The Cleveland Cavaliers' season may be over after a play-in loss to Atlanta, but the team still has a chance to bring home some hardware.
The NBA announced award finalists for the regular season on Sunday, and the Cavaliers were well represented.
After an astounding debut, Evan Mobley is the odds-on favorite to be named Rookie of the Year. Mobley averaged 15 points and 8 rebounds, while delivering one of the best defensive performances from the center position in the NBA.
Darius Garland put the league on notice this year, averaging 22 points and 9 assists on the way to his first All-Star Game appearance. For his efforts, Garland was nominated for the Most Improved Player Award. He upped his scoring by almost 5 points from 2021, and tacked on 2.5 assists to his average as well.
Last but not least, Kevin Love is up for the Sixth Man of the Year. After years of starting for Cleveland, Love found a new role off the bench this season. He thrived in his new spot, averaging 14 points and 7 rebounds while playing just 23 minutes per game. He provided a much needed scoring spark, shooting just under 40% from three.
Also of note, the league revealed the finalists for the MVP Award. Nikola Jokic has a chance to win back-to-back MVPs, and he'll be up against Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
