The NBA season has hit the one-month mark, so let’s hand out some early awards! Who has been the most valuable player so far? The best rookie? The league’s breakout star? Our writers weigh in with their picks.
The MVP of the First Month is …
Kelly Iko: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder. In a perfect world, both Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokić would share an MVP, but I’m giving the slightest of edges to SGA because the Thunder have been near perfect, and SGA is actually improving on last season’s MVP campaign. Oklahoma City is in ruins without him and he’s doing all of this without the help of his sidekick, Jalen Williams. Following up an all-time season with an even better one — one that hasn’t come at the expense of team success — is an easy way to win back-to-back awards.
Tom Haberstroh: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. His season is so hilarious. He has played in only seven fourth quarters in 18 games and yet leads the NBA in points in clutch situations. We did a whole “Big Number” episode on this last week and I still can’t get over it. SGA’s performance when it matters most gives him the edge over Jokić in my book.
Morten Stig Jensen: Nikola Jokić, Nuggets. Give me the Serbian center who is averaging 35/12/11 over the past 11 games, in which Denver has gone 9-2. I love Shai, and Luka Dončić deserves a mention here as well, but I just can’t — nor want to — ignore what Jokić is doing. The next few weeks, when he’s without both of Christian Braun and Aaron Gordon will be incredibly interesting in terms of how we define the term “most valuable.”
Steve Jones: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Thunder are rolling through the league and Shai has … gotten even better? He has scored 30+ points in 15 games this season (most in the NBA). In November, he’s averaging 31.3 points and 7.1 assists, with 55.8/49.2/91.2 shooting splits — while playing in only three (of 12) fourth quarters this month.
Nekias Duncan: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. I’m torn between him and Jokić — you know, the guy averaging a 30-point triple-double — but I’ll give the slight edge to Shai right now. Putting up 32-5-7 on 67.1 true shooting (career high) is freaking absurd, especially when he’s rarely playing fourth quarters. He’s become a true three-level threat. The playmaking has grown; he’s quietly posting a career-low turnover rate (6.9%) despite his burden. The Thunder, who have dealt with an assortment of injuries, are outscoring teams by over 20 points per 100 possessions with Shai on the floor and are on track to win 70+ games regardless. What a run.
The Rookie of the First Month is …
Duncan: Kon Knueppel, Hornets. With respect to Cooper Flagg finding his footing (and smarter usage) as of late, it kinda has to be Kon Knueppel. He leads all rookies in scoring (19.4) and is doing so efficiently (58/44/90 splits, 65.4 true shooting), but I implore folks to examine the how of his buckets. He’s not just a lethal shooter; he’s an incredible off-ball mover and screener. The driving chops are real, with room for more as he gets even stronger. Toss in some of the passing reads he’s flashed so far (watch him in quick-hitting empty side actions) and there’s legitimate star potential here.
Jones: Kon Knueppel. No player has made more 3s through the first 17 games of their career than Knueppel, but the shooting feels like a starting point. On a nightly basis he plays with poise, has a feel for the game and consistently does the little things. Watch his footwork when he is moving off ball, the ways he relocates into space to get open for a 3. Add in his growing confidence on drives and you can see why the ceiling is high.
Haberstroh: Kon Knueppel. After I gave my vote to Cooper Flagg last Wednesday, Knueppel promptly scored 82 points in three games while missing like two shots. Noted. Is he the next Klay Thompson? Khris Middleton? Devin Booker? I can’t wait to find out.
Iko: Kon Knueppel. Charles Lee’s offensive empowerment system is putting the ball more in the rookie’s hands and turning him into a true half-court threat. Besides the efficient shooting, Knueppel’s assist rate is awesome for a wing and even more impressive for a rookie; he’s a willing screener who understands angles and makes simple, but effective reads; and he’s hitting the boards at an outstanding rate. It’s impossible to ignore what Knueppel’s doing on a nightly basis.
Jensen: Kon Knueppel. Dear Kon, I owe you an enormous apology. I suspected we wouldn’t see you break out until Year 2, as I wondered if your ball-handling and basketball IQ would translate immediately, or was in need of a year of data. Apparently, I was wrong, and boy am I happy to be so, because goodness are you NBA ready — and the ROY favorite.
The Most Surprising Team of the First Month is …
Jensen: Raptors. I mean, did we expect Toronto to be this good with that many questionable long-range shooters? I sure didn’t. They’re currently the kings of the two-pointer (third in volume, fifth in efficiency) and while I may have huge questions about their ceiling, they’re just … taking really good shots. Also … 71.4% efficiency at the rim, as a team? Which makes up almost 29% of their offense? Consider me impressed!
Jones: Pistons. Even if you admitted there was opportunity to be had in the Eastern Conference, it’s hard to imagine you saw the Pistons winning 12 straight to get to the top of the East. Cade Cunningham’s scoring and playmaking has led the way, Jalen Duren’s growth on both ends has added to the base, and the team defends with physicality every night. There is a buy-in and belief with this Pistons team that continues to grow.
