Chapter 102: Season’s Best

The playoffs were in full swing, and the epic clash between the Thunder and the Warriors was undoubtedly the most classic first-round series in the league. Especially that moment when Lin Fei, in the final seconds, faked out Westbrook and calmly sank the shot—this became a timeless highlight that fans could watch endlessly.

Off the court, another event was capturing attention: the race for the season’s awards.

The Defensive Player of the Year once again went to Howard. This dominant force in the paint had tied the record for the most Defensive Player of the Year awards in history, and he might even set new records in the future. Yet, this accolade came with a bittersweet note for Howard. The Magic had yet to reach the heights he aspired to, and despite his dominance, Howard had yet to earn a championship ring. Staying with Orlando, he felt a profound loneliness.

The Sixth Man of the Year was perhaps the most undisputed award this season—Lin Fei. Coming off the bench in 60 games and starting 22, he averaged nearly 30 points per game. Such numbers speak for themselves. Maybe he should have contended for this honor in his rookie year, but due to limited playing time and minutes, he missed out then. This year, he finally got the recognition he deserved.

The Most Improved Player award was fiercely contested. Notably, Lin Fei had increased his scoring average by almost 10 points per game this season—a feat unprecedented in the league’s history. No one had ever jumped from a 20-point rookie season to nearly 30 points in their sophomore year while also increasing assists, albeit with minimal rebounds. Moreover, Lin Fei had the support of the Warriors’ impressive team performance. Last season, they hadn’t even made the playoffs; this season, they surprisingly surged into the top four in the Western Conference. This relatively young team’s potential seemed boundless.

Yet, Lin Fei was not selected. Why? Many experts attributed his leap primarily to the drastic increase in playing time rather than pure improvement. In contrast, the 76ers’ Evan Turner showed even more remarkable progress after solidifying his role as a starter—so much so that some compared his development to Tracy McGrady’s during his fastest improvement season.

Warriors fans and Lin Fei himself were relieved he did not win. There’s a well-known curse associated with the Most Improved Player award in the league: every recipient eventually faced a tragic downfall. Over the past decade, none of the winners escaped becoming disappointments. Unlike other annual honors, the Most Improved Player award recognizes only a player’s growth compared to the previous season. It does not necessarily reflect their true standing in the league nor guarantee a bright future.

Looking back at the award’s history, most winners failed to soar into stardom afterward. Some even quickly faded like shooting stars.

Kevin Love had yet to show any dramatic decline but showed signs of a dip. Brooks, the 2010 winner, saw his stats plummet the following season and was traded from Houston to Phoenix. Danny Granger, the 2009 recipient, once hailed as a promising mid-career star, disappointed the Indiana Pacers’ president Larry Bird with his performance after winning the award. Though his stats didn’t drastically fall, his contribution was deemed insufficient, largely due to injuries.

Over the past decade, countless Most Improved Player winners have been haunted by injuries. Starting with Tracy McGrady in 2001, then J. O’Neal in 2002, Gilbert Arenas in 2003, and Monta Ellis in 2007—each experienced setbacks. Ellis’ rise was halted by a motorcycle accident limiting him to 25 games in the 2008-09 season. Arenas’ troubled off-court antics, including a notorious locker room gun incident, prematurely ended his comeback. Without injuries, O’Neal and McGrady might have dominated their positions, but fate dimmed their stars.

If these declines can be somewhat explained by circumstance, others remain puzzling. Boris Diaw (2006 winner) and Bobby Simmons (2005 winner) both faded rapidly after their awards. Diaw lost trust in Phoenix’s rotation and eventually moved to the Bobcats, where he found some revival after years of struggle. Simmons’ fall was even more startling; from averaging a solid output in 2004-05 to just 5.3 points per game four years later, his career seemed to vanish at the age of thirty.

Similarly, Zach Randolph (2004 winner) and Jalen Rose (2000 winner) never had glaring statistical issues, but Randolph was long labeled a “statistical poison,” with his teams underperforming whenever he played, only briefly shining in the 2011 playoffs. Rose changed teams four times post-2000 and played only five playoff games, unable to recapture his prime.

Hedo Turkoglu, the 2008 winner, caused a stir when traded from Orlando to Toronto. The Raptors, dubbed the “dark horse” team that season, failed to make the playoffs, and Turkoglu became a scapegoat.

Given this history, who would want their favorite player to win this award? Even fans hoping to break the curse hesitate to take the gamble.

The Rookie of the Year race this season was far less intense than last year’s. Last season’s heated battle among Lin Fei, Rynolds, and Bruelin made it one of the most frenzied rookie competitions ever. This year, Williams claimed the award almost uncontested. His stats—15 points, 7 assists, and 3 rebounds per game—were modest, barely passing muster, and paled compared to last year’s crop.

Finally, the most prestigious award, the MVP, featured an exceptionally fierce contest: LeBron and Wade of the Heat, Derrick Rose of the Bulls, Kevin Durant of the Thunder, and Lin Fei of the Warriors.

The Heat boasted the league’s best record, but with two superstars on one team, their votes were inevitably split, reducing each player’s chance. Rose had an outstanding season, and the Bulls performed well, but many argued Rose was not as indispensable to Chicago as some believed. Had another elite point guard played, like Westbrook, Chris Paul, or Deron Williams, the team’s record might not have suffered—an argument that also helped Howard crack the top eight MVP candidates.

Durant’s disadvantage was his team’s modest performance; the Thunder ranked fifth in the West with barely a winning record, making his chances slim. Lin Fei was a potential dark horse, boasting impressive stats and spearheading the Warriors’ remarkable improvement, but skepticism lingered over how crucial he truly was to the team’s system, which was already well-established.

The MVP ultimately went to LeBron James, marking his third time winning the regular season MVP—a milestone that firmly secures his place among the all-time greats.

The Coach of the Year honor went to Nelson, who revolutionized his tactics this season and led the Warriors to a meteoric rise. The award was unquestionably well-deserved.

Overall, the Warriors reaped a bountiful harvest: two major awards and two others within striking distance. This season was nothing short of a miracle in the league, and their clutch victory over the Thunder to advance to the second round of the playoffs was itself a marvel.

But was this miracle the beginning or the end? Would the Warriors continue to defy expectations and create more wonders?

Their next challenge awaited against the Mavericks, a championship-caliber squad boasting Nowitzki, Kidd, Marion, Chandler, and Terry.

At this moment, no one dared to predict the outcome of the series—because the Warriors remained utterly unpredictable.