The Trail Blazers have arrived at the midpoint of the season with a 21-14 record. Damian Lillard, and his MVP-level production, have rightfully captured the lion’s share of the headlines coming out of Portland. Before circling back to Lillard, Blazer’s Edge associate editor Steve Dewald is working through a list of midseason awards while the All-Star break unfolds.
Today’s award looks at a player that has exceeded expectations this season. Enes Kanter, who was thrust into the starting lineup after Jusuf Nurkic’s injury exit, has produced a steady stream of double-double performances in a feature role. If Nassir Little or Anfernee Simons continue to show growth, they could take home the season-long version of this award, but the big fella deserves the honor at this time.