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The NBA 2023 season is now well underway and there has already been thrills, spills and shocks all across the league. The Utah Jazz have had a surprisingly strong start and currently top the Western Conference with a 12-6 record. The LA Lakers on the other hand have had a shockingly bad beginning to the year, finding themselves second bottom of the Western. NBA betting lines currently have the Celtics as the favourites to become champions this year as the continue their strong start to the season.
There have been some incredible solo performances in the league so far from rookies and veterans alike. Let’s take a look at the players to watch out for in the NBA this season.
Stephen Curry
If you know anything about basketball, then this one goes without saying. If you are not as familiar, let’s run down some of his accomplishments. He is a 4x NBA champion, 2x NBA MVP, 8x All-Star and 2x NBA scoring champion. He holds the NBA records for regular season made three-pointers, most three pointers in a single finals game, most points scored in an Overtime period. That is not even half of his accomplishments and if we were to name them all we would be here all day. Curry has been integral to the Warriors franchise for over a decade now and at 34 he shows no signs of slowing down. Currently third in the league for points-per game though with a fewer average minutes than second and first, the Warriors’ all time points leader is set for another incredible season.
Paolo Banchero
Paolo Banchero is the best rookie in the league this year. He is averaging a near elite-level 23.5 PPG for the Orlando Magic, the best of any rookie this season, and has turned plenty of heads so far. Earlier on in the season, he became the first teenager in NBA history to score over 20 points in their first three games. Whilst his talent may come as no surprise seeing as he was picked first overall in the draft, no one could have predicted just how well he has started his career in the league. Whilst the Magic have not performed so well in the league so far, Banchero is an incredibly bright light in what has been a relatively dim start to the season in Orlando.
Benedict Mathurin
Whilst Banchero may be the best rookie in the league so far, Benedict Mathurin is certainly hot on his heels. With the second-best points average of any rookie in the league this season at 19.1, these numbers are even more incredible when you remember that the Quebecer is yet to even start a game for the Indiana Pacers. Despite this, he is their second leading scorer and his minutes are sure to increase in the near future. The Pacers have had a strong start so far and Mathurin’s efforts in helping have not gone unnoticed.
Luka Doncic
Luka Doncic just has that it factor. At just 23 years of age, he has already established himself as one of the top five players in the league and there seems to be no doubt that when looking back on his career in years to come he will be one of the greatest NBA players of the 2020s. He currently leads the league in PPG with 34.3 along with an leading efficiency rating of 36.5. Whilst he is yet to get his hands on a championship ring, the Dallas Mavericks have made a good start to the season, and he will have high hopes in 2023. He is a GM’s dream and with this Mavs team built around him, the sky is the limit.
Jaden Ivey
Yet another rookie turning some heads, Jaden Ivey has started life well at the Detroit Pistons. Averaging an impressive 16.1 PPG so far, he has provided great explosivity to the Pistons’ backcourt. His playmaking has also been impressive so far averaging 4.1 assists per game and his presence at the rim has been welcomed in Detroit. He was not far off a triple double in Boston with 10 rebounds, 19 points and 6 assists and he is sure to be the Pistons’ ace in the hole for years to come.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
The ‘Greek Freak’ is one of the most dominant players in the league on both ends of the court. His athleticism is scary for his stature, hence the nickname, and he is just as capable of weaving through guards from the three-point line as he is guarding one through give. What is even scarier is that he is constantly improving, as proven by his marked improvement in his shooting over the last couple of seasons. He just might be the best basketball player on earth and he may remain at that point for quite some time.
