Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been on an epic run as a scorer since last season.
When former NBA commissioner David Stern, with an assist from FIBA, devised a plan decades ago to open the doors to foreign players, did anyone expect those doors to become … floodgates?
As we introduce the debut of the most hotly debated weekly chart in the game — the Kia Race to the MVP Ladder — the truth of the matter is the game is being enhanced by flourishing foreigners who have elevated the popularity and appetite for the NBA. This was the blueprint when Stern rolled out the welcoming mat to the world.
The purpose was to make the game truly global, much like soccer, and ignite a passion for basketball among young athletes worldwide. It was to give them another athletic option, grow the game, and, most importantly, expand the NBA’s reach.
Well, mission accomplished, and then some.
If the Kia Most Valuable Player Award is the true measuring stick for being best in the game, then foreign-born players are firmly in the conversation for that. In this week’s Kia MVP Ladder, the first six spots are occupied by non-U.S.-born players.
Not since James Harden in 2017-18 has an American-born player won MVP. Since then, seven straight seasons now, foreign-born players have taken ownership of the Kia MVP hardware.
And truthfully, by all reasonable logic, unless there’s an unexpected development over the next five months, foreign dominance will continue. In particular, Canada, Serbia, Greece, France and Slovenia are playing 5-against-1 — they’re just too much to handle.
One of the byproducts of this blueprint: Some of those kids in faraway places who grew up idolizing Kobe Bryant, Stephen Curry, LeBron James and Kevin Durant became great themselves and are already legendary. And dare we say, extremely popular among American fans, who care more about the quality of the game and less about the passport.
What we’re seeing in the NBA from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokić, Luka Dončić, Giannis Antetokounmpo and others is a confirmation of the work by Stern: the popularity of the game globally and, of course, how globalism has improved the product.
And now, the Ladder …
Setting the stage this week: The matchup that the ladder needs and deserves will happen Wednesday, Lakers at Thunder, when the reigning Kia MVP (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) greets Luka Dončić (arguably the greatest active player without an MVP). Is it Dončić’s turn this year? Or will Gilgeous-Alexander go back-to-back? Drama awaits.
The stat to know: Dončić opened the season with three straight 40-point games, not done since Wilt Chamberlain in 1961 and ‘62.
What they are saying: “His life is so consistent in terms of routine … so when the lights are on and you see consistent performance, it’s backed by consistent and disciplined practice.” — Thunder coach Mark Daigneault on Shai.
1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
Last week: He ripped through the Clippers and Pelicans with at least 30 points in each game to stretch OKC’s winning streak to eight to open the season, before falling to Portland (OKC was shorthanded).
Season stats: 33.3 points, 6.3 assists, 5.4 rebounds
His case: It takes a lot to knock the reigning champion from the top spot, and while the posse is definitely breathing hard, Gilgeous-Alexander shows no sign of surrender. His game, focus and ability to keep OKC in the West’s attic remain sharp and undisputed.
He began the season with a pop — 35 points in a double-overtime win against Houston — and kept his performances a level up. He has a 55-piece and has scored 30 or more in eight of his nine games. He has 30 points without playing the fourth quarter four times. The man has superpowers.
2. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Last week: He bailed out the Bucks and rescued prosecuted ex-Pacer Myles Turner with a colossal performance in Indiana — 33 points, 13 rebounds — sweetly sealed by the game-winning jumper at the buzzer.
Season stats: 32.3 points, 12.6 rebounds, 6.3 assists
His case: For those who said, with some justification, the Bucks would buckle from the weight of roster lightweights — does that make grammatical sense? — Antetokounmpo is taking that personally. Without the benefit of an All-Star teammate, he needs to be massive almost on a nightly basis to give the Bucks a chance to win. And Antetokounmpo has followed through with that challenge.
Perhaps nobody on the Ladder carries a bigger burden, and these are the times when you discover how valuable a player is and needs to be. The two-time MVP seems hell-bent on hauling the Bucks to respectability, and the scary thing is, he might pull it off before the season’s done. Lots of games left to be played, though.
3. Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
Last week: Jokić dropped 33 points (12-18 shooting), 15 rebounds, 16 assists and three steals against Miami, logging a triple-double in three quarters of playing time. He has 71 triple-doubles in his career.
Season stats: 24.1 points, 13.4 rebounds, 12.0 assists.
His case: Oh, look — Jokić is averaging a triple-double. Where have we seen this before? He’s on a pace few, if any, in the NBA can match. (He has five triple-doubles already, matching the rest of the league.) We are witnessing one of the most dominant five-year individual runs in league history, and that’s not a stretch to say that, as he’s won three MVPs and finished runner-up twice in that span.
If there’s a nit-pick, Jokić’s current scoring is slightly below his standard, which, of course, is pretty steep. That shouldn’t be held against him because it means he finally has help and therefore doesn’t need to drop 25-30 points a night. Besides, his efficiency is superb at 61%.
4. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
Last week: The last two games — averaging 14 points and 8.5 rebounds, both losses — represented a reset for Wembanyama, whose opening week was a total coming-out party.
Season stats: 25.6 points, 12.9 rebounds, 4.1 blocks
His case: Wembanyama captured the imagination of the hoop world. He got off to a sizzling start, dominating both ends of the floor while showing improvements in all phases and igniting conversation about his potential for greatness (which was steep to begin with). The feats were off and running: 40 points against Anthony Davis, nine swats against the Pelicans and falling one rebound shy of six straight games of double-figures on the glass.
It is perhaps inevitable that Wembanyama will win at least one MVP, and that’s a very conservative estimate. Of course, if he gets on an MVP roll, it’ll only keep denying Americans for years.
5. Luka Dončić, Los Angeles Lakers
Last week: Dončić averaged a triple-double in wins over the Spurs and Heat and posted 45 points per game in the (short) month of October.
Season stats: 40 points, 11 rebounds, 9.2 assists
His case: The biggest strike (so far) against Dončić is obvious: he’s missing games. With the threshold for award eligibility sitting at 65 games minimum, Dončić can miss only 13 more between now and early April. In that sense, he’s losing the margin for error. Last season, he didn’t qualify for the Kia MVP chase because of too many missed games due to injury.
But when he has played this season, wow. He opened the season with 43, 49 and 44 points, then dropped his 83rd career triple-double. He’s also getting to the line, averaging 14 free throw attempts this season. Evidently, his new body fits him, but will it hold up over the season?
The next 5:
6. Josh Giddey, Chicago Bulls
7. Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers
8. Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
9. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
10. Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets
And five more (listed alphabetically): Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns; Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks; Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons; Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers; Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz
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Shaun Powell has covered the NBA since 1985. You can e-mail him at spowell@nba.com, find his archive here and follow him on X.
