Looking back at the 2021 NBA season, I still get chills thinking about how incredibly competitive it was across the board. The award races particularly stood out to me - they weren't just ceremonial recognitions but genuine reflections of the intense battles happening on courts night after night. I remember watching games thinking, "This could decide the MVP race," or "That defensive stop might secure someone's All-Defensive Team spot." The energy was palpable even through screens during those pandemic-affected games.
When Nikola Jokić was announced as the MVP, I have to admit I felt a mix of surprise and validation. Having watched him carry the Denver Nuggets through Jamal Murray's ACL injury, putting up staggering numbers of 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game while maintaining remarkable efficiency, there was something special about seeing a center win through pure skill rather than athletic dominance. His game reminded me of those classic big men who could orchestrate an offense, but with a modern twist that made him virtually unguardable. Still, part of me wondered if Joel Embiid's 28.5 points and 10.6 rebounds for the top-seeded Sixers might have won in a different year - the race was that close.
The Defensive Player of the Year award going to Rudy Gobert felt somewhat inevitable given his impact, though I've always had reservations about how his regular season dominance sometimes translates to playoff limitations. His 2.7 blocks per game and the way he anchored Utah's defense were undeniable, but watching Ben Simmons' versatility made me wonder if the league was undervaluing switchable defenders. Simmons' ability to guard one through five while averaging 1.6 steals created matchup nightmares that traditional metrics might not fully capture.
What really struck me about the 2021 awards was how they reflected the NBA's ongoing evolution. The Most Improved Player race between Julius Randle and Jerami Grant showcased two completely different development paths - Randle transforming from inefficient scorer to All-Star carrying the Knicks to their first playoff appearance since 2013, while Grant left Denver's supporting cast to become Detroit's primary option. I found Randle's leap more impressive given the pressure of New York's market and his dramatic improvement in playmaking, jumping from 3.1 to 6.0 assists per game while maintaining his scoring efficiency.
The Sixth Man award discussion brought back memories of watching Jordan Clarkson's microwave scoring performances. His 18.4 points off the bench provided exactly what Utah needed - instant offense without needing plays called for him. Though I personally found Joe Ingles' combination of shooting (45% from three) and playmaking more valuable to team success, Clarkson's volume scoring clearly resonated more with voters. Sometimes I think we undervalue bench players who contribute across multiple categories versus pure scorers.
Rookie of the Year represented one of the clearer decisions with LaMelo Ball's immediate impact in Charlotte. His 15.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 6.1 assists don't fully capture how he transformed the Hornets' offensive identity. What impressed me most wasn't just the flashy passes but his basketball IQ - he made teammates better in ways that Anthony Edwards, despite his higher scoring average of 19.3 points, didn't quite match. Edwards had those explosive scoring bursts that made for great highlights, but Ball's overall command of the game felt more rare for a rookie.
The coaching awards particularly resonated with me because they highlighted how different approaches can succeed. Tom Thibodeau winning Coach of the Year for the Knicks' surprise season demonstrated that old-school defensive discipline still matters, while Monty Williams' leadership in Phoenix showed how culture-building creates sustainable success. Having watched both teams closely, I found Thibodeau's achievement more remarkable given the Knicks' limited talent, but Williams' player development approach probably has longer-term benefits.
Reflecting on all these awards, I keep coming back to that quote from Torcaso about competition being essential. The 2021 season proved how right he was - the tight races across every category pushed players to levels we might not have seen otherwise. The MVP debate between Jokić, Embiid, and Curry drove each to incredible performances. The defensive awards competition pushed Gobert, Simmons, and Draymond Green to elevate their teams' systems rather than just individual stats.
What made the 2021 awards particularly memorable wasn't just who won, but how many legitimate cases existed across the board. The debates among fans and analysts reflected genuine uncertainty rather than manufactured drama. I remember spending hours discussing with colleagues whether Jokić's historic efficiency metrics outweighed Embiid's two-way dominance, or whether Curry carrying the Warriors to the play-in tournament without Klay Thompson deserved more MVP consideration than his eighth-place finish received.
The season taught me that awards often capture moments rather than absolute truths about player quality. A player might have the best season of their career in a year when someone else has a historic one. A particular skill set might be valued differently based on league trends. But what remains constant is how these competitions drive the game forward, pushing players to refine their games in ways that benefit everyone who loves basketball. The 2021 awards will likely be remembered not just for the winners, but for how they represented a league in transition - between eras, between styles, between ways of thinking about what makes basketball valuable. And honestly, that's what makes following these races so compelling year after year.
