Though it many not be much consolation, those who've excelled in categories not recognized by the League ballots - but still made a memorable impression on this season, for better and worse - are getting their dues here, with Banter's UnOfficial Awards for 2013...
Bobby Boucher Trophy: James Harden, Houston Rockets
The player whose acquisition to a new team created the greatest positive impact.Prior to last summer, Houston GM Darryl Morey had spent several well-chronicled seasons stockpiling middling tradeable assets in an attempt to land a premiere player; one capable of building a team around. He loaded his stash steadily, patiently waiting for the right opportunity. After factors of varying legitimacy thwarted his attempts to land Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol, it should have surprised no one that the guy leading the "Nerdy GM" Revolution had triggered a deal with fellow chief-geek Sam Presti to land James Harden before the rest of the NBA had any idea Harden was available.
What also came as little surprise was Harden's immediate explosion in a larger role, but within Houston's high-octane, shoot-first-ask-questions-later offense, his athletic combination of playmaking and versatile scoring was a perfect fit for a dominant ball-handler, and The Beard became even more Fearsome than before. Largely as a result, Houston's in the Playoffs (highly unlikely pre-trade), and Harden has given them what they've worked years for: a legitimate star.
Regards to: JR Smith, OJ Mayo, Nikola Vucevic
Simmons BeautyRest Award: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
The player who had an exceptional season and was generally slept on very hard by the NBA community.
When posterity reflects upon the 2012-13 NBA Season, or the career of one Stephen Curry, there's going to be a glaring historical injustice concerning his absence on this season's West All-Star team. Certainly, this was some kind of miscount, or perhaps a covertly-coordinated attempt by all the opposing coaches he'd shredded to rob a "fringe All-Star"; certainly they hadn't all forgotten.
While praise and an All-Star jersey were heaped upon David Lee, Curry continued performing at an excellent level, exponentially more important to Golden State's offense than Lee, and (rebounding aside) a noticeably better defender. In his first season as the Warriors' backcourt lead, he made short debate of the decision to keep him and trade Monta Ellis. He stayed healthy and elevated his game while Andrew Bogut did neither, taking his team to the Playoffs, where few had slotted them.
That he wasn't an All-Star is a testament to ignorance. That he likely won't be All-NBA is a testament to the quality of guards in today's game. Regardless, his impact this season can't be completely swept under the rug.
Regards to: Kenneth Faried, Mike Conley, JJ Hickson
Canibus Award: Michael Beasley, Phoenix Suns
The player who was primed to blow up this season, had plenty of opportunity, and didn't amount to much.
Watching Mike Beasley play basketball is one of the most genuinely frustrating experiences known to fans of the game. Equipped with a rare blend of pure power and raw athleticism, he also possesses an outstanding offensive skill set and the ability to swing between forward spots, which all put together is a seemingly foolproof recipe for NBA success.
The words "seemingly" and "foolproof" are of particular importance in this case, as Beasley regularly defies convention with his selfish, disconnected play, and general lack of acknowledgement that preventing the other team from scoring helps win games. Even with a change of scenery - going from Minnesota's suddenly expectation-filled snowy abyss to a rebuilding desert oasis where he would have plenty of room to make a name for himself - he continued to tease with the occasional glimpse of dominance, while mainly lapsing listlessly through a forgettable season that's beginning to define a forgettable career.
Watching Mike Beasley play basketball is one of the most genuinely frustrating experiences known to fans of the game. Equipped with a rare blend of pure power and raw athleticism, he also possesses an outstanding offensive skill set and the ability to swing between forward spots, which all put together is a seemingly foolproof recipe for NBA success.
The words "seemingly" and "foolproof" are of particular importance in this case, as Beasley regularly defies convention with his selfish, disconnected play, and general lack of acknowledgement that preventing the other team from scoring helps win games. Even with a change of scenery - going from Minnesota's suddenly expectation-filled snowy abyss to a rebuilding desert oasis where he would have plenty of room to make a name for himself - he continued to tease with the occasional glimpse of dominance, while mainly lapsing listlessly through a forgettable season that's beginning to define a forgettable career.
Regards to: DeMarcus Cousins, Javale McGee, Kyle Lowry
Kevin Willis Memorial Award: Derek Fisher, Oklahoma City Thunder
The player who demonstrates outstanding devotion to the game, defying most laws of common sense and physics with an utter refusal to retire.
I'm not really sure why Derek Fisher's still playing basketball professionally; he's made a ton of money, won more championships than 99.9% of players who will ever suit up in the NBA, and must sincerely value time with his loved ones after his daughter overcame a rare life- threatening illness (Fisher confirmed as much when he made Dallas waive him so he could re-sign with the Thunder and be with his family in OKC).
At this point I've concluded either one of two things: a) Fisher sincerely loves the game, or b) Fisher sincerely feels bad enough about the way the lockout went that he's willing to martyr himself as an easy match-up for the players he helped squander many millions on behalf of.
Either way, he's living embodiment of what this award's all about.
Regards to: Kurt Thomas, Grant Hill, Jason Kidd,
I'm not really sure why Derek Fisher's still playing basketball professionally; he's made a ton of money, won more championships than 99.9% of players who will ever suit up in the NBA, and must sincerely value time with his loved ones after his daughter overcame a rare life- threatening illness (Fisher confirmed as much when he made Dallas waive him so he could re-sign with the Thunder and be with his family in OKC).At this point I've concluded either one of two things: a) Fisher sincerely loves the game, or b) Fisher sincerely feels bad enough about the way the lockout went that he's willing to martyr himself as an easy match-up for the players he helped squander many millions on behalf of.
Either way, he's living embodiment of what this award's all about.
