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NBA Award Watch: Another great week for the Greek Freak

By John Buhler

Nov 5, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) hangs onto the rim after dunking for a basket in the third quarter during the game against the Sacramento Kings at BMO Harris Bradley Center. The Bucks beat the Kings 117-91. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 5, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) hangs onto the rim after dunking for a basket in the third quarter during the game against the Sacramento Kings at BMO Harris Bradley Center. The Bucks beat the Kings 117-91. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /
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With over two weeks into the 2016-17 NBA season, let’s take a look at which players are in the lead for the major end of season NBA awards.

The NBA is well into the 2016-17 NBA season. We’ve seen enough basketball to almost have a sufficient sample size to make some wild projections with some of our favorite players. That being said, we are starting to see some separation from the good and the bad in the early part of the season.

There are a few guys that stand pat in this week’s NBA Award Watch, but there are some that have a new guy leading the way. Here are the front-runners for the major NBA awards through November 8th.

Nov 7, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) takes the court prior to action against the Miami Heat at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) takes the court prior to action against the Miami Heat at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

Most Valuable Player: Russell Westbrook

Though it isn’t as obvious as it was a week ago, Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook edges out a handful of great players for NBA MVP through November 8th. Players trailing Westbrook include DeMar DeRozan, LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, and Chris Paul.

Through seven games, Westbrook isn’t quite averaging a triple-double, but his stat line is still very impressive. He is averaging 30.4 PPG, 9.9 APG, and 8.4 RPG. Though he’s still shooting 43 percent from the field, Westbrook has improved his three-point percentage to a solid 37.5 percent.

It has been one of the reasons his PER has elevated to a staggering 30.6. His Box Plus-Minus of 17.0 is otherworldly. Westbrook is taking care of business on both ends of the floor one of the better teams in the NBA.

He lost Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka in the offseason, but Westbrook has been a primary reason that the Thunder have a 6-1 record on the year. Westbrook may not average a triple-double, but he’ll be close to doing it all season. Would it be all that shocking to see him will the Thunder to 50+ wins this season? He’ll need to do that the win NBA MVP. Let’s see him go for it.

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