The race for the prize MVPthe most prestigious individual award given by NBA during the Normal Phase, it is one of the longest and most difficult battles to win. Not only do you have to perform at an excellent level and be consistent, you also have to be in a team that occupies relevant positions.
With just two weeks of activity in the Season 2022-2023 the race for MVP is as open as the rest of the competition. It’s still not very clear who the prospects are and who should consider the draft soon. the same applies to this award.
A sample of less than 10 games doesn’t allow us to draw many conclusions, but it does allow us to understand some trends among the game’s protagonists. For this reason, his wording The SportingNews they chose them five favorites for MVP passed in October. The grading system is very simple: 1st gets 5 points. the 2nd, 4; and so on.
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5 – Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns)
- Statistics: 29.3 points (52.9% FG), 3.3 rebounds and 5.5 assists
The Suns are still there, and despite the fact that they no longer evoke as much emotion, Devin Booker continues to play one legal MVP level.
The Phoenix shooting guard signs his career-best scoring start with a big difference. He has a total of 176 points, 33 more than the previous figures of the 2019-2020 season. Which is due, in part, to the fact that he is much more aggressive in his attempts at the rim (68% success), but also to the great moment he lives from the middle distance, which connects the 46.9% of his 6.9 shooting average.
If Phoenix continues on top, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Booker establish himself as a strong MVP candidate.
4 – Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers)
- Statistics: 32.2 points (49.6% FG), 4.5 rebounds and 7.3 assists
The setback that was expected to be the loss of Darius Garland to an eye injury did little more than unleash a Donovan Mitchell absolutely liberated. spida it has landed on these Cavs who started the season in the best possible way, allowing just one loss and displaying an elite defense.
Mitchell has been a perfect fit and along with Caris LeVert form an offensive pairing that is very difficult to stop.
The shooting guard not only fulfills the expected scoring role that was sensed, but also precedes the pass as evidenced by 7.3 assists average. In fact, He has already achieved 4 games with more than 8 passes in the basket, half of what he achieved all last season (8).
His image spida I needed an appetizer like this.
3 – Ja Morant (Memphis Grizzlies)
- Statistics: 32.6 points (52.9% on FG), 4.4 rebounds and 6.8 assists
The energy player. Ja Morant was able to make up for the loss of Jaren Jackson Jr. solidly presenting his MVP candidacy. The Grizzlies play at the pace of the point guard and he commands them at breakneck speed. And it’s that only Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (27.2) is averaging more classes at the rim than Morant (22.2) in the entire league.
Just the increase in responsibilities has caused him to stop being efficient in some aspects, but in return he continues to throw as much as anyone in transition (87th percentile) and direct blocks (70th). Most impressive is the forward step he appears to take on the jump shot: He shoots 62.5% of his 3s from the pass and 53.3% from the dribble.
The Grizzlies’ defense isn’t exactly stellar, so it’s hard to believe Morant could make a strong case. But if Memphis remains in the top 3 of the West, maybe his options will change.
2 – Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks)
- Statistics: 36.7 points (50.3% FG), 9.5 rebounds and 8.7 assists
His absence Jaylen Brunson The Mavs are already noticing, but not so much Luka Doncic, for whom the recent EuroBasket was a perfect fit. The Slovenian upped his performance even further and in the absence of a partner at his level, raised his bid.
The former Real Madrid forward got off to a sensational start, becoming the first and only player in history to add over 200 points, 50 rebounds and 50 assists in his first 6 games. A fact that makes him the first scorer in the league despite 22.6% in triples and with an impressive usage rate of 39.4%. A high score as a result of production in the paint (19.0 ppg), second highest in the NBA.
But his good start isn’t just his accuracy from under the arc. also with how he moves the ball. And it is that despite the long time he spends on making decisions, his volume attendance losses it’s low (2.89), even more so compared to someone on the same scale (for example, Trae Young, 4.14).
If he keeps it up, Doncic could even make it averaging a triple-double at the end of the lesson. A milestone only close to Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook.
1 – Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)
- Statistics: 34.4 points (60.4% FG), 14.0 rebounds and 5.8 assists
Giannis Antetokounmpo picked up the season where he left off. The Greek seems to have no rival on the field and his continuous progress in all fields of competition makes him TSN’s favorite in the newsroom right now to win MVP.
No one should be surprised by this start from the Bucks star, the main beneficiary of the punishment imposed on him. tactics are missing. Giannis has seen his production in transition increase significantly and by the time he gets to the paint he is nearly impossible to slow down.
Milwaukee’s terrible start has its mark, even with the absence of Khris Middleton and the apparent weakness of their second unit. Greek is the antidote to all ills.
Since the 2011-2012 season, no player has reached 3 MVPs (Lebron James was the last). Will Giannis join the elite club where Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson or Larry Bird, among others, reside?
votes and positions
| Pos. | Player | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | John Antetokounmpo | 28 |
| two | Luka Doncic | Twenty-one |
| 3 | Donovan Mitchell | 19 |
| 4 | Ja Morad | 8 |
| 5 | Devin Booker | 7 |
| 6 | Jason Tatum | 6 |
| 7 | Bring on Young | 1 |
voting
| Pos. | Serge Rabinal (@S_Rabinal) | Leandro Fernandez (@FernandezLea) | Scott Rafferty (@crabdribbles) | John Estevez (@JuanEstevez90) | Carl Gay (@TheCarlanGay) | Kyle Irving (@kyleirv_) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | John Antetokounmpo | John Antetokounmpo | John Antetokounmpo | John Antetokounmpo | Luka Doncic | John Antetokounmpo |
| two | Luka Doncic | Ja Morad | Luka Doncic | Devin Booker | Donovan Mitchell | Donovan Mitchell |
| 3 | Donovan Mitchell | Luka Doncic | Donovan Mitchell | Donovan Mitchell | John Antetokounmpo | Luka Doncic |
| 4 | Devin Booker | Donovan Mitchell | Ja Morad | Luka Doncic | Jason Tatum | Jason Tatum |
| 5 | Ja Morad | Jason Tatum | Devin Booker | Ja Morad | Bring on Young | Devin Booker |
The views expressed here do not necessarily represent the NBA or its organizations.
