By Dean Oliver | ESPN, 2026-04-10 19:00:00
本赛季NBA已经进行了近60,000分钟的比赛。这相当于连续40多天不眠不休。这是NBA教练生活的极端写照——正如我所能证明的那样，这是一种艰辛的生活。但即使是教练也不会看完60,000分钟的比赛。我个人需要数据来帮助我捕捉那些我没能亲眼看到的瞬间。
这就是为什么在数据分析领域有一句流传已久的名言：人看比赛比数据更透彻，但数据能看遍所有的比赛。机器人坐在那里消化着输入的数据，虽然并不完美，但稳定且可靠。
在本文中，数据将讲述球员在比赛不同领域的擅长之处——中距离投篮、抛投、传球、关键时刻表现等等。为此，使用能够观察所有比赛并将其置于特定语境下的指标是非常有用的。你的眼睛不一定记得前几天杰伦·布伦森 (Jalen Brunson) 在对阵夏洛特时投出的那个过桥抛投，但数据记得，并且会将它们累加起来。在赛季结束时，这些数字会非常有用。
我们将从一些较少被关注的比赛环节开始，最后以评选最佳球员收尾。这有点像奥斯卡金像奖，先颁发“最佳真人短片”等奖项，最后以“最佳影片”压轴。
这里使用的指标是“净分值 (Net Points)”，它平衡了产量与效率，从而计算出对球队胜分的贡献。这里有自动生成的排行榜，你可以自己决定是查看总净分值、场均净分值还是每100回合净分值。在这份名单中，我们采用的是场均数据：
抢断高手：最擅长造成对方失误
图马尼·卡马拉 (Toumani Camara)，波特兰开拓者
净分值： 场均+3.2，总计+255
为何排名第一： 卡马拉与其他人的不同之处在于，他能造成大量的死球失误，即制造犯规。我不建议观看他制造犯规的“集锦”，但对于那些想成为真正“防守牛皮糖”的球员来说，这很有教育意义。卡马拉制造进攻犯规的频率很高，而且他似乎总能诱使无球球员推开他，然后顺势倒地。这是一种“丑陋的艺术”。
入围名单： 泰瑞斯·马克西 (Tyrese Maxey) (+3.1)、戴森·丹尼尔斯 (Dyson Daniels) (+3.0)、尼基尔·亚历山大-沃克 (Nickeil Alexander-Walker) (+3.0)
最佳新秀： VJ·艾奇库姆 (VJ Edgecombe) (+2.6)
后仰天王：最佳后仰投篮
卢卡·东契奇 (Luka Doncic)，洛杉矶湖人
净分值： 场均+0.3，总计+20
为何排名第一： 联盟对投篮类型的追踪带有一点主观性，“后仰投篮”通常似乎被归入了“后撤步”中。根据 Genius IQ 的数据，我肯定会想到东契奇的后撤步，他投出的后撤步比任何人都多。他不是效率最高的，但由于产量巨大且效率尚可，他最终脱颖而出。
入围名单： 凯德·坎宁安 (Cade Cunningham) (+0.2)、托拜厄斯·哈里斯 (Tobias Harris) (+0.1)、德阿隆·福克斯 (De’Aaron Fox) (+0.1)
最佳新秀： 艾奇库姆 (+0.1)
活力火花：最佳替补
阿杰·米切尔 (Ajay Mitchell)，俄克拉荷马城雷霆
净分值： 场均+2.0（仅限替补出场，不含首发），总计+83（替补期间）
为何排名第一： 雷霆队真的很擅长培养人才，不是吗？米切尔是2024年选秀的二轮秀，他在替补出场时的表现被严重低估了。今年他在必须顶替首发时表现出色，确保自己留下了印记。
在防守端，在俄克拉荷马城众多优秀的防守者中，他让对位球员投出的投篮质量是第二低的——仅次于亚历克斯·卡鲁索 (Alex Caruso)。根据 Basketball-Reference 的数据，卡鲁索有七个绰号，而米切尔一个也没有，但他现在的表现证明他配得上一个。
入围名单： 米切尔·罗宾逊 (Mitchell Robinson) (+1.7)、赛亚·乔 (Isaiah Joe) (+1.5)、凯尔登·约翰逊 (Keldon Johnson) (+1.3)
最佳新秀： 瑞安·卡尔克布伦纳 (Ryan Kalkbrenner) (+1.1)
组织者：最佳传球手
凯德·坎宁安 (Cade Cunningham)，底特律活塞
净分值： 场均+1.3，总计+81
为何排名第一： 本赛季坎宁安助攻最多的两名队友是杰伦·杜伦 (Jalen Duren) 和邓肯·罗宾逊 (Duncan Robinson)，即“内线先生”和“外线先生”。根据 Genius IQ 的数据，他们在接到坎宁安传球后的有效命中率分别为69%和66%。这种既能创造机会又能兼顾内外线选择，且没有过多失误的能力，是他今年险胜丹佛的尼古拉·约基奇 (Nikola Jokic) 的原因。
入围名单： 约基奇 (+1.3)、杰伦·威廉姆斯 (Jalen Williams) (+1.0)、拉梅洛·鲍尔 (LaMelo Ball) (+0.9)
最佳新秀： 库珀·弗拉格 (Cooper Flagg) (+0.7)
神射手：最佳三分射手
贾马尔·穆雷 (Jamal Murray)，丹佛掘金
净分值： 场均+2.3，总计+163
