3 Early NBA MVP Candidates

The NBA season is just beginning, but players are already cementing their names in the MVP conversation. There are still plenty of games left to be played, but here are my top three candidates so far:

1) Giannis Antetokounmpo

At the head of the only team yet to lose a game is Giannis Antetokounmpo. The two-time former MVP is making another case for the most prestigious award in the NBA with 33.6 points per game which is good for second in the league. This impressive scoring production also comes on an efficient 56.9 percent shooting from the field. He is also averaging 12.7 rebounds and five assists per game.

On top of this astonishing ability to score, Antetokounmpo is one of the game’s best defenders. He has already claimed a Defensive Player of the Year award and five All-NBA Defensive teams. He currently owns a Defensive Box Plus/Minus of 4.7 and a Defensive Win Share of 0.7, which are both league-bests.

It is hard to say Antetokounmpo is not a clear early favorite with his two-way level of play combined with his team’s success.

2) Luka Doncic

The second spot on my list belongs to the league’s current number-one scorer, Luka Doncic. He has gotten off to an incredible offensive start with 36.1 points per game. As a guard, his 51.4 percent field goal shooting is unprecedented. He has begun with a slow start from deep, though, only shooting 23.7 percent on three-pointers. His usage rate of 40.5, 1.4 offensive win shares, 1.8 win shares, 9.5 Offensive Box Plus/Minus, 0.9 Value Over Replacement, and 36.1 Player Efficiency Rating are all first in the NBA.

Doncic is also a triple-double machine, reeling in rebounds and dishing out assists on a consistent basis. He averages 8.9 rebounds and nine assists per game, with two triple-doubles on the season. His 52.3 Assist Percentage is also a league-best.

Despite this marvelous offensive production, what leaves him behind Antetokounmpo is team success and defense. The Mavericks are off to a 4-3 start, and his defense leaves room to be desired.

3) Ja Morant

Just a step behind Antetokounmpo and Doncic is fourth-year superstar Ja Morant. Morant leads a young and exciting Grizzlies team that burst onto the national stage last year as the No. 2 seed in the West. After earning All-NBA honors a year ago, he is on track to exceed his previous production and cement himself as one of the NBA’s top players.

To begin the year, Morant has dazzled with averages of 31.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game. He is also shooting 52.5% from the field and a jaw-dropping 51.9% on three-pointers. He also recorded 49 points against the Rockets to mark the league’s highest single-game total of the season.

The Grizzlies are currently sitting at 5-3 but still are missing key pieces due to injuries. Morant will need to become a more consistent scorer to catch up with Antetokounmpo and Doncic, but his electric start has been promising.