Washington Wizards’ 2016-17 NBA season was their best since 1979. In this piece, we awarded their most impactful players.
The Washington Wizards are in the midst of a playoff battle with the Atlanta Hawks.
After protecting their home court, the Wizards head south in strong position, up 2-0 in the series.
Looking back on the regular season, the momentum Washington built has carried over to the NBA Playoffs. Washington was one victor shy of the 50-win mark and won the Southeast Division title for the first time since 1978.
Virtually every single starter, including John Wall, had the best individual season of their respective careers.
That being said, the following slides hand out awards to the players.
These awards include typical NBA regular season awards like MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Most Improved Player. Instead of Sixth Man of the Year, there will be best bench player, and best newcomer replaces rookie of the year.
MVP: John Wall
John Wall has burst onto the national stage with jaw-dropping performances in the first two games of the series against the Hawks. However, he had solidified himself as the best point guard in the East, and one of the best in the league, long before that.
Displaying an incredible mix of aggression and patience, Wall seemed to put it all together this season and he ascended to superstar status. He averaged career bests of 23.1 points and 10.7 assists per game on a career high efficiency. Despite some lapses on the other end of the court late in the season, Wall was also the NBA runner-up for the steals crown.
Wall was clearly the head of the hypothetical snake on both offense and defense, and Washington followed his lead. Wall also showed improvement as a leader, despite accumulating too many technical fouls over the course of the season.
Along with being a vocal player, Wall led by example, pouring his heart into every single game. Even beyond the brilliance of his regular season, Wall has clearly kicked his game into gear when the postseason came around.
He wants a shot at the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers, and looks to be ready to do whatever it takes to get there.
As good as Bradley Beal has been, Wall was simply phenomenal this season.
In a normal year, where there weren’t two players putting up historically great statistical seasons, and the league’s two best overall players also dominating, Wall would have been in the discussion for league MVP.
Apologies to: Bradley Beal
Most Improved Player: Bradley Beal
Washington had a lot of candidates for this award, which is a good problem to have.
Beal and Otto Porter will likely receive consideration for the league-wide honor, although neither of them will contend with the likes of the Giannis Antetokounmpo or Nikola Jokic.
Kelly Oubre Jr. also made major strides in his second year (more on that later), and Wall even has a solid case to win this honor, given that he set career bests virtually across the board.
All of these players made different jumps.
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Oubre, only a sophomore, is expected to be developing. His jump was likely the most predictable, so he’s out of the running.
Wall, on the other end of the spectrum, became a surefire superstar this season. That, too, didn’t come out of nowhere.
Wall was already great, he just became greater. For similar reasons that Stephen Curry didn’t win the Most Improved Player last season, Wall doesn’t get the Washington Wizards version of the award this time around.
That leaves Porter and Beal.
Porter jumped from role player to important starter on a contending team.
Instead of just being the athletic slasher that he was before, Porter became one of the most accurate 3-point marksmen in the NBA. He led the league in the 3-point percentage for a while before finishing fourth. Porter was likely the frontrunner for Wizards’ most improved player until his end of season slump coincided with Beal completing his breakout.
Beal made the most difficult jump, which is also the jump that Wizards fans have been desperately hoping for since he got drafted. Beal made the jump from good to great, rounding out his scoring ability, improving as a passer, and continuing to knock down shots from long range.
Beal finished the season with career best numbers in all offensive categories, tying Wall for the team lead with 23.1 points per game, and doing so on 48% shooting. He is now one of the most complete scorers in the league, and he and Wall combine to form on the league’s deadliest duos.
Apologies to: Otto Porter, John Wall, Kelly Oubre
Defensive Player of the Year: Kelly Oubre, Jr.*
Another position where it is difficult to determine the Washington Wizards’ winner: defensive player of the year.
Among the starters, there are five solid defensive players, but none especially stand out.
Wall is the most dynamic player, but he too often is lazy on pick and roll plays and takes unnecessary risks that leave his teammates vulnerable. Markieff Morris and Marcin Gortat are both good, but neither are elite rim protectors.
Porter, similarly, does a good job most of the time, but his slight frame makes it difficult for him to slide over a guard bigger fours.
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Therefore, we move to the Wizards’ bench to find the two most influential players on the less glamorous end of the floor. By default, Kelly Oubre wins the award.
Oubre instills an energy in the team by playing hyper aggressive defense and pressuring the ball. He has quick reflexes and a long wingspan that permits to jump passing lanes more than most.
Oubre still has some shortcomings, including his size and his propensity to gamble. However, his versatility and the importance of his defense make him the winner.
*Ian Mahinmi, had he played enough games, would have claimed the honor. Mahinmi, though, appeared in only 31 of 82 games this season. He was an excellent rim protector, and his decent foot speed allowed him to switch screens and do an adequate job guarding quicker guards.
Apologies to: Mahinmi, Markieff Morris, Wall
Bench Player of the Year: Kelly Oubre, Jr.
At different points of the season, different players could have won this award. Early in the season, with the bench in shambles, Oubre was the only bright spot. Later on, Jason Smith emerged as a calming and reliable presence on Washington’s bench.
After his arrival, Bojan Bogdanovic proved an indispensable piece as the go-to scorer off the bench, while Mahinmi’s return from injury fortified the defense. When Bogdanovic fell into a late-season slump, Oubre, who had fallen almost out of the rotation, reclaimed his spot as the sixth man.
Many players had their moments, but Oubre made the biggest impact for the most prolonged period of time. His defensive ability and confidence offensively were valuable assets to the team, even as Washington hopes that he continues to refine his game as he gains more experience.
Apologies to: Bogdanovic, Smith
Newcomer of the Year: Jason Smith
Many were not pleased with the Wizards’ offseason haul. A summer that came with the hopes of landing Kevin Durant ended with what seemed like overpaid contracts for backup bigs Ian Mahinmi and Jason Smith, along with uninspiring pieces Andrew Nicholson and Trey Burke.
Although Burke and Nicholson were disappointing, and they were dropped from the rotation and traded, respectively, Mahinmi missed more than 50 games, but produced solidly on both ends of the floor when healthy.
Smith was a revelation, first providing energy defensively and hitting open midrange jumpers, and eventually transforming himself into a reliable 3-point shooter and an important offensive weapon.
The numbers – 5.7 points and 3.5 rebounds – are underwhelming, but his impact cannot be overstated.
Smith was always ready regardless of the role he had to take on, and was a great veteran leader for the team off the bench.
After a rough start, Smith also became a fan favorite by the end of the season.
Next: John Wall Is the Forgotten NBA MVP Candidate
Bojan Bogdanovic was instrumental after his arrival in the nation’s capital, and Brandon Jennings was a much needed sure hand backing up John Wall, but neither were in DC long enough to supplant Smith and clinch this award.