NBA: Maggette Wins Big 3 MVP
MVP: Corey Maggette (Power): Maggette was a superstar at Duke before being drafted into the NBA in 2000. He spent 14 years in the league with a handful of teams including the Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors, and Detroit Pistons. He last played in Detroit in 2012-13. Maggette averaged 16.0 points and 4.9 rebounds per game for his career. Now he is one of the best players in the Big 3, and could have challenged for the MVP award last year if it weren't for a season-ending knee injury. But he's been healthy this year, and has impressed with 16.9 points and 3.1 assists per game, both of which are top five in the league. Maggette has also led his team to an 8-1 record and within one win of taking home the championship.
Defensive Player of the Year: Chris "Birdman" Andersen (Power): Andersen went undrafted in the 1999 NBA Draft, but made a name for himself after fighting for a spot on the 2001 Denver Nuggets team. He is far from a specialist on the offensive end, but his NBA career proved that the league needs aggressive defenders and solid rebounders to survive. Andersen was a factor in the 2012-13 Miami Heat winning the NBA Finals, and he had a nice career with the Nuggets, New Orleans Hornets, Heat, and more. After retiring from the NBA in 2016-17, he has since transitioned in his first stint in the Big 3. After one year, he's been a success, as Birdman has earned the Defensive Player of the Year award due to his league-leading 1.4 blocks per game.
4th Man: Andre Emmett (3's Company): Emmett is an unknown to most basketball fans because he spent most of his career in the G-League and overseas. He has played for multiple NBA organizations as he was apart of the Los Angeles D-Fenders, Reno Bighorns, and Fort Wayne Mad Ants. In fact, he was the G-League All-Star Game MVP in 2015, and was arguably Texas Tech's best player from 2002-2004. He's currently second all-time in Red Raiders scoring. But still, not many people had heard of him prior to his appearance in the Big 3. But he's truly made an impact this season, and has been one of the best players in the league. He's averaging 16.1 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.6 assists, which ranks fourth in the league.
Other Awards:
Coach of the Year: Nancy Lieberman.
Community Award: Ricky Davis.
Too Hard To Guard: Al Harrington.
Trash Talker: Gary Payton.
Photo Credit: NBA.com.