Haberstroh: Suns. If you told me the Suns received a go-to scorer in the Kevin Durant deal and it was gonna be Dillon Brooks, I would have told you to go take a nap. And yet, Brooks is averaging 21.4 points per game while leading a shockingly gnarly defensive group. Soft schedule, sure, but an 11-6 start out West with a first-year head coach is legitimately gobsmacking.
Duncan: Raptors. If you told me they would be good, I’d think it would be heavily driven by their defense. After a shaky start, the Raptors have indeed been strong on that end, ranking sixth in non-garbage time defensive rating. The offense, not just being good, but elite — fifth overall and first in half-court efficiency — wasn’t on my radar. Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram have legit All-Star cases; RJ Barrett has been a monster against tilted defenses; Immanuel Quickley is flamethrowing from deep. This bench unit, with Sandro Mamukelashvili emerging as a legitimate Sixth Man of the Year candidate, has been outstanding. Head coach Darko Rajaković has proven to be adaptable on both ends and deserves his flowers.
Iko: Suns. While you were sleeping, they have reeled off eight wins in their last 10, are sixth in offense and fifth in defense in November, and are at an all-time vibes high despite already trotting out nine different starting lineups with a slew of injuries. Royce O’Neale is shooting the leather off the ball, Jordan Goodwin’s minutes have been critical on both ends of the floor and head coach Jordan Ott has them tactically astute. Sign me up for heavy usage Dillon Brooks; I don’t care about the efficiency.
The Most Disappointing Team of the First Month is …
Haberstroh: Clippers. Maybe burn a calorie? After being a top-3 defense last season, the NBA’s oldest team has been one of the very worst this season. No team has been outscored more on fastbreaks. You’d think Ivica Zubac got traded in the offseason or something, but he’s played in every game! We know they aren’t too interested in planting trees, but planting your flag in something would be nice.
Duncan: Clippers. I was incredibly high on them heading into the year, but the disaster scenario has hit so far. We’ve gotten only seven games of Kawhi Leonard, a bit of a plateau from Zubac (still very good, not concerned long term), and the collective age (and sometimes, indifference) of this group pops just about every time they have to run back in transition. There’s still plenty of season left, but they’ve earnestly made me sad this year. Well, not James Harden — he’s been awesome and deserves All-Star and All-NBA love for his start.
Jensen: Clippers. Bradley Beal is done for the year, and Chris Paul is done for his career. It’s not pretty in Los Angeles these days, even if Harden and Zubac are doing everything in their power to keep them relevant. However, the Clippers aren’t doing themselves any favors by not using John Collins more offensively. Nine shots per game? Are you kidding me, Ty Lue?!
Iko: Grizzlies. They have won two in a row, but even that isn’t enough to deter from a disappointing campaign overall. And it’s not even so much of a knock on head coach Tuomas Iisalo, although his attempts of forcing a round peg into a square hole haven’t been well-received at times. It’s more of a disheartening feeling, seeing Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. (who hasn’t adapted well to the new system) in street clothes, looking at the collection of awkward-fitting talent on the roster and wondering what the real direction is. Memphis being 6-11 and just two games ahead of 14th place is just a bummer.
Jones: Clippers. Harden is giving every single thing he has, but in no way did I see this season having the Clippers closer to the Pelicans in the standings than the Golden State Warriors.
The Breakout Star of the First Month is …
Jones: Jalen Duren, Pistons. He has been a driving force for the Pistons, zero hesitation to hit first and finish. The passing has improved whether on the short roll or operating at the top of the key. Duren consistently roams the baseline the protect the paint. There are two players in the NBA averaging 20+ points, 10+ rebounds with one steal and one block per game. One is Victor Wembanyama, the other is Duren.
Duncan: Jalen Duren. He’s grown in the traditional aspects of being an NBA center — more consistency defending ball screens, cleaner rolls (and accompanying passes) after setting his bone-crushing screens — while cleaning the glass at an elite level. The self-creation chops have been fantastic; as of this writing, the Pistons are generating an absurd 1.42 points per possession on trips featuring a Duren drive, the best mark in the NBA among 161 players to log at least 50 drives.
Jensen: Ryan Rollins, Bucks. I’m sorely tempted to join the Jalen Duren wagon, but I’m going to take this opportunity to just give a shout-out to a guy I left off my all-breakout teams from a couple weeks ago. I needed to see more from Rollins in terms of his consistency before I fully bought in, but here we are. He’s not a star, at least not yet, but he’s productive (18.6 points, 5.9 assists), efficient (61.2 TS%), savvy, and I trust that this is permanent.
Iko: Norman Powell, Heat. Can we give him some love? Miami is a top-four team in the East, is leaning hard into Powell as a hybrid on-ball, off-ball threat and it’s paying dividends for a Heat team that has yet to see Tyler Herro on the floor this season. The transition to a new (but familiar) role has been smooth, and Powell’s 25.4 points per game and .658 true shooting percentage paint the picture of a star. Shooting over 46% from 3 on seven attempts per game — while remaining the focal point of opposing scouting reports — is bonkers.
Haberstroh: Jalen Duren. Duren’s leap this season has been a revelation. The guy was a non-factor as a scorer against New York in the playoffs, but somehow turned into Baby Shaq in the offseason. Baby Shaq who can make free throws.
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