NBA MVP Watch - Oct. 30
The NBA season is still fresh, but players are already making their MVP case with excellent performances so far.
It is still early, but here are the top MVP candidates so far through the season.
Luka Dončić, Dallas Mavericks
Luka Dončić is off to a blazing start, leading the league in scoring with 35.2 points per game, as well as averaging 9.8 assists and 10.8 rebounds a game.
Christian Wood has been a great addition, but Dončić is still putting the Mavericks on his back.
Usage percentage measures how often a player is involved in a team’s play, and Dončić is currently third in that category with 39.1%, showing just how crucial he is to this Dallas team.
The challenge for Dončić to win MVP is that the Mavericks will need to win enough games to be a high seed, which is no guarantee. The team is currently 2-3, but there is a lot of time for that to change and if the Mavericks are a top seed in the West, Dončić will have as good an MVP case as anyone.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Somehow Giannis Antetokounmpo got even better after last season, averaging 34.4 points per game on a ridiculous 60.4% field goal percentage.
Antetokounmpo has already won the MVP award twice in his career, but the last time he won was in the 2019-2020 season.
So far, the Greek Freak is averaging more points, rebounds, assists and blocks than he did during his last MVP season.
The Bucks remain a top contender in the Eastern Conference and will likely be a high seed, helping his case even more.
Antetokounmpo’s stats may dip slightly when teammate Khris Middleton returns from injury, but that will also ease the pressure on Antetokounmpo, who will have another scoring threat on his team.
If he maintains these numbers and plays enough games, Antetokounmpo may once again win the MVP award.
Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
After losing in the NBA Finals last year, Jayson Tatum appears to have upped his game, increasing his stats across the board.
Tatum is averaging 32.4 points per game and is doing so with a 56% field goal percentage, which is far above his career average of 45.8%.
The Celtics had some question marks coming into the season after Ime Udoka, their head coach last season, got suspended for the year for “violations of team policies.”
However, Joe Mazzulla has done a great job as the head coach thus far and Tatum has thrived.
The Celtics are looking to make another title run, and Tatum will most likely lead the team if it wants to do so.
If Tatum can keep up his stellar offense and defense this season, the Celtics are a scary team and Tatum can make a legitimate MVP case.
Christopher Reynolds is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email him at clr5971@psu.edu.
