The first week in the NBA was an exciting one with its greatest players picking up where Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant left off, writes GRANT MILLER.
The NBA’s first week starts with two players averaging a triple-double in LeBron James and Russell Westbrook. Kawhi Leonard has shown Mamba Mentality, along with a few of Bryant’s moves (that he, in turn, stole from Michael Jordan), on offense just like he always has on defense. Anthony Davis has done something that the great Jordan couldn’t, and James Harden made his own history as well. That makes all of these players contenders in the MVP race.
Russell Westbrook (38.7 ppg, 12.3 rpg, 11.7 apg)
Westbrook is putting up the numbers everyone expected the moment Kevin Durant signed with the Golden State Warriors, starting with two triple-doubles in a row after the first game of the season.
He’s the first person since Johnson to do that. One of those games was a 51-point explosion against the Phoenix Suns that was a double-edged sword because he shot 44 times and shot a low percentage like he has most of his career. His other two games, he shot less than half as much and made over 50 percent, and that’s the Westbrook the Oklahoma City Thunder need.
As long as he continues to shoot better, works to lower his turnovers (he’s averaging nearly five right now) and leads the Thunder to a successful season, he will compete for the MVP trophy. Of course, Westbrook isn’t really thinking about his individual accolades.
‘I just like to win,’ Westbrook said. ‘That’s my main thing. My job is come out and do whatever it takes to win, and that’s what I try to do every night.’
And that’s why he won player of the week for the Western Conference.
LeBron James (20.5 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 9.5 apg)
James won player of the week for the Eastern Conference for a reason. He grabbed a triple-double in his first game and his team is undefeated. Though he has decreased his point production, both his assists and rebounds are career highs, showing that he continues to play the role of facilitator while giving Kyrie Irving (26.8 ppg) the room to lead the team in scoring. Irving would be the first player to outscore James on the same team, and James wouldn’t have it any other way.
‘I think the sky’s the limit for the kid,’ James said. ‘He’s only [24] years old, so he has so much room for improvement. He hasn’t even gotten to his prime yet.’
As long as James continues to do it all and leave Irving room to do what he does best, the Cleveland Cavaliers will continue to succeed.
Kawhi Leonard (28.4 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.8 apg, 3 spg)
Leonard started off the season scoring 35 points and employing some of Bryant’s scoring techniques, leading some people to believe he worked out with Bryant over the summer. It turns out that’s not true.
‘I didn’t work out with Kobe,’ Leonard said. ‘I don’t know where that came from. I wish I could have. He’s retired, so I just wanted to give him some personal space. Maybe next summer.’
There’s no mistaking Leonard has taken a few pointers from watching Bryant, though. His improved mid-range jumping and knack for getting to the line helped him score 30 points or more in three out of five games so far while shooting perfect from the charity stripe in all but one game. Considering he shot 15 free throws in his season opener, that accuracy will continue to boost his numbers.
Leonard hasn’t lost any dominance in his natural territory, defence. He’s currently averaging career highs in both points and steals.
James Harden (32 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 11.8 apg)
Mike D’Antoni’s ‘points guard’ experiment is working so far, even if the Houston Rockets are 2-2.
Harden looks natural at the point-guard position, averaging a career high in assists. He’s also averaging a career-high five turnovers that has climbed with his assists each year.
This isn’t surprising for such a ball-dominant guard, but it won’t hurt to get those turnovers down. It might help the Houston Rockets get their wins up. Even in last night’s losing effort, Harden became the first Houston Rockets player in franchise history to score over 40 points, dish 15 assists, and grab five rebounds.
He only threw away one turnover that game, so he’s progressing all round.
Anthony Davis (37 ppg, 13.2 rpg, 2.5 apg, 3.0 bpg, 3 spg)
The only reason Davis isn’t higher up on this list is because his team has yet to win a game, and losing teams seldom have MVPs. Davis has mastered the art of going down swinging with 95 points in his first two games, a greater start than Jordan himself.
He is averaging 13 points more than last season and posting career highs in blocks and steals. Barring anything miraculous happening somewhere else in the league, Davis has established himself as the best power forward, and if he doesn’t get MVP, he might get the Most Improved Player of the Year Award.
If the New Orleans Pelicans continue to lose, Davis is certainly free of blame. Frustration is another story.
‘We can’t get a win,’ Davis said. ‘It’s frustrating. Whatever we need to do, we need to do it fast.’
*Miller is on a three-month secondment to South Africa where he is working with Highbury Media in Cape Town