为何排名第一： 穆雷多年来一直擅长投三分，但今年他表现得非常出色。根据 Genius IQ 的数据，他的接球三分命中率为46%，比他之前的最高纪录还高出2%。他的持球三分命中率为42%，追平了职业生涯最高纪录，但场均出手次数增加了1.5次。防守那些能通过运球创造三分机会的球员很难，尤其是像穆雷这样还能通过突破过掉你的球员。这就是为什么他的投篮造就了他职业生涯最佳的进攻赛季。
入围名单： 斯蒂芬·库里 (Stephen Curry) (+2.1)、康·克努佩尔 (Kon Knueppel) (+1.9)、安东尼·爱德华兹 (Anthony Edwards) (+1.8)
最佳新秀： 克努佩尔 (+1.9)
手术刀：最佳中距离
谢伊·吉尔杰斯-亚历山大 (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander)，俄克拉荷马城雷霆
净分值： 场均+1.0，总计+67
为何排名第一： 并没有多少球员能真正通过这种投篮方式帮助球队，这就是为什么大多数球员逐渐放弃了中距离。吉尔杰斯-亚历山大场均依然能贡献+1.0的净分值，这比除42名球员外的所有三分射手都要好。如果我们算上他在中距离投篮时制造的犯规（想象一下每个教练都在大喊：“别对中距离投手犯规！”），他在中距离投篮尝试上的价值将翻倍至场均+2.1。他掌握了一件极少数人敢于尝试的武器。
入围名单： 约基奇 (+0.5)、T.J.·麦康奈尔 (T.J. McConnell) (+0.4)、凯文·杜兰特 (Kevin Durant) (+0.4)
最佳新秀： 克努佩尔 (+0.0)
柔和手感：最佳抛投
多诺万·米切尔 (Donovan Mitchell)，克利夫兰骑士
净分值： 场均+0.6，总计+38
为何排名第一： 抛投对于小个后卫来说至关重要，因为他们在篮筐附近可能会因为大个子的威慑而遇到困难。但在10英尺左右的地方出手可以抵消一些身高劣势。米切尔的身高只有6英尺2英寸，尽管他在篮筐附近的爆发力有时会让你觉得他更高大。但是，当他无法冲到篮下时，他同样拥有出色的抛投技术。
入围名单： 约基奇 (+0.5)、泰勒·希罗 (Tyler Herro) (+0.4)、东契奇 (+0.3)
最佳新秀： 马克西姆·雷诺 (Maxime Raynaud) (+0.1)
禁区巨兽：最佳篮下终结
扬尼斯·阿德托昆博 (Giannis Antetokounmpo)，密尔沃基雄鹿
净分值： 场均+3.8，总计+136
为何排名第一： 我们这里没有65场比赛的限制！即使只打了36场比赛，阿德托昆博在篮下投篮的总净分值也将排在赛季前三。这就是他冲击篮下和终结进攻的能力。在篮下产量方面，只有杜伦能与他接近，但阿德托昆博的命中率高出5%，而且他的出手有62%是自主创造的，而杜伦只有35% (Genius IQ)。
入围名单： 约基奇 (+2.3)、锡安·威廉姆森 (Zion Williamson) (+2.1)、吉尔杰斯-亚历山大 (+2.0)
最佳新秀： 弗拉格 (+1.2)
篮板机器：最佳篮板手
阿门·汤普森 (Amen Thompson)，休斯顿火箭
净分值： 场均+1.1，总计+88
为何排名第一： 颁奖典礼上总得有点争议，对吧？这就是那个充满争议的奖项。汤普森的场均篮板排在第22位，那他为什么能在净分值上排名第一呢？净分值捕捉的是球员限制了对方多少篮板。汤普森作为一名侧翼球员在抢下篮板的同时，不让他的对位球员在球场两端拿到篮板。这很大程度上源于教练组的强调，因为火箭队在这一比赛环节占据统治地位。
入围名单： 塔里·伊森 (Tari Eason) (+1.0)、多诺万·克林根 (Donovan Clingan) (+0.8)、穆萨·迪亚巴特 (Moussa Diabate) (+0.8)
最佳新秀： 克努佩尔 (+0.6)。是的，我也很惊讶，但你可以去查一下，与他个人和团队允许对方抢下的篮板相比，他抢下了很多篮板 (根据 Genius IQ)。
补篮专家：最佳二次进攻终结
杰伦·杜伦 (Jalen Duren)，底特律活塞
净分值： 场均+1.0，总计+66
为何排名第一： 当防守人离开他们去协防持球人时，补篮大师就会大放异彩。他们迫使防守者既要试图干扰投手，又要折返进行卡位。杜伦就是那种高大强壮的球员，他可以跳起来接空接，也可以耐心地等待打铁，然后抢下篮板完成补篮。根据 NBA 的数据，他的内线无球引力排在第65位左右，但也许其中一些防守者应该更多地守在原位。
入围名单： 约基奇 (+0.9)、戴龙·夏普 (Day’Ron Sharpe) (+0.7)、克林根 (+0.7)
最佳新秀： 卡尔克布伦纳 (+0.4)
快马：最佳转换进攻
泰瑞斯·马克西 (Tyrese Maxey)，费城76人
净分值： 场均+1.5，总计+101
为何排名第一： 教练们经常抱怨转换进攻的定义，因为没有明确的规则。但根据我的经验，教练们通常对谁是转换进攻中最出色的球员意见一致。
勒布朗·詹姆斯 (LeBron James) 经常出现在他们的名单前列，41岁的他依然是一个合法的候选人。但这个奖项给了马克西而不是勒布朗，主要是因为他自己创造了更多的机会。勒布朗的转换进攻投篮中有第二多是来自助攻，且通常是扣篮，而马克西必须在投篮质量较低的情况下更多地自主创造机会，且依然能投进。
