Former Wildcats tabbed as finalists for NBA season awards

Several Kentucky Wildcats have been killing it in the NBA bubble in Orlando, and many were having solid seasons before the season was shut down.

Over the weekend, both Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo nearly had triple doubles in losing to Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns behind his 35 point effort. Jamal Murray just arrived and is already making an impact on his danger Denver Nuggets team. The Oklahoma City Thunder have three Wildcats in their rotation. And Anthony Davis is...Anthony Davis.

Two of those guys are getting special recognition in being named finalists for awards for the 2019-2020 season. Davis is a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year, and Bam is a finalist for the KIA Most Improved Player award.

Davis has led the league in blocks in three separate seasons, and was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team in 2018. He finished third in the Defensive Player of the Year voting that season. He has also been named to the All-Defensive Second Team in 2015 and 2017. Other finalists for this award are Giannis Antetokounmpo and Rudy Gobert, who has won the award two years in a row.

Bam has been a big part of the emergence of the Miami Heat as a contender this season. He is averaging 16.1 points, 10.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.3 blocks, 1.2 steals, and 34 minutes per games. All of those numbers are career highs in his third season. De’Aaron Fox finished third in voting for the Most Improved Player award last season. This year, Bam is up against Luka Doncic and Brandon Ingram.

Whether they win or not, this is a big honor for both guys. There is chance that Davis could be an MVP candidate, and both Davis and Bam have a shot and making a deep run into the playoffs. Stay tuned her to A Sea of Blue for other awards announcements as former Wildcats continue to dominate the bubble.