When the various publications around the NBA media world made their season predictions, a lot of familiar names came up as MVP candidates. Luka Doncic was installed as the betting favorite, Giannis Antetokounmpo got some buzz to reclaim his throne and win a third MVP, and younger player like Jayson Tatum, Ja Morant and Devin Booker were mentioned as those ready to ascend.
All of those predictions look good three weeks into the season, as all of the aforementioned players are having great seasons. Yet the one name that never came up, that no one expected to explode into having a top-5 season, was Donovan Mitchell.
The stars are out in the NBA this season, and the MVP Watch showcases some amazing performances. How has the Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell broken in?
Newly arrived on a Cleveland Cavaliers team not yet ready for contention, this was a season of evaluation for Mitchell. Would he look shaky without Rudy Gobert setting screens and guarding the rim behind him, or would he look liberated in a new location with younger, more dynamic teammates?
The answer was clearly the latter, as Mitchell has been incredible and the Cavs are riding an eight-game winning streak. Any discussion of MVP candidates right now has to include Mitchell. Does that mean he has crashed the party all the way to the top? In many other years, the answer is probably yes, but a few other star players are having absolutely bonkers starts to the season.
Let’s rank the current MVP candidates, starting from “Freak” (Greek, that is) and dropping to the group rounding out the Top 10. Which players have been the most incredible, the most successful, the most valuable? And just how high does Mitchell land?