We’re only about a month into the NBA season, but a handful of strong contenders for this season’s Most Valuable Player award are already emerging. While there’s plenty of time for players like last year’s MVP Russell Westbrook to pick up the pace and insert themselves into this season’s race, AJ Neuharth-Keusch of USA Today and Dennis Chambers of Basketball Insiders have identified the players who look like the strongest candidates so far.
Neuharth-Keusch and Chambers agree that James Harden (Rockets) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks) have been the top two candidates for MVP, in some order. The two stars are the only players in the NBA averaging more than 30 points per game, and Harden is also leading the league with 10.3 assists per contest. Antetokounmpo, meanwhile, is averaging a double-double of his own with 10.3 RPG.
LeBron James (Cavaliers) is also a consensus pick on Neuharth-Keusch’s and Chambers’ early lists, which makes sense, despite the fact that James’ Cavs are off to a sluggish start. The four-time MVP is playing some of the best basketball of his career, with 28.1 PPG, 8.8 APG, and an incredible .586 FG% while averaging an NBA-high 38.1 minutes per contest.
From there, the lists diverge. Neuharth-Keusch – whose list features input from fellow USA Today scribes Sam Amick, Jeff Zillgitt, and Michael Singer – rounds out the top five with Kristaps Porzingis (Knicks) and DeMarcus Cousins (Pelicans).
Both New York and New Orleans were projected to be sub-.500 teams this season, but are off to solid starts behind the incredible play of their respective big men. Porzingis is averaging an impressive 29.5 PPG and shooting 41.0% on three-pointers, while Cousins is stuffing the stat sheet with 28.2 PPG, 14.0 RPG, 5.8 APG, 1.6 BPG, and 1.6 SPG.
As for Chambers, he weighs team success a little more heavily, filling out his list with Stephen Curry (Warriors), Kevin Durant (Warriors), and Kyrie Irving (Celtics). Golden State leads the Western Conference with an 11-3 record, while Boston has an NBA-best 13-2 mark.
What do you think? Do you have an early pick for 2017/18 MVP? Do you think a player not mentioned above will become a part of the conversation in a big way within the next few weeks or months? Jump into the comment section below to share your thoughts!
Harden will not be overlooked this year, and finally get his trophy.
Right now Irving’s stats are very underwhelming. A player probably with those stats will never get MVP unless he is a lockdown defender.
On the one hand, Irving has rated very high this season in defense (so far), but on the other hand I have to wonder if he’s really been the best player on his own team. Al Horford currently ranks 2nd in Defensive Rating (Irving is 4th) and is ranked 10th in Offensive rating. Irving’s offensive stats seem to lineup well with his 2015 season, which isn’t even his best on the Cavs.
Harden should never win MVP until he learns what defense is.
I completely agree…The award isn’t the best offensive player, it’s the most valuable player. While Harden is a very valuable player, he simply isn’t the most valuable..
He is one of the best offensive players, but his numbers are greatly inflated, because he solely dominates the ball on his team. When Harden is on the court, Harden makes sure he plays a hand in just about every single basket his team scores; if not, he sure tries his hardest to make sure he gets either the assist or the basket…He’s an amazing talent on offense, but he also plays matador defense, so he can save all his energy for his offensive output. If he were to increase his defensive effort, and improve defensively, to be even average, then he’d be at or near the top of every list easily…He also needs to cut down on his turnovers, but until he relinquishes the ball a little more, that won’t happen either…
Having CP3 join the Rockets might be the best thing for Harden’s career. If he focuses on his defense, cuts down his turnovers, and learns to play better off the ball again, then he would become an unstoppable force…
Right now, the award should go to The Greek Freak. He is an unstoppable force. He, Cousins, and Embiid are three of the most dominant, all-around players in today’s NBA, or well at least this season…
Of course, you also cannot forget KD…like I just did…lol..But while he plays on such a loaded team, sharing the spotlight with Steph, Draymond, and Klay, I don’t think he will ever win the MVP award.
LeBron is having a great statistical season, but he still turns the ball over too much, and he doesn’t play good enough defense, letting guys get by him, only to look at his bigs in disgust when they score…
Leonard hasn’t been healthy thus far, but Kyrie also deserves some consideration, although his stats won’t win him the MVP award as things stand now. With that being said, Kyrie has stepped up his game, and he is becoming a much better, all-around player, since he joined Boston. Since joining Gang Green, Kyrie has definitely stepped up his defensive intensity, and if he can out up some more points, and add in a few more assists, those counting stats will go a long way towards an MVP run…
Also, the Unicorn in NY has to get a shout out. He’s playing extremely well on a subpar team, and he has become a major force in the NBA. He just needs to prove he can sustain that level of success throughout the course of a full season…And the same goes for Embiid, but Embiid’s main concern is his health…Since coming into the league, he’s been a wrecking ball, he just needs to stay healthy..
It has been a LONG TIME since the NBA landscape has had this many all-stars, especially young guys…It’s going to be fun watching all these guys develop over the next couple of seasons…
1) James Harden 2) Kyrie Irving 3) toss up between Greek Freak and Kristaps. LeBron is playing fantastic but his team is underwhelming and that counts. Steph and KD split the vote for what is happening in the Bay.
Giannis alters shots, makes chase-down blocks, protects the rim, plays stellar help D on the perimeter and in the paint, and scores the same number of points per game. He’s also the undisputed leader of the team, creating a culture and role modeling every good behaviour as a professional.
James Harden quits. All the time. His former coach knows it, his teammates see it. He’s a single minded player.
Maybe the voters don’t watch games, they just watch box scores. If so, Harden is on the conversation.
But anyone who actually watches the games can’t credibly construct an argument for Harden.
Giannis by a mile.
Completely agree…Until Harden makes even an effort on defense, he should never even be considered for an MVP award…
I know his numbers aren’t overwhelming but LaMarcus Aldridge should get a little consideration for carrying the load without Kawhi
Giannis plays with a supporting cast similar to what Russell Westbrook played with last season.
Harden will have Chris Paul getting some of his numbers beginning tomorrow night. Giannis is the media darling. I’ll take Giannis if he doesn’t get hurt.
Pretty sure Westbrook didn’t have Eric bledsoe, Khris middleton, Malcolm Brogdon, and Jabari Parker last season.
Westbrook didn’t have any all-stars, neither does Giannis. I’ve seen Giannis 4 times this year. Milwaukee is all about him. Like LeBron the offense runs through him. Giannis has been the primary ballhandler like Westbrook and primary scorer like Westbrook. Jabari Parker hasn’t even played this year and won’t until February. The Bucks declined his option because of his injuries. Westbrook, Bledsoe, and Brogdon play the same position. Westbrook has help this year in Carmelo and George. The group that Giannis has is similar to Westbrook in that he is the only all-stars and he is the first offensive option.
I’m a Celtics homer but no way Irving is MVP Not sure if he would even be MVP of the team they didn’t miss a beat when he was out. Brown has improved Tatum wow , HOrford has taken his game to next level. The Greek Freak is my pic so far he does it all offense defense everything. Ben Simmons 2nd then Harden
I’m from Indianapolis. I watched Butler play Duke for the championship. Danny Ainge told Jay Bilas there is the best coach in college basketball. Bilas said Coach K, and Ainge said no, Brad Stevens, then he hired him. He is great. I like Kyrie for standing up to LeBron, and now he’s winning and LeBron’s not. Keep it up! Giannis is the sentimental favorite and don’t forget Kristaps Porzingas!
Warriors@Celtics tomorrow night (Thursday night) on TNT. Should be fun to watch!