Kia MVP Ladder: Luka Doncic begins robust in chase for {hardware}

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Luka Doncic has registered 30 factors in seven straight video games to open the season.

Would possibly as effectively begin with some contentiousness.

On one hand, we have Donovan Mitchell residing as much as billing as arguably the highest acquisition of the 2022 offseason, having lifted Cleveland to a 6-1 file, highlighted Wednesday by an extra time thriller towards the Boston Celtics for the crew’s sixth straight win. But on this first rating of gamers for the 2022-23 Kia Race to the MVP Ladder, the Cavaliers’ showstopper checks in at No. 3 on the checklist.

Blame at the very least a few of that on “Luka Magic.”

The NBA’s main scorer and betting favourite to win his first MVP award, Luka Doncic Euro-stepped into historical past Wednesday by notching his seventh consecutive recreation with at the very least 30 factors within the Dallas Mavericks’ 103-100 wins towards the Utah Jazz. Doncic’s present tear registers because the longest 30-point streak to begin a season since 1962-63, when Wilt Chamberlain lit up the league for 23-consecutive 30-point outings.

Doncic turned simply the third participant to perform this feat. Chamberlain did it twice (1959-60 and 1962-63), whereas Jack Twyman reeled off seven-straight 30-point outings to tip off the 1959-60 season.

Along with scoring 33 factors towards the Jazz, Doncic dished 11 assists to maneuver previous Michael Jordan (38 video games) for 14th place on the NBA’s all-time checklist of video games with 30-plus factors and 10-plus assists.

“Once you speak about MJ and Wilt, that is uncommon air,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd stated. “We get to see that on a nightly foundation. A 23-year-old child that’s enjoying at this degree is de facto, actually particular, and funky to see. He can do it in so some ways while you speak about posting up, attending to the basket, taking pictures the three, taking pictures the little step-back. It simply exhibits the main target that he has proper now. He is carrying the crew and placing the crew within the place to win.”

That is to not say that Mitchell is not cooking, too. In any case, the 26-year-old leads the league in clutch scoring for a Cavs squad that ranks No. 1 within the NBA in clutch minutes and second in clutch successful proportion (.857).

However in an MVP voting world the place narrative usually triumphs, Doncic would possibly maintain an early edge right here. It is definitely price mentioning his lightning-fast begin to this season, particularly after he struggled within the first month of 2021-22 whereas working himself again into form.

“I simply know from final yr I needed to begin higher as a result of the best way I began final yr wasn’t acceptable,” Doncic stated. “So, I attempted to study from that and simply be higher than final yr.”

Thus far, mission completed for Doncic, who debuts at No. 2 within the Kia Race to the MVP Ladder behind two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. Ja Morant and Devin Booker spherical out the highest 5, whereas reining two-time MVP Nikola Jokic checks in at No. 9.

And now, the highest 5 within the 2022-23 Kia Race to the MVP Ladder:

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

Season stats: 33.6 ppg, 12.7 rpg, 5.0 apg

In case you take out his season debut (21 factors), Antetokounmpo has scored at the very least 30 factors in six consecutive video games — to tie his career-long streak from November of 2019 — in main the Bucks to a 7-0 file. That good begin ranks as Milwaukee’s finest begin for the reason that 2018-19 season. If Antetokounmpo, 27, places up one other 30-point recreation Friday at Minnesota (10ET, ESPN), he’ll tie the third-longest 30-point scoring streak in franchise historical past. Final season, he turned the primary participant in NBA historical past to common at the very least 25 factors, 10 rebounds and 5 assists for 4 consecutive seasons, a streak that appears more likely to maintain going.

2. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks

Season stats: 36.1 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 9.0 apg

Credit score the point-guard tutelage handed on by Kidd, however along with the eye-popping manufacturing, we’re seeing progress from Doncic as a frontrunner. That is led to this squad enjoying with loads of chemistry and camaraderie that ought to serve Dallas effectively within the postseason. Earlier than this newest milestone, Doncic turned the primary participant in NBA historical past to tally 200-plus factors, 50-plus rebounds and 50-plus assists by way of the primary six video games of a season. “Luka’s a savant in each sense of the phrase because it applies to basketball,” Mavericks guard Spencer Dinwiddie stated. “The most effective is but to return.”

3. Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers

Season stats: 31.1 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 7.1 apg

Let’s revisit this monster commerce from again in September. Now, maybe, you perceive why Cleveland went all-in to amass Mitchell, who turned the third participant in league historical past rating 30 factors or extra in every of his first three video games with a franchise. Cavaliers coach JB Bickerstaff sums it up effectively in describing Mitchell’s “will to win that is not matched by many.” You noticed all of it on full show late in Cleveland’s OT win vs. Boston. Try the full package deal of highlights to get a deeper really feel for Mitchell’s impression. “Spida” and Darius Garland comprise a troublesome backcourt.

4. Sure Morant, Memphis Grizzlies

Season stats: 31.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 6.4 apg

Morant led the league in paint scoring (16.6 factors per recreation) in 2021-22, and though it is too early to positively name proper now, it seems he is improved 3-point taking pictures (51.9%) this season. His doing so opens up extra of the offense for Memphis. Defensively, he is nonetheless a piece in progress. However you possibly can’t argue outcomes, as Memphis is 5-3 headed into Friday’s recreation vs. Charlotte (8ET, NBA League Passport). The continued growth of Desmond Bane solely helps, because the Grizzlies now seem to have a authentic secondary playmaker to enhance Morant.

5. Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns

Season stats: 27.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 5.4 apg

The fourth-place finisher in final yr’s MVP race, Booker scored 194 factors by way of the primary seven video games, the fourth-most factors by a Phoenix participant in franchise historical past over such a span to begin a season. Booker turned 26 years previous on Oct. 30, however by then had produced the sixth-most factors (11,363) earlier than a twenty sixth birthday in NBA historical past. Though Booker ranked tenth within the NBA in scoring (getting into Friday’s video games), his worth goes past the numbers. The eighth-year veteran continues to develop as a playmaker and, most significantly, a frontrunner for a crew that goals to complete this season among the many high within the West.

The Subsequent 5:

6. Damian Lillard, Portland Path Blazers
seventh yayson tatum, boston celtics
8.Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors
9. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
10. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder

And 5 extra (listed alphabetically): Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics; Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors; DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls; Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets; Trae Younger, Atlanta Hawks.

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Michael C. Wright is a senior author for NBA.com. You may e-mail him right herediscover his archive right here and comply with him on Twitter.

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