入围名单： 科怀·伦纳德 (Kawhi Leonard) (+1.5)、詹姆斯 (+1.4)、东契奇 (+1.3)
最佳新秀： 弗拉格 (+0.8)
冷血杀手：最佳关键时刻进攻
谢伊·吉尔杰斯-亚历山大 (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander)，俄克拉荷马城雷霆
净分值： 关键时刻进攻净分值+33
为何排名第一： 一年前，吉尔杰斯-亚历山大并没有真正获得关键球员的资格，因为雷霆队赢球太多，以至于他在很多第四节都坐在场下。今年，从第一天对阵休斯顿的那个双加时开始，他就必须在比分焦灼的比赛中拿出表现。他投篮命中、走上罚球线、传球、避免失误——他有太多种方式让进攻运转起来。
在他参加的27场关键时刻比赛中，只有7场进攻表现低于平均水平，这一比例低于他身后的任何球员。入围名单：贾马尔·穆雷 (+26)、尼古拉·约基奇 (+23)、安东尼·爱德华兹 (+22)
最佳新秀： 艾奇库姆 (+9)
防守大闸：最佳防守球员
维克托·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama)，圣安东尼奥马刺
净分值： 场均+2.6，总计+164
为何排名第一： “他为什么排名第一？”你见过这家伙吗？没有人比文班亚马更能让进攻球员感到恐惧。他让 NBA 球员感觉像我们这些非 NBA 球员一样：现在他们终于体会到当个矮个子是什么感觉了。
净分值指标的工作原理是追踪大个子在防守端身体力行做了什么。文班亚马的威慑力并不容易被该指标捕捉到，因为威慑力体现在进攻球员“没做什么”上——比如当他在禁区巡逻时不去尝试上篮。但可以加入净分值的一点是，他在防守端让队友变得更好了多少，文班亚马做到了这一点。
有他在身后，他的队友可以对球施加更大的压力。如果把这一点考虑进去，他的分值还会再提高一分左右……虽然他并不需要。
入围名单： 以赛亚·哈尔滕施泰因 (Isaiah Hartenstein) (+1.8)、切特·霍姆格伦 (Chet Holmgren) (+1.6)、卡鲁索 (+1.3)
最佳新秀： 卡尔克布伦纳和科林·默里-博伊尔斯 (Collin Murray-Boyles) 基本持平 (+0.6)
MVP：最佳总体表现
谢伊·吉尔杰斯-亚历山大 (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander)，俄克拉荷马城雷霆
净分值： 场均+6.9，总计+468
为何排名第一： 吉尔杰斯-亚历山大会通过防守较弱的球员来“偷懒”。这是我们必须指出的负面因素。除此之外，他在中距离的表现堪称精准，在关键时刻则表现得冷酷无情。
他是最佳的“对抗艺术家”，这意味着他比任何人都更能制造犯规，这个奖项今年没发，因为他的奖项已经够多了。而且他是在面对对手最强防守者的情况下完成这一切的——这可能得益于他在雷霆队的训练中面对的是联盟最顶尖的侧翼防守者：卡鲁索、华莱士和多尔特。把球给他，把奖杯也给他。
入围名单： 约基奇 (+5.1)、东契奇 (+4.9)、伦纳德 (+4.7)
最佳新秀： 克努佩尔 (+1.6)
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
点击查看原文：NBA's most valuable players in 15 categories: Scoring, shooting, more
NBA’s most valuable players in 15 categories: Scoring, shooting, more
There have been almost 60,000 minutes of basketball played in this NBA season. That’s 40-plus days straight of no sleep. That’s an NBA coach’s life to an extreme – a hard life, as I can attest to. But even coaches don’t watch 60,000 minutes worth of games. I personally needed numbers to help me capture what I couldn’t see.
That’s why there is this long-standing phrase in analytics: People see games better than the numbers, but the numbers see all the games. The robots sit there and digest the data coming in, not perfectly but steadily and reliably.
