The NBA is almost halfway through its regular season, but there’s still everything for teams to play for because a lot can happen between now and April 13, the season’s final day. Right now, the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Orlando Magic are sitting at the top of their respective divisions in the Eastern Conference. Over in the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Los Angeles Lakers, and the Memphis Grizzlies are the teams to knock off the top spot in their divisions.
The league has seen some dazzling performances this season. Below is a look at some of the best-performing players so far.
Nikola Jokić
In overall efficiency, Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić is leading the charge, with an official efficiency of 42.2. The three-time MVP is locked in a two-horse race with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) for this year’s award.
The Serbian is delivering feats of basketball magic every week. One example is a 66-foot shot from the three-quarter court that went in. Triple-doubles are another. He’s posted 20 this season, including a straight run of five. His work on the court is helping the Kings return to winning ways.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is another household name from the NBA who is delivering performances of fire this season. The forward is posting 31 points and 12.0 assists per game.
In the Bucks’ recent win over the Miami Heat, he posted a double-double despite earlier worries that a calf strain would keep him out of the game. A few days earlier, he also posted 18 points within 19 minutes during the Bucks’ game against the Washington Wizards. The Bucks won 101-101.
When players perform like this, they catch the attention of sports bettors who check NBA player props. Antetokounmpo, for instance, is a favorite for scoring the most points in a game. There may also be some over/underbetting on this as well.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
SGA is the man they all must beat in terms of posting points. The Oklahoma City Thunder guard leads the rest this season, having posted an average of 32.4 points per game. Other valuable stats include an average of 5.2 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game. Not only that, but his defensive play has been good, with an average of 1.9 steals per game. His contribution to the team has helped the Thunder to become one of the most improved teams defensively. Overall, his efficiency is one of the better ones in the league at 32.9. SGA is also the frontrunner for the 2025 MVP Award, hoping to knock Jokić from his perch.
Victor Wembanyama
San Antonio Spurs forward-center Victor Wembanyama has been having a terrific season. In December 2024, he became the first NBA player to post 300 points, 100 rebounds, 50 blocks, 50 assists, and 40 three-pointers in a calendar month. A cracking performance around Christmas time catapulted him into the top five in the race for the MVP.
The Spurs man hasn’t only put himself in contention for an MVP placing, but he’s also made himself a strong candidate for the Kia Defensive Player of the Year. Wembanyama has the highest average blocks per game, at 2.8, more than an entire block ahead of Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler.
Anthony Edwards
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards may have some work to do regarding his overall efficiency, but he knows how to post points. Edwards has been chalking up an average of 27.5 per game. He played a decisive part against the Thunder, with a “Superman” block that helped the Minnesota side win. The block itself was against none other than SGA. The Timberwolves went on to beat the Thunder 131-128 in overtime.
That’s not the only reason Edwards has captured attention. The guard was named an NBA Western Conference All-Star by head coaches as a reserve via ballot. It’s his third consecutive All-Star appearance.
Tyrese Maxey
Last season, the NBA announced Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey as the 2023-24 Kia NBA Most Improved Player. In his fourth season, he leaped into the league’s top 11 scorers and increased his average from 20.3 in the previous season to 25.9 for 2023-24. He was also named an All-Star, and at one point, there was talk he could become an MVP. This season, his average stands at 27.1 per game so far. He’s also posted eight double-doubles and one triple-double.
The NBA has witnessed some spectacular performances this season. Other players with impressive stats include the Atlanta Hawks’ Dyson Daniels, who leads the league in steals with 3.1 per game on average, and Sacramento Kings’ Domantas Sabonis, who has accumulated 14.5 rebounds per game on average.
By Chris Bates
Sources
https://www.nba.com/stats/leaders
https://www.nba.com/news/category/kia-race-to-the-mvp-ladder
https://www.nba.com/news/nikola-jokic-66-foot-shot-triple-double
https://www.nba.com/news/kia-mvp-ladder-jan-24-2025-edition
https://www.covers.com/sport/basketball/nba/player-props
https://www.nba.com/player/203507/giannis-antetokounmpo
https://www.nba.com/news/kia-mvp-ladder-jan-3-2025-edition
https://www.nba.com/stats/player/1641705/traditional
https://www.nba.com/timberwolves/news/anthony-edwards-named-2025-nba-western-conference-all-star
https://www.si.com/nba/76ers/news/76ers-tyrese-maxey-lands-favorable-odds-yearly-award
https://www.nba.com/sixers/news/76ers-all-star-tyrese-maxey-named-kia-nba-most-improved-player
