The 2022-23 NBA MVP Race: Best of October – Media Patrollers

The race for the MVPthe most prestigious individual prize awarded by the NBA During the regular season, this is one of the longest and most difficult battles to win. Not only do you need to perform well and be consistent, but you also need to be part of a team that is in relevant roles.

With only two weeks of activity in the Season 2022-2023 the race for the MVP title is as open as the rest of the competition. It is not yet known who the contenders are and who will soon have to think about the Draft; the same goes for this price.

MORE | NBA Power Rankings: The best and worst teams to start the 2022-2023 season

A sample of less than 10 games does not allow us to draw many conclusions, but it does allow us to deduce certain tendencies among the protagonists of the game. For this reason, the editorial staff of The Sporting News elected his five MVP favorites October’s MVP of the Month. The scoring system is very simple: The first gets 5 points; the second, 4; And so on.

Subscribe to NBA League Pass to watch all matches: United States | Rest of the world

5 – Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns)

• Statistics: 29.3 points (52.9% in TC), 3.3 rebounds and 5.5 assists

The Suns are still here, and while they aren’t as exciting anymore, Devin Booker is still playing at a very high level. legitimate level of MVP.

The Phoenix shooting guard signs his best start for career scorer by a wide margin. He has 176 points overall, 33 more than his previous high in 2019-20. This is due, in part, to the fact that he is much more aggressive in his attempts at the edge of the basket (68% of shots), but also to the great moment he lives since the… midrange, where it comes to connect the 46.9% of his 6.9 average shots.

If Phoenix continues to hold on to the top, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Booker establish himself as a major MVP contender.

4 – Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers)

• Statistics: 32.2 points (49.6% in TC), 4.5 rebounds and 7.3 assists.

Darius Garland’s expected absence due to an eye injury has only sparked a wave of excitement. Donovan Mitchell absolutely unleashed. Spida landed on his feet at those Cavs who made the best start to the season possible, dropping just one loss and displaying elite defense.

Mitchell has integrated perfectly and forms with Caris LeVert a very difficult offensive pair to stop.

The shooting guard not only fulfills the expected scoring role, but is also a passing leader, as proven by his… 7.3 assists on average. In fact, he has already had 4 games with more than 8 assists, i.e. twice less than for the whole of last season (8).

The image of Spida needed such a departure.

3 – Ja Morant (Memphis Grizzlies)

• Statistics: 32.6 points (52.9% in TC), 4.4 rebounds and 6.8 assists

Energy is playful. Ja Morant made up for the absence of Jaren Jackson Jr. by presenting his candidacy for the title of MVP. The Grizzlies play to the sound of the point guard and he commands them at breakneck speed. Only Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (27.2) has a higher shooting average than Morant (22.2) in the entire league.

Precisely, the increased responsibilities have caused him to cease to be effective in certain facets, but in return he still flies as a person in transition (87th percentile) and in direct blocking (70th). The most striking thing is the step forward he seems to take in his jump shot: he makes 62.5% of his three-point shots after a pass and 53.3% after a rebound.

The Grizzlies’ defensive level isn’t exactly stellar, which is why it’s hard to think Morant can make a solid case. Although if Memphis stays in the top 3 in the West, maybe their odds will change.

2 – Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks)

• Statistics: 36.7 points (50.3% in TC), 9.5 rebounds and 8.7 assists.

The lack of Jalen Brunson The Mavs are already feeling it, but not so much Luka Doncic, for whom the recent Eurobasket was perfect. The Slovenian has further increased his performance and, in the absence of a companion of his level, he has increased his contribution.

The former Real Madrid player started in sensational fashion, being the first and only player in history to score over 200 points, 50 rebounds and 50 assists in the first 6 games of the season. A fact that makes him the best scorer in the league, despite the 22.6% for three point shots and with a colossal utilization rate of 39.4%. A high score thanks to its production in the paint (19.0 points), the second highest in the NBA.

But his stellar start isn’t just down to his precision under the arc, but also the way he moves the ball. And despite the significant time he devotes to decision-making, his volume of turnovers per attendance is low (2.89), even more so when compared to someone on the same scale (eg Trae Young, 4.14).

If he continues like this, Doncic might even get to achieve a triple-double on average at the end of the season. A step that only Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook have taken.

1 – Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)

• Statistics: 34.4 points (60.4% in TC), 14.0 rebounds and 5.8 assists.

Giannis Antetokounmpo started the season where he left off. The Greek appears to be unrivaled on the pitch and his steady progression in all aspects of the game makes him a top player. TSN’s editorial favorite for MVP.

Nobody should be surprised by this exit from the Bucks star, the main beneficiary of the introduction of the penalty against the tactical error. Giannis has seen his production in transition increase dramatically and when he arrives in the paint, it’s nearly impossible to slow him down.

Milwaukee’s superb start has its hallmarks, even despite the absence of Khris Middleton and the apparent weakness of their second unit. Greek is the antidote to all evil.

Since the 2011-2012 season, no player has reached 3 MVPs (LeBron James Will Giannis join the select club of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and others?

Voting panel

The opinions expressed in this document do not necessarily represent the NBA or its organizations.