5. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks got off to a bit of an uneven start to the season and most of that has been due to the slow ramping up of Khris Middleton’s workload (which is probably for the best and will be in the Bucks’ best interest) and the integration of Damian Lillard. Both of those fronts are better right now than they were a week ago and I anticipate that will continue to be the case until it all begins to click for the Bucks.
The one constant that has been evident through the first month of the season for the Bucks, however, is Giannis Antetokounmpo. Giannis is averaging 28 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists per game on a career-high 58 percent shooting from the field. Giannis has worked overtime to keep the Bucks from digging a huge hole to open the season and he’s going to factor into the NBA MVP race some way.
The big question is if he’ll have as big of an impact that he could creep into the top 3. Everyone knows how good of a player Giannis is. The question is, do people realize just how valuable he is to the Bucks?