportsnet polled some of its foremost basketball experts to try to predict some of the major award winners and who will win it all, anyway. See below for the results.
Sixth Man of the Year
Donnovan Bennett, Staff writer and digital host: Dennis Schroder, Los Angeles Lakers
JD Bunkis, Good Show and Free Association host: Norman Powell, Toronto Raptors
Brad Fay, Host of Sportsnet's Raptors television broadcasts: Schroder
Michael Grange, Senior basketball insider: Seth Curry, Philadelphia 76ers
Steven Loung, NBA editor: Powell
Eric Smith, Raptors play-by-play announcer on Sportsnet 590 the FAN: Jordan Clarkson, Utah Jazz
Craig Battle, senior editor: Caris Levert, Brooklyn Nets
Coach of the Year
Bennett: Monty Williams, Phoenix Suns
Bunkis: Tyronn Lue, Los Angeles Clippers
Fay: Brad Stevens, Boston Celtics
Grange: Stan Van Gundy, New Orleans Pelicans
Loung: Rick Carlisle, Dallas Mavericks
Smith: Brad Stevens, Boston Celtics
Battle: Steve Nash, Brooklyn Nets
Most Improved Player
Bennett: Seth Curry, Philadelphia 76ers
Fay: OG Anunoby, Toronto Raptors
Grange: Anunoby
Loung: Michael Porter Jr., Denver Nuggets
Smith: Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans
Battle: R.J. Barrett, New York Knicks
Defensive Player of the Year
Bennett: Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
Bunkis: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Fay: Antetokounmpo
Grange: Jrue Holiday, Milwaukee Bucks
Loung: Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat
Smith: Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers
Battle: Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers
Rookie of the Year
Bennett: Obi Toppin, New York Knicks
Bunkis: Tyrese Haliburton, Sacramento Kings
Fay: LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets
Grange: Malachi Flynn, Toronto Raptors
Loung: Killian Hayes, Detroit Pistons
Smith: James Wiseman, Golden State Warriors
Battle: Isaac Okoro, Cleveland Cavaliers
MVP
Bennett: Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors
Bunkis: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Fay: Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
Grange: Doncic
Loung: Doncic
Smith: Doncic
Battle: Antetokounmpo
Biggest sleeper team
Bennett: Phoenix Suns
Bunkis: Toronto Raptors
Fay: Golden State Warriors
Grange: Portland Trail Blazers
Loung: Trail Blazers
Battle: Warriors
Finals matchup
Bennett: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Bunkis: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Los Angeles Clippers
Fay: Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Grange: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Loung: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Dallas Mavericks
Battle: Brooklyn Nets vs. Los Angeles Lakers
NBA champion
Bennett: Los Angeles Lakers
Bunkis: Los Angeles Clippers
Fay: Los Angeles Lakers
Grange: Los Angeles Lakers
Loung: Dallas Mavericks
Battle: Brooklyn Nets