For the purpose of this article, the numbers are going to tell stories about what players are good at in different areas of the game – midrange shooting, floaters, passing, clutch play and so forth. For that, it is useful to have metrics that see all the games and put them in context. Your eyes don’t necessarily remember the air-ball floater that Jalen Brunson tossed up the other day against Charlotte, but the numbers do and they add them up. And, at the end of the season, those numbers are useful.
We’ll start with some of the lesser-pondered parts of the game and work up to the best overall players at the end. It’s kind of like the Oscars with things such as the Best Short Films early and closing with Best Picture.
The metric used here is Net Points, which balances volume with efficiency to add up to teams’ scoring margin. There are automatic leaderboards available here, where you can decide for yourself whether to do things as total net points or per game or per-100 possessions. For this list, we did things per game:
Ball hawk: Best at forcing turnovers
Toumani Camara, Portland Trail Blazers
Net points: plus-3.2 per game, plus-255 total
Why he ranks No. 1: What separates Camara from others is that he forces a lot of dead ball turnovers, namely drawing fouls. I would not recommend watching the “highlights” of him taking fouls, but it would be educational for players who want to be a real pest. Camara draws charges at a high rate and he seems to goad players off the ball into pushing him off before falling down for good measure. It’s ugly genius.
The runners-up: Tyrese Maxey (plus-3.1), Dyson Daniels (plus-3.0), Nickeil Alexander-Walker (plus-3.0)
Top rookie: VJ Edgecombe (plus-2.6)
Darth Fader: Best fadeaway
Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers
Net points: plus-0.3 per game, plus-20 total
Why he ranks No. 1: The league’s tracking of shot types is a little subjective and “fadeaways” often seem to be captured in step-backs. I definitely think of Luka with regard to step-backs, which he takes more than anyone, per Genius IQ. He’s not the most proficient, but he’s proficient enough that, with the volume, he comes out the best.
