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Miami Heat players, coaches passed over for NBA awards

By Wes Goldberg

Apr 8, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) shoots as Washington Wizards center Marcin Gortat (13) defends during the first half at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 8, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) shoots as Washington Wizards center Marcin Gortat (13) defends during the first half at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /
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Many Miami Heat players put themselves in the conversation for some of the NBA’s season awards, but none of them won.

Despite leading the Miami Heat’s historic turnaround last season, Erik Spoelstra placed second in the NBA’s Coach of the Year voting. Spoelstra took a team that was 11-30 through the first half of the season to 30-11 in the second half, leading a late playoff push that ultimately fell a game short.

Houston’s Mike D’Antonio won the award, earning 400 total votes and taking 68 first-place ballots. Spoelstra came in second, earning 153 votes and only nine first-place votes. San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich earned 115 votes, and eight first-place votes.

Some Heat players were up for awards as well, but passed up.

Hassan Whiteside, after making the NBA’s All-Defensive second team last season, came up short of the first and second teams this season. He received 25 votes, fourth among centers with Utah’s Rudy Gobert earning first-team honors (196 votes), New Orleans’ Anthony Davis placing on the second team (58) and DeAndre Jordan receiving 35 votes.

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Whiteside also placed sixth among Defensive Players of the Year voting with six third-place votes.

Whiteside was a big part of why Miami’s defense finished fifth in defensive rating during the regular season, allowing 104.1 points per 100 possessions. The Heat allowed the sixth-fewest made shots per game, and the fewest 3-pointers per game (thanks to Whiteside’s ability to protect the rim, Miami’s perimeter defenders were able to regularly chase opponents of the 3-point line).

Rodney McGruder, who started most of the season at small forward, was passed up for a spot on the first and second All-Rookie teams. He was the top vote-getter among the league’s “Other players receiving votes” with 61, missing the All-Rookie team by two votes.

That led several of McGruder’s teammates to voice their displeasure over the voting, including Tyler Johnson.

McGruder finished eighth in the NBA’s Rookie of the Year voting, earning one third-place vote.

James Johnson, who was nearly out of the league last season, put himself in position for the biggest contract of his career this summer with his versatile two-way play for the Heat last season. He finished sixth in Most Improved Player award voting with 34 votes. Dion Waiters finished 11th and Whiteside finished 20th.

Johnson also finished fifth in Sixth Man of the Year voting with 25 votes, with Tyler Johnson earning a third-place vote as well.

Just as their was irritation from the Heat players over their teammates being snubbed for certain awards, fans on social media were also annoyed.

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However, the success of players like Hassan Whiteside (formerly out of the league to earning Defensive Player of the Year votes), Tyler Johnson (from D-League to Sixth Man of the Year contender), James Johnson (NBA journeyman to Sixth Man of the Year contender) and Rodney McGruder (an undrafted rookie elbowing his way into the Rookie of the Year conversation) putting themselves into the national conversation should not be understated.

What the Heat’s coaches and players accomplished in the second half of last season was impressive, and clearly turned some heads.

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