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Golden State Warriors: Curry, Green, Russell and company could challenge for awards this season

By Kit Shepard

OAKLAND, CA - MAY 11: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors holds up the Maurice Podoloff MVP trophy before the game against the Portland Trail Blazers in Game Five of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2016 NBA Playoffs on May 11, 2016 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - MAY 11: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors holds up the Maurice Podoloff MVP trophy before the game against the Portland Trail Blazers in Game Five of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2016 NBA Playoffs on May 11, 2016 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

The Golden State Warriors have long been judged on their success in the playoffs, but there are plenty of regular-season accolades that certain individuals on the roster could challenge for.

Despite a pair of Finals appearances and one title, the Golden State Warriors left the two most recent NBA awards nights empty-handed.

This barren run can be explained by the Warriors’ lethargic approach to the regular season in these campaigns. With an overwhelming amount of talent at their disposal, Golden State’s toughest opponents from October to mid-April were injuries and boredom.

Golden State knew they would be judged purely for their performances in the postseason, making many of the preceding 82 games academic.

Thus when it came to awards, voters naturally leaned towards players who suited up almost every game and played hard when they did, as well as boasting the necessary statistics and performances to be considered. No Warrior fit the bill.

The good news, then, is that the Warriors will not have to worry about being bored next season. The bad news is that they will be kept busy by a battle to make the playoffs.

To be clear: even without Kevin Durant, Andre Iguodala, and Klay Thompson (for the time being), the Warriors have no excuse to finish in the lottery, barring any more major injuries.

The nucleus that took the franchise to five consecutive Finals has been weakened, but not totally decimated. The new signings this summer are encouraging. There is a new arena to fill and impress. Even in the fiendish Western Conference, Golden State should finish as a top-eight seed.

So what is there to fear? Complacency. The Warriors were able to coast for large chunks of the last two regular seasons, such was the star power in the squad.

The 2019-20 team, while still strong on paper, will be forced to do what the vast majority of (non-tanking) NBA teams have to; play at full-throttle every night.

And although this could trigger greater physical fatigue come playoff time, many Warriors players, new and old, should be in the conversation for awards they would be excluded from with a more apathetic approach.

Golden State may not be expected to hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy next June, but there is other hardware out there to be captured.

Here are a few awards that members of the Warriors could win in the coming season.

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