The runners-up: Cade Cunningham (plus-0.2), Tobias Harris (plus-0.1), De’Aaron Fox (plus-0.1)
Top rookie: Edgecombe (plus-0.1)
Spark plug: Best off the bench
Ajay Mitchell, Oklahoma City Thunder
Net points: plus-2.0 per game (off the bench only, not starting), plus-83 total (off the bench)
Why he ranks No. 1: The Thunder develop talent, don’t they? Mitchell was a second-round pick in the 2024 draft and his rookie year was considerably under-noticed when he came off the bench. He made sure to make a mark this year by doing well as a starter when he had to step in.
On the defensive side, amid all the other great defenders in OKC, he allowed the second-lowest shot quality to his matchup – behind only Alex Caruso. Whereas Caruso has seven nicknames, per Basketball-Reference, Mitchell has none and is now playing like he deserves one.
The runners-up: Mitchell Robinson (plus-1.7), Isaiah Joe (plus-1.5), Keldon Johnson (plus-1.3)
Top rookie: Ryan Kalkbrenner (plus-1.1)
Facilitator: Best passer
Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
Net points: plus-1.3 per game, plus-81 total
Why he ranks No. 1: The two teammates Cunningham has the most assists to this season are Jalen Duren and Duncan Robinson, Mr. Inside and Mr. Outside. They are shooting 69% and 66% effectively off his passes, per Genius IQ. That ability to create and see both options without making excessive mistakes is why he edges out Denver’s Nikola Jokic this year.
The runners-up: Jokic (plus-1.3), Jalen Williams (plus-1.0), LaMelo Ball (plus-0.9)
Top rookie: Cooper Flagg (plus-0.7)
Rainmaker: Best 3-point shooter
Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets
Net points: plus-2.3 per game, plus-163 total
Why he ranks No. 1: Murray has been good at shooting 3s for years, but this year he is great. Per Genius IQ, he’s shooting 46% on 3s off the catch, 2% better than his previous high. He’s shooting 42% off the dribble, equaling his career high, but on an extra 1.5 attempts per game. Defending players who can create 3s off the dribble is hard, especially with guys such as Murray, who can also get by you with a dribble. That’s why his shooting has led to his best overall offensive season.
The runners-up: Stephen Curry (+2.1), Kon Knueppel (plus-1.9), Anthony Edwards (plus-1.8)
Top rookie: Knueppel (plus-1.9)
Surgical: Best midrange
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
Net points: plus-1.0 per game, plus-67 total
Why he ranks No. 1: Not a lot of guys can really help a team with this shot, which is why it has been gradually phased out for most players. Gilgeous-Alexander still adds +1.0 net points per game, which is better than all but 42 players shooting 3s. If we include the fouls he draws on midrange shots (imagine every coach yelling, “Don’t foul a midrange shooter!”), his value on shot attempts in the midrange doubles to +2.1 per game. He has mastered a weapon that few can even attempt.
The runners-up: Jokic (+0.5), T.J. McConnell (+0.4), Kevin Durant (+0.4)
Top rookie: Knueppel (+0.0)
Soft touch: Best floaters
Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
Net points: plus-0.6 per game, plus-38 total
Why he ranks No. 1: Floaters are critical for smaller guards, who can have trouble right at the rim because bigs can intimidate them. But launching from around 10 feet away can neutralize some of the height discrepancies. Mitchell is only 6-foot-2, though his explosiveness at the rim sometimes makes you think he is bigger at times. But, when he can’t get to the rim, he has the floater skill, too.
The runners-up: Jokic (plus-0.5), Tyler Herro (plus-0.4), Doncic (plus-0.3)
Top rookie: Maxime Raynaud (plus-0.1)
Juggernaut: Best shooting at the rim
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Net points: plus-3.8 per game, plus-136 total
Why he ranks No. 1: No 65-game requirement for us! Even in just 36 games, Antetokounmpo will finish in the top three of total net points for the season on shots at the rim. That’s how good he is at getting to and converting at the rim. Only Duren is close to him in terms of volume at the rim, but Giannis shoots 5% better there and his attempts are self-created 62% of the time vs 35% of the time for Duren (Genius IQ).
The runners-up: Jokic (plus-2.3), Zion Williamson (plus-2.1), Gilgeous-Alexander (plus-2.0)
Top rookie: Flagg (plus-1.2)
Glass cleaner: Best rebounder
Amen Thompson, Houston Rockets
Net points: plus-1.1 per game, plus-88 total
Why he ranks No. 1: You have to have controversy at awards shows, don’t you? Here’s the category. Thompson is 22nd in terms of rebounds per game, so how does he show up first in terms of net points? Net points captures how many rebounds players allow. Thompson is getting rebounds as a wing and not letting his man have them – on both sides of the court. This very much comes from an emphasis by the coaching staff down because the Rockets are dominant in this aspect of the game.
