NBA Daily: Way Too Early Look at the NBA MVP Race

The 2018-19 NBA season is just over a week old, but there has already been a multitude of standout performances. While some have eased their way into the new year, others have burst out of the gate on a mission and, while the start of the season isn’t the usual time for award talk, there have been plenty of players who have put themselves on the Most Valuable Player radar.

So, while it may be early, who has thrown their hat in the ring for the MVP award at this point in the season?

Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans

Anthony Davis has long been on the scene, but he has yet to take home any Most Valuable hardware six years into his career. That may change this season.

Davis averaged a staggering 28.1 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.6 blocks last season but, somehow, he has stepped things up in 2018. The 25-year-old power-forward has dominated the competition to the tune of 30.3 points, 13 rebounds, 5.3 assists, two steals and 3.3 blocks while shooting 59.3 percent from the field.

Davis has looked like the ultimate world-beater as he has led the Pelicans to a 3-0 record, with wins over the Houston Rockets, Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Clippers, as well as top five team ranks in points per game (first), field goal percentage (first), assists per game (first) three-point percentage (fourth) and rebounds per game (fourth).

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks have looked like a team revitalized this season after a subpar 2017 campagin. They, like the Pelicans, have found themselves with an undefeated record thus far and rank fourth and second in the NBA in points and rebounds per game, respectively.

Thanks, in large part, can be handed to the Greek Freak, Giannis Antetokounmpo

The multi-positional superstar has run roughshod over the NBA through four games. Antetokounmpo has averaged 28.5 points, 16.5 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game, all career highs, as he and others have flourished in Mike Budenholzer’s new system. The Antetokounmpo-Budenholzer duo, combined with the efforts of Khris Middleton, Eric Bledsoe and others, has the Bucks looking like a major threat in the Eastern Conference as well.

Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

After a signature 51-point outburst against the Washington Wizards, the Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry has looked like his old self through the first five games of the season.

His 2016 unanimous MVP self, to be more specific.

Curry has sustained multiple injuries over the last two seasons but it appears as if he has put that behind him. Curry has averaged 34.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game and shot 52.4 percent from three-point range on over 12 long-range shots per game. The Warriors have jumped out to a 4-1 record and, once again, look to be the best team in the NBA.

Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

After coming a game short of the postseason in 2017, the Denver Nuggets have dominated to start 2018. But not in the way one would expect.

The Nuggets, known last year for their lack of defensive effort, have started the new season 4-1 on the back of a strong defense, spearheaded by center Nikola Jokic. Denver is second in defensive rating (101 points per 100 possessions) and steals per game (9.6).

Jokic, specifically, has had the best defensive start of his young career to go along with his usual dominant offensive numbers; the big man has averaged 23.4 points, 10.6 rebounds and 6.2 assists to go along with 1.4 steals per game. Jokic has also shot 40 percent from deep on three three-point attempts per game.

If Jokic and the Nuggets can sustain their current level of play, they could find themselves in promising position as they look to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2012-13 season.

Blake Griffin, Detroit Pistons

While he hasn’t looked like the Lob-City dynamo he once was, this is the best start Blake Griffin has seen in quite some time. Maybe ever.

As the Detroit Pistons sit at 4-0, Griffin has dominated the court; he looks energized, motivated and, most importantly, healthy. In those four games, Griffin has averaged 33.8 points per game, 11 rebounds and five assists. He has shot an unsustainable 65.2 percent from three-point range on the season, but the confidence Griffin has in his shot — he has averaged 5.8 three-point attempts per game — is a more than positive sign.

If Griffin can actually stay on the court for the majority of the season, the power forward could be considered a dark horse candidate for the award, while the Pistons could be looking at their first chance at the postseason since the 2015-16 season.

While it is much, much too early to make a definitive call, these players have put themselves well ahead in the MVP field with their dominant regular season performances; other players will almost certainly join them as we move forward in the regular season. With that in mind, the 2018-19 MVP race has the makings of one of the most competitive yet.