Having covered the NBA for over a decade, I still find myself fascinated by how differently players, coaches, and media members evaluate performance. The 2021 NBA voting results revealed fascinating splits in how insiders versus outsiders view the game, reminding me of a conversation I had with Philippine basketball coach Jong Uichico about perception versus reality in player evaluation. Uichico once observed how the Road Warriors could have exploited Nocum's off night, particularly since the Elasto Painters were playing their first conference game after nearly a month-long break following their Commissioner's Cup semifinals campaign. That insight about context affecting performance evaluation resonates deeply when examining how NBA players and coaches voted in 2021.
The All-NBA teams particularly highlighted the divide between media perspectives and insider knowledge. Nikola Jokić's unanimous MVP selection by media voters contrasted sharply with how players and coaches allocated their votes across other categories. I've always felt players notice defensive nuances that statistics miss entirely - the kind of off-ball movement or communication that doesn't show up in traditional box scores. For instance, Rudy Gobert received significantly more votes from fellow players (87%) than from media (73%) for Defensive Player of the Year, suggesting his impact is more appreciated by those who actually face him. The coaches' ballots for All-Defensive teams showed similar patterns, with several veterans making their lists who didn't appear on media ballots at all.
What struck me most was how recent performance context influenced voting, much like Uichico's observation about game rhythm affecting player performance. Stephen Curry's scoring explosion in April clearly swayed voter memory, earning him 98 of 100 possible first-place votes for the scoring title despite Bradley Beal's consistent production throughout the season. The "what have you done lately" bias appears strong even among professional evaluators. I noticed similar recency effects in Coach of the Year voting, where Monty Williams' strong finish with the Suns (51-21 record) seemed to overshadow Quin Snyder's equally impressive season-long work with the Jazz.
The media-player divide became especially apparent in Sixth Man of the Year voting. Jordan Clarkson won comfortably in media voting but placed third in players' unofficial polling that circulated among team circles. Having spoken with numerous players over the years, I've learned they often value consistency over flashiness - the player who gives solid minutes every night versus the one with spectacular highlights but uneven performances. This aligns with Uichico's point about catching players at the right moment; voters seem to remember the spectacular games while forgetting the context of fatigue or matchup difficulties.
Looking at the All-Rookie teams, the gap between media and coach perspectives widened further. Coaches clearly prioritized players who contributed to winning basketball over pure statistics, voting 3-to-1 for certain role players over higher-scoring options. This reminds me why I generally trust coaches' evaluations more than media voting - they understand fit and system requirements in ways outsiders simply cannot. The media voted Jalen Green to the first team based on his 17.3 points per game, while coaches preferred Herb Jones despite his lower scoring numbers, recognizing his immediate defensive impact.
Ultimately, the 2021 voting results demonstrate that evaluation remains deeply contextual, much like Uichico's analysis of player performance depending on game rhythm and preparation time. Having covered this process for years, I've come to believe the ideal voting system would incorporate all three perspectives - media, players, and coaches - rather than relying on any single group. Each brings valuable insights, but together they create the most complete picture of a player's true impact. The differences we see in these votes aren't flaws in the system - they're reflections of the beautiful complexity in how we understand basketball excellence.