Regards to: Kurt Thomas, Grant Hill, Jason Kidd,
Energizer Bunny Award: Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
The player who just keeps going, and going, and going, and going, and going, and going, and going...
If Westbrook weren't so emotionally volatile, it wouldn't be too crazy at this point to think he was some sort of secretly-developed cyborg.Not only is he unbelievably stubborn, as though he were programmed with just one gear, but that gear is one of hyper-aggression; an overdrive that fuels a perpetual rage of insanely athletic energy that never takes a single play off and seems to escape normal human physical implications.
See, Westbrook not only goes all-out every possession, playing as though his life depended on it, but his body shows absolutely no signs of the strain and injury such extreme intensity usually leaves. Not only did he get through this season without missing a single game, but he's done the same each of his five years in the NBA, and apparently ever since high school. Westy's ability to keep himself on the court and involved in every play is truly without equal.
Regards to: Kobe Bryant, Kenneth Faried, LeBron James
Ham of the Year: Andrea Bargnani, Toronto Raptors
The player who insulted expectations, his paycheck, and the game of basketball the most through continued dubiousness and a general resemblance to a roasted slab of meat.
Quite seldom does a player fall into a serious regression as he's entering the ostensible prime of his career without suffering a debilitating injury, but consider Bargnani the exception. He impeded any progress the Raptors had hoped to make this season by casually drifting through possessions while his albatross contract ate up cap space and potential trades like they were Molly caps at a Young Money release party.
Though Bargs has been dealing with nagging minor ailments, his lack of improvement and constant nonchalant aura since inking his big deal suggest he's more likely getting rich and lazy than the victim of a Greg Oden(/Andrew Bynum?)-style bodily flaw.
A prime amnesty candidate, Bargnani flashed the skill set to be a truly effective stretch 4, and the rare Euro big man to actually pan out, but now being paid like a star, he's fallen flatter than a Shaq free-throw for a team who took him first overall, hired his Italian manager to help acclimate him, gave him $50 million, and is now left shaking their heads.
Regards to: Pau Gasol, Kendrick Perkins, Ben Gordon
Quite seldom does a player fall into a serious regression as he's entering the ostensible prime of his career without suffering a debilitating injury, but consider Bargnani the exception. He impeded any progress the Raptors had hoped to make this season by casually drifting through possessions while his albatross contract ate up cap space and potential trades like they were Molly caps at a Young Money release party.Though Bargs has been dealing with nagging minor ailments, his lack of improvement and constant nonchalant aura since inking his big deal suggest he's more likely getting rich and lazy than the victim of a Greg Oden(/Andrew Bynum?)-style bodily flaw.
A prime amnesty candidate, Bargnani flashed the skill set to be a truly effective stretch 4, and the rare Euro big man to actually pan out, but now being paid like a star, he's fallen flatter than a Shaq free-throw for a team who took him first overall, hired his Italian manager to help acclimate him, gave him $50 million, and is now left shaking their heads.
Regards to: Pau Gasol, Kendrick Perkins, Ben Gordon
JR Rider Award: DeAndre Jordan on Brandon Knight
The season's best dunk.
We've seen it enough times. All you need to do is look at the photo to the right, and you know something devastating just happened.
Christopher Wallace Award: Andrew Bynum, Philadelphia 76ers
We've seen it enough times. All you need to do is look at the photo to the right, and you know something devastating just happened.
Hindenburg Award: LA Lakers
Given to the NBA's biggest disaster.
It seems kind of unfair and redundant, but it can't be understated just how catastrophic this season was for the Lakers. Back in November, they were on the brink of hiring the best coach in the history of the NBA to remedy their maligned cast of Hall-of-Famers, but since courting - then abruptly dumping - him, have seen theatrics, nonchalance, lack of depth and injuries destroy their hopes of contending, punctuated a heinously ironic injury to Kobe Bryant, and mass uncertainty about the team's future. Rest in Peace, Dr Buss. Know how sincerely I say you're in a better place now.
Regards to: Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors, Sacramento Kings
It seems kind of unfair and redundant, but it can't be understated just how catastrophic this season was for the Lakers. Back in November, they were on the brink of hiring the best coach in the history of the NBA to remedy their maligned cast of Hall-of-Famers, but since courting - then abruptly dumping - him, have seen theatrics, nonchalance, lack of depth and injuries destroy their hopes of contending, punctuated a heinously ironic injury to Kobe Bryant, and mass uncertainty about the team's future. Rest in Peace, Dr Buss. Know how sincerely I say you're in a better place now.
Regards to: Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors, Sacramento Kings
Christopher Wallace Award: Andrew Bynum, Philadelphia 76ers
The player whose team was most hurt by his absence this season.
In a season where many-a-star seemed to be weathering some kind of injury, none of their franchise's seasons were as heavily weighted upon Bynum's full convalescence and the 76ers'. The perennially injured star center had a team of shooter and athletic swing players built around him, counting on his knee rehab to work their way.Of course, Bynum seriously aggravated the injury in a much-hyped trip to his local bowling alley, shelving himself for the rest of the season in the process, and leaving Philly's roster up shit's creek, with only Jrue Holiday as a paddle. Without their new franchise player, the 76ers were rudderless and uninspiring, gradually dissolving as the season went along, and driving a steady veteran coach like Doug Collins - one noted for his growth of young talent (including a certain standout swingman during the late 80's) - to melt down and lash out at his team in a post-game presser, and eventually walk out on $4.5 million to lead them again next year.
While the Sixers wait on lottery balls and clean out their lockers earlier than anyone expected when Bynum donned their threads, at least they have the comfort of knowing they didn't give up any quality big men who could've served as insurance if he went down. Oh, wait...
Regards to: The Los Angeles Lakers, Kevin Love, Derrick Rose
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