標籤: awards

Kawhi Leonard has been the best version of himself this season, scoring career-highs while being his usual, efficient self all over the court. But the LA Clippers star may miss out on NBA awards this season.

Named an NBA All-Star for the seventh time in his NBA career, Leonard has averaged 28.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.0 steals per game in 53 games this season. He missed only 14 games this season, 10 of which came in November due to a sprained right ankle.

Leonard has unfortunately been ruled out of Monday night’s game against the San Antonio Spurs, which will be his 15th game this season. This means Leonard can only miss two more games before becoming ineligible for season-ending NBA awards.

As things stand, Kawhi Leonard is set to make an All-NBA team as well as an All-Defensive team, but missing two more games would put him on the list of stars who are already ineligible to join those teams.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, LeBron James and Stephen Curry are all among the players who are not eligible to win awards at season’s end, and several others are not far behind them.

Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic cannot miss any more games or he will be ineligible to win. Both Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic can miss only five more games before they are no longer eligible. San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama has played in 52 of the Spurs’ 67 games so far, leaving them with only two games of qualification left.

Last week, Kawhi Leonard reported what would allow him to have a career-year in his 14th season.

“The guy up there and I are just able to play the game,” the Clippers star explained to ClutchPoints. “The offseason was good for me, I was able to just work. Just praising him, work ethic and believing. Just trying to get better at the game. Not worrying about the outcome. Whether it’s working on my shot, handle or passing, just being aggressive and making mistakes.”

The Clippers only have 15 games remaining this season, including two back-to-back sets. Leonard has played nine back-to-back sets already this season, displaying a level of confidence in his health that the Clippers medical staff may not have seen in years past.

Monday night’s game between the LA Clippers and San Antonio Spurs is scheduled to begin at 7 PM PST on NBC.

Nine years into his NBA career, Bam Adebayo’s defensive impact remains undeniable. The Miami Heat star’s defensive abilities were on full display during Tuesday’s blowout win over the Brooklyn Nets.

Adebayo equaled his career high with six steals and added a block as Miami held Brooklyn to 98 points on 33-of-86 (38.4 percent) shooting. After the performance, the 28-year-old was asked if being left off last year’s All-Defense team served as motivation this season.

“I think people get tired of seeing continuity. It gets boring when you see someone do it over and over again,” Adebayo replied. “But at the same time, as I’ve grown up in this league, the norms have changed. You have guys who are making it who aren’t making the playoffs; they’re at the bottom of the league in record. You’re seeing some crazy things now. I don’t know if it’s just voter fatigue, but I’m always going to be first-team All-Defense. That’ll never change. It doesn’t matter what the voters say. My teammates know that. I can have moments like that. Where I can steal six times, where I have the most plus-minus, that side will never change.

Adebayo was selected Second Team All-Defense for three consecutive years from 2020 to 2023 before receiving his first first-team selection in 2024. After being left out of last year’s team, he anchored a Miami defense that ranks fourth in the NBA this season.

Bam Adebayo sets the record straight on his place in the NBA’s defensive hierarchy

The Heat have posted a 110.65 defensive rating during Adebayo’s minutes. According to CleaningTheGlass, he allows 4.8 fewer points per 100 possessions on the court versus off, the sixth-largest defensive rating swing among Big 20 players who have played more than 1,500 minutes.

“He creates an atmosphere,” Erik Spoelstra said of Adebayo’s impact. “In that first quarter [against the Nets]I think he had four steals, and then he had a couple blocks. In the first half, our defense really came out strong. And those are two really good defensive plays, back to back. Our defense has been good all year, but we really need to step up to a higher level to finish out this regular season.

The Heat are struggling to avoid falling in the Eastern Conference Play-in Tournament for the fourth consecutive season. Miami, the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic are separated by half a game for the East’s sixth to eighth seeds.