After about a month since the NBA season tipped-off, we have somewhat of a feel of the identity of most of the teams around the league. We see who is playing below their standards, at their standards, or even above their standards this year. Although it is still early in the season, the race for MVP is already taking shape, and there are a few players who have been performing at a special level every night.
Despite having a bevy of injuries on their team, including Jalen Williams who has yet to suit up, the Oklahoma City Thunder still sat at an incomparable 17-1. They have an incredible team and have had their bench players step up such as Ajay Mitchell, but the reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is once again having an incredible season. Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 32.2 points per game, 6.6 assists per game and 4.9 rebounds per game.
He has looked unguardable every night and he is posting these averages while only playing three quarters in plenty of the games. His driving and finishing along with his mid-range prowess have become his trademark, but this season he has also improved from behind the arc. This season, Gilgeous-Alexander is shooting 41.2 percent from three, which is 4 percent better than his mark last year. His true-shooting percentage has also risen as it is now 67 percent. To be able to lead your team the way he is leading OKC is something that not many players in the history of the game have been able to do. Somehow he has gotten more efficient offensively than he was during his MVP season.
Another former MVP has been lighting up the NBA this year and it is Nikola Jokic. Jokic is once again averaging a triple double with averages of 30.4 points per game, 13 rebounds per game, and 10.8 assists per game. His efficiency is also remarkable as he has an astounding 72.8 percent true-shooting percentage. Denver is 12-4 and the stat lines that he has been posting night after night are awe inspiring to say the least. His touch from every area on the floor is beautiful and he seems to have put more focus on scoring the basketball.
After his league shattering trade to the Los Angeles Lakers last season, Luka Doncic has been comfortable in his new home this season. Doncic is leading the league in scoring at 34.5 points per game and he is also averaging 8.8 rebounds and 8.9 assists as well. Despite only recently getting the services of LeBron James back, Los Angeles is still 12-4 and currently sit as the second seed in the western conference and a lot of the credit belongs to Doncic. Doncic is not getting to the basket as much as he has in the past, but his sheer volume and ability from behind the arc and from the mid-range area have allowed him to reach these scoring highs.
There is still plenty of time left in the season for others to carve out their MVP cases, but so far these three have been playing at an incomprehensible level and will surely be in the mix for this award at season’s end.