Kentucky players in the NBA are having a very good year, and you can expect to see former Wildcats players winning the award at the end of the season.
Tyrese Maxey and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have both had great seasons on the floor and are in the running for awards based on play, but now they're competing for awards based on sportsmanship.
Gilgeous-Alexander and Maxey are both nominees in the NBA Sportsmanship Award category.
Coach John Calipari loves that both former Wildcats are having great seasons on the floor, but he'll be even more proud knowing they're great young men on and off the floor. .
Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 30.3 points per game, which ranks third in the NBA. He is also averaging 5.5 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game (17th in the NBA) for the Oklahoma City Thunder this season. He currently ranks third in betting odds for the NBA MVP award behind Nikola Jokic and Luke Doncic.
Maxey is averaging 25.6 points on the year, 12th best in the NBA. He also averaged 3.7 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game (18th in the NBA) for the Philadelphia 76ers. He really stepped up for the 76ers with star center Joel Embiid out with an injury. Maxey's phenomenal season on the floor puts him at the top of the odds for Most Valuable Player.
Gilgeous-Alexander and Maxey have had good seasons with their respective teams, and we'll likely see them both in the playoffs.
