CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cavs’ historic regular season could be rewarded with some individual hardware.
Announced shortly before tipoff of Game 1 of their first-round playoff series against the Miami Heat, three members of the organization were named finalists for end-of-season awards.
Kenny Atkinson is one of three finalists for Coach of The Year, with Detroit’s J.B. Bickerstaff and Houston’s Ime Udoka as the others. Atkinson already won the award from the NBA Coaches Association earlier this week.
Ty Jerome, following a career breakthrough, remains in the running for Sixth Man of the Year. Boston’s Payton Pritchard and Detroit’s Mailk Beasley are the other finalists in the category that rewards the league’s most impactful reserve. Jerome’s Cavaliers teammate, De’Andre Hunter, did not make the cut.
Evan Mobley joins Golden State’s Draymond Green and Atlanta’s Dyson Daniels as finalists for Defensive Player of the Year. While it’s expected to be a tight race, with Green and Daniels having a strong case, Mobley is the current betting favorite for the prestigious honor.
The most notable Cavs-related “snub” might be Darius Garland, who isn’t one of the three players included for Clutch Player of the Year — despite repeated campaigning from teammates on his behalf over the last few weeks.
The awards were voted on by members of the media, who needed to submit their official ballots this past Tuesday.
The results will be revealed at some point during the NBA playoffs.
Cleveland finished 64-18 this season, the second-best record in franchise history.