The NBA Awards Show was actually kinda fun

Good morning. Hi, it’s me again. I’m still getting the hang of this newsletter thing. Tom will be back later this week.

Lots of folks will snark about Monday’s NBA Awards Show, and they have some points. It really was too late in the year. The less said about Drake’s opening monologue, the better. I’m still not sure what happened during this James Harden interview. The Ayesha Curry skit was uncomfortable as hell. The red carpet really should have been televised.

But we also got an emotional, real Russell Westbrook MVP speech. We witnessed Monty Williams inspire everyone with a beautiful message upon winning the inaugural Sager Strong award. We enjoyed Draymond being Draymond. And Bill Russell — I mean, Bill Russell! I don’t think I’ve laughed so hard in a long time.

The first time is never perfect, especially when you ask a bunch of athletes to act as smooth as entertainers on an award circuit. Take it from us: It’s not easy creating an awards show out of nothing. In time, this’ll become a beloved event on the NBA’s increasingly busy calendar.

Zito Madu hit the nail on the head: Russell Westbrook’s MVP speech revealed his true self, the one he so rarely lets us see.

Ohbytheway, Russ is a free agent after the 2017-18 season. The Thunder will offer him a five-year designated player extension on July 1 and he’s expected to accept, according to ESPN’s Royce Young. But if not? Then we get to do the same dance we did last summer all over again.

Samsung and Jordan Brand immediately released new commercials celebrating Westbrook’s MVP season. Jordan Brand’s was about 100 times better.

Taylor Swift waited this long to return Russell’s love. Safe to say there’s no “Bad Blood” there. Sorry, that’s awful.

Enes Kanter emerging as Russ’ No. 1 fan has been unexpected but not unwelcome.

Draymond Green is a deserving Defensive Player of the Year after finishing second to Kawhi Leonard the last two seasons. As I explained in a recent Prada’s Pictures video, it takes a real master to defend the way Draymond does. Rudy Gobert is not taking the loss well.

Mike D’Antoni is your Coach of the Year. I think Pop should’ve won it, but it was great seeing Seven Seconds Or Less vindicated this year.

Malcolm Brogdon is the lowest draft pick to win Rookie of the Year. Says a lot about this draft class. Sixers fans are not thrilled, but Joel Embiid was gracious in defeat.

Giannis Antetokounmpo won the Guy Who Is Way Better Than We Thought This Year award, beating out Nikola Jokic and Gobert.

Eric Gordon won a tight Sixth Man of the Year vote over Andre Iguodala. Lou Williams finished a distant third.

Here are all the other winners of the various fan awards and much more.

Your fearless leader ranked the top 50 free agents of this class. Who’s the best one to switch teams? I’m voting Gordon Hayward.

LaVar Ball and youngest son, LaMelo, appeared on WWE Raw, and that went about how you’d expect.

John Wall is lobbying hard for Paul George to come to the Wizards. “Look at our team,” Wall told ESPN’s Marc Spears. “We are one piece away.” Not sure how Otto Porter feels reading that. The Wizards are reportedly trying to enter the George sweepstakes but don’t have much to trade. Maybe Wall should lobby his general manager instead of the public.

Here are your All-Rookie and All-Defensive teams. A lot of people, including active players, are angry Avery Bradley was snubbed. Me? Shruggie. Danny Green and Andre Roberson are pretty good, too.

Dirk Nowitzki won Teammate of the Year, which was long overdue. Bleacher Report put together a terrific collection of Dirk stories from his many peers.

One of Gar Forman’s peers gave him a first-place Exec of the Year vote, which has to be a prank. No GM has a lower reputation right now. Ricky O’Donnell didn’t hold back in ripping Bulls management. (Bob Myers was a deserving winner, edging Daryl Morey. This award is dumb, though.)

Kristian Winfield on D’Angelo Russell giving the Nets the “high draft pick” the Celtics robbed from them. Nets Daily was also at Russell’s opening press conference.

Ricky Rubio is on the trade market for the 700th year in a row. The Wolves need shooting around Jimmy Butler, Andrew Wiggins, and Karl-Anthony Towns, so I’m betting on Rubio actually getting moved this time.

Cool look at George McGinnis, Football Player, by the Indy Star’s Gregg Doyel.