The runners-up: Tari Eason (plus-1.0), Donovan Clingan (plus-0.8), Moussa Diabate (plus-0.8)
Top rookie: Knueppel (plus-0.6). Yes, I was surprised, too, but you can check this and he gets a lot of rebounds compared to what he allows individually and teamwise (per GeniusIQ).
Cleanup crew: Best at converting putbacks
Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons
Net points: plus-1.0 per game, plus-66 total
Why he ranks No. 1: Putback artists thrive when their man helps off of them and on the ball. They force a defender to try to intimidate a shooter but also get back to box out. Duren is that big, strong guy, who can get up for a lob or be patient for a miss that he can rebound and put back. His interior off-ball gravity is around 65th, per the NBA, but maybe some of those defenders should stay home a little more.
The runners-up: Jokic (plus-0.9), Day’Ron Sharpe (plus-0.7), Clingan (plus-0.7)
Top rookie: Kalkbrenner (plus-0.4)
Speed demon: Best transition offense
Tyrese Maxey,** Philadelphia 76ers**
Net points: plus-1.5 per game, plus-101 total
Why he ranks No. 1: Coaches often complain about how transition is defined because there is no clear rule. But, in my experience, coaches often agree on who are the best players in transition.
LeBron James has often been near the top of their lists, and he’s a legit candidate again at age 41. But this goes to Maxey over LeBron mainly because he has created more opportunities himself. LeBron has the second-most transition shots that are assisted and his shots are usually dunks, whereas Maxey has to create more himself with a lower shot quality and he still makes them.
The runners-up: Kawhi Leonard (plus-1.5), James (plus-1.4), Doncic (plus-1.3)
Top rookie: Flagg (plus-0.8)
Cold-blooded: Best offense at clutch time
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
Net points: plus-33 offensive net points in clutch situations
Why he ranks No. 1: A year ago, Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t really qualify for a clutch player because the Thunder were winning games by so much that he was sitting down through a lot of fourth quarters. This year, from Day 1 against Houston when they went to double overtime, he had to perform in tight games. He made shots, he got to the line, he passed, he avoided turnovers – he had so many ways to make the offense go.
He also had just 7 of 27 games where his offense was below average in clutch time, a lower percentage than any of the guys behind him. The runners-up: Jamal Murray (plus-26), Nikola Jokic (plus-23), Anthony Edwards (plus-22)
Top rookie: Edgecombe (plus-9)
Stopper: Best on defense
Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
Net points: plus-2.6 per game, plus-164 total
Why he ranks No. 1: “Why does he rank No. 1?” Have you seen this guy? No one instills fear in offensive players more than Wemby. He’s making NBA players feel like all of us non-NBA players: Now they know what it’s like to be short.
The net points metric works on the idea of tracking what a big physically did on defense. Wemby’s intimidation is not so easily captured by the metric because intimidation is what the offensive players didn’t do – like not shoot layups when he’s prowling the paint. But one thing that can be added into net points is how much he makes his teammates better on defense, and Wemby does that.
His teammates can pressure the ball a lot more with him behind them. Incorporating that would raise his number about another point … not that he needs it.
The runners-up: Isaiah Hartenstein (plus-1.8), Chet Holmgren (plus-1.6), Caruso (plus-1.3)
Top rookie: Kalkbrenner and Collin Murray-Boyles virtual tie (plus-0.6)
MVP: Best overall
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
Net points: plus-6.9 per game, plus-468 total
Why he ranks No. 1: Gilgeous-Alexander gets away with guarding weaker players. That’s the negative we had to get out of the way. Otherwise, he was surgical with his midrange and cold-blooded in crunch time.
He is the best contact artist, which means drawing fouls more than anyone, an award not given this year because he has enough awards. And he has done all of this while facing the opponents’ best defenders – it likely helps that he faces the league’s best wing defenders in Thunder practice: Caruso, Wallace and Dort. Give him the ball, give him the prize.
The runners-up: Jokic (plus-5.1), Doncic (plus-4.9), Leonard (plus-4.7)
Top rookie: Knueppel (plus-1.6)
By Dean Oliver | ESPN, via ESPN