NBA Awards Predictions: Predicting 2018-19 NBA Awards

Most Valuable Player of the Year

Prediction: Giannis Antetokounmpo - Forward, Milwaukee Bucks

Will this be the year of the Greek Freak?

2017-18 stats: 26.9 PPG, 10 RPG, 1.4 BPG, 4.8 APG

Why he will win

Giannis has improved on his game every year since coming into the NBA. He was once considered a raw prospect, and now he is one of the best in the game. His monstrous blast of speed and length that allows him to blow past defenders leaves everyone in awe of his freak like nature. Hence the name, the Greek Freak. Giannis came off a season where he put up amazing numbers and if he could continue to improve like he did in years past, he will have the MVP numbers everyone expects him to average in his career.

Why he won't win

MVP award winners typically require their team to be one of the best in the conference if not the league. The Bucks haven't experienced the same team success that Giannis has had individually. The team was a low seed last year and got beat in the first round by a team missing their two best players. Newly hired coach, Mike Budenholzer, is looking to push the Bucks deep into the playoffs. The talent is in Milwaukee but it hasn't translated into wins yet.

Other candidates

LeBron James - Any position, Los Angeles Lakers

Can he bring success to the Lakers?

Why he will win

LeBron James is still the best player in the league. After he carried the Cavaliers on his back during the playoffs and led them to the finals, he showed why he is deserving of that title and why he is so much better than anyone else in the NBA today. He took his game up a notch, and imagine if he can sustain some of that during the season. It will be scary. He is joining the biggest market in the league with a new roster full of youth and memes, so it will give him the perfect opportunity to dominate in ways that weren't possible with the quality of his team in Cleveland.

Why he won't win

Voter fatigue has been the cause of LeBron not winning the award for many years. Voter fatigue is the idea that the NBA award voters try not to select LeBron so that way there is more diversity in the winners and allows other players to also have the spotlight rather than have LeBron win it every year. Another factor that may hold LeBron back is the tough Western Conference. The Lakers are expected to make the playoffs, it's just a matter of how high they can get in the standings. It is possible they won't finish in a high enough position for LeBron to claim the award.