It may feel like the 2022-23 NBA season has only just begun, but we’re already roughly a fourth of the way through the year. We’ve seen incredible performances from NBA players, such as Joel Embiid dropping in a career-high 59 points against the Jazz in early November.
While Embiid nearly getting a quadruple-double is impressive, that was just one game. Several other players have given it their all, putting their bodies on the line as they carry their team through the early stretch of the season.
Down below, we highlight five NBA players who have done just that. Without these five, we’re not sure where their teams would be at this point.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander keeping OKC Thunder relevant
While the Oklahoma City Thunder still aren’t quite in a position to compete, they’re not far off from climbing into the NBA play-in tournament. After collecting lottery pick after lottery pick, we’re finally seeing some of their young talent blossom.
But none more so than Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who general manager Sam Presti actually acquired via trade from the Clippers. A season ago, the Thunder had a win percentage of just 29.2%. While it’s early, they’ve boosted that rate to 38% in 2022.
SGA is a big reason why. He’s taking more shots than ever, but Gilgeous-Alexander’s also become a much more efficient scorer.
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s stats | FG% | eFG% | PPG |
| 2021-22 | 45.3% | 49.6% | 24.5 |
| 2022-23 | 50.6% | 53.1% | 31.1 |
| Career averages | 47.7% | 51.9% | 19.2 |
It’s a small sample size, playing in just 20 games, but SGA is making a strong case to win NBA’s Most Improved Player Award, which was won by Ja Morant a season ago. The growth we’ve already seen from Gilgeous-Alexander is impressive, but being that he’s still just 24, it’s possible this is only the tip of the iceberg.
Related: NBA Rookie of the Year 2023: Bennedict Mathurin surpasses Paolo Banchero
Stephen Curry isn’t slowing down any time soon
While everyone expected the Golden State Warriors to return to being one of the Western Conference’s best contenders this season, no one could have guessed they would struggle so much out of the gates with all of their starters being relatively healthy.
Yet, after going 3-7 in their first ten games, the Warriors have gone 8-3 in their past 11. They’re heating up, and Curry is a big reason why. He’s scored 40 or more in three of his past 10 games and ranks second in the NBA in scoring.
While Curry has plenty of complementary pieces who come through, after all, it’s the same core who won the NBA Finals back in June, he’s clearly carrying the pack.
Consider that the Warriors have two other All-Stars who are most known for their scoring prowess, yet both Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins are below their career scoring averages, but Curry?
His 31.4 points per game are seven points higher than his career average. He currently has the highest eFG% of his career at a ridiculous 64.8% and, even at 34, is showing no signs of slowing down.
Related: 3 reasons why Stephen Curry is the early favorite to win ’22-’23 NBA MVP
Kevin Durant preventing Brooklyn Nets from sinking
There’s no excuse for the Brooklyn Nets to be in ninth place in the Eastern Conference. While there have been strange obstacles, such as Kyrie Irving’s unpredictable suspension along with Ben Simmons trying to remember how to basketball again, where would this team be without their one constant — Kevin Durant?
One of the best players on the floor each time he steps on the court, Durant’s back to averaging 30 points per game for the first time since his OKC Thunder days back in 2014, as one of just two Nets who have played in all 22 of Brooklyn’s games so far.
Aside from Irving, who’s averaging 24.5 PPG, there isn’t another player in Brooklyn scoring more than Nic Claxton’s 12 points per game. It’s been a pathetic display, but again, without Durant, their 18th-ranked offense would surely be among the worst in basketball. Durant’s 34 years old, but he loves to hoop and currently leads the NBA in minutes played.
Even though no one is happy with the Nets being just .500, if Durant were sidelined, they’d be doing much, much worse.
Related: NBA Power Rankings: Jokic and Nuggets rise in revised top 30
Nikola Jokic leading Denver Nuggets in everything
It’s another basketball season, which means Nikola Jokic is back to messing around with triple-doubles on a nightly basis. After leading the NBA with 19 a season ago, Jokic already has three in his 17 games played.
He currently leads the Denver Nuggets in points, rebounds, assists, and steals. Aaron Gordon has him beat in blocks, but that’s it.
- Nikola Jokic stats: 23 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 8.8 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.6 BPG
We see teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves, who will be faced with overcoming the loss of Karl-Anthony Towns for roughly 4-6 weeks, could the Nuggets handle a similar scenario?
Probably not, as The Joker has long been the heart and soul of this Nuggets squad. He may not be the absolute best at anything in comparison to others around the NBA. You can always find a better scorer, a better rebounder, a better assist man, but having the complete package all in one player? That’s just unfair. Jokic is truly the modern NBA unicorn.
Related: NBA playoff predictions: Bracket picks & 2023 Finals champion
Luka Doncic putting Dallas Mavericks on his back
Luka Doncic having to step up more this season was always expected with the loss of Jalen Brunson. Replacing a team’s third-leading scorer, one who averaged 16.3 points per game was never going to be easy. While Christian Wood has been able to provide a spark, it’s Doncic who is somehow doing even more for his team, averaging an NBA-leading 33.1 points per game.
After leading the league in usage rate each of the past two seasons, Doncic is actually topping those numbers this season at 37.8%, meaning for the 37.3 minutes he’s on the floor each contest, he’s controlling the ball for roughly forty percent of the time.
The Mavericks are getting their money’s worth when it comes to Doncic, but it just goes to show just how badly he needs a true co-star to help Dallas become the class of the Western Conference. This is the NBA, and it never comes down to just one person, but that seems to be the way the Mavericks have molded their team, knowing Doncic is good enough to keep them competitive.
Related: NBA MVP race 2022-23: Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo battling early on