The NBA season is now a quarter over, and there’s a lot that has already happened.
Two youngsters on the Philadelphia 76ers have started to make their names known and could be the future faces of the Eastern Conference. Remaining back east, Kyrie Irving has overcome injury to himself and another star player to lead the Celtics to the NBA’s best record.
Out west, a certain rookie in Golden State will soon enough be a household name. Meanwhile, James Harden’s MVP candidacy has been taken to a whole new level.
Here are eight NBA players we already love during the early part of the season.
Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers
Just so much fun to watch. After missing his entire rookie season to injury, this 2016 No. 1 overall pick has dominated early in his first live-game NBA action. Teaming up with Joel Embiid, Simmons has his Sixers at 13-10 on the season.
He’s averaging 18.0 points, 9.3 rebounds, 7.1 assists and 2.3 steals per game. That’s mini LeBron James level stuff right there. Oh, and did we mention Simmons is manning the point at 6-foot-10? Whew.
Dennis Smith Jr., Dallas Mavericks
For a Mavs team that’s otherwise a complete and utter disaster, this rookie lottery pick has livened up the squad big time. Known for his athleticism and ability to record the awe-inspiring dunk, Smith has actually evolved into a solid all-around player early in his career.
He’s averaging 14.5 points and 4.2 assists. The North Carolina State product is also coming off a 20-point performance against Denver on Monday. Needless to say, he’s a much talked about figure in the Texas basketball landscape.
Avery Bradley, Detroit Pistons
Don’t look now, but the Pistons are 14-9 on the season and in second place back east. They’re also coming off a solid road win against Bradley’s former Celtics squa last week. A tough-as-nails defender, Bradley has set the tone for a team that’s yielding the seventh-fewest points in the NBA.
Bradley has also upped his offensive game, averaging 15.6 points and shooting 40 percent from distance. Detroit loves its basketball. And with a new arena as well as renewed interest in the team, Bradley has definitely helped expedite this process.
Jordan Bell, Golden State Warriors
Bell made waves earlier this season when he shaded the Bulls for selling his draft rights to the defending champs. The rookie did this following Golden State’s 143-94 win in November. It’s a game that saw Bell put up seven points, six rebounds, six blocks, four assists and two steals.
Draymond Green has taken this rookie under his wing. For the Warriors, that’s not a bad thing. But for those objective fans out there, having a Green 2.0 running around in Oakland can’t be seen as a good thing. In any event, we love Bell right now. Of course, that could change just as quick as a kick to the groin.
Kristaps Porzingis, New York Knicks
The Unicorn. From his spat with LeBron James to pretty much saving New York City basketball, this youngster surely is the King of New York. The 22-year-old forward is averaging 25.8 points and 6.8 rebounds while shooting at a 40 percent clip from distance.
This has the Knicks with a surprising 11-12 record through the first quarter of the season. Yeah, Porzingis is going to be a Godzilla like figure in the Big Apple for years to come.
Kyrie Irving, Boston Celtics
He’s playing with a broken face. That’s not hyperbole. Irving — in his first season with the Celtics after forcing his way from Cleveland — suffered a facial fracture in November. He’s been playing through it, and has the Celtics with an NBA-best 21-4 record.
From a micro perspective, Irving has become the toast of a “real” basketball town, averaging 23.5 points and 5.0 assists while shooting at what would be a career-best 49 percent mark from the field.
James Harden, Houston Rockets
Harden is legitimately doing everything for the Rockets this season. Dude leads the NBA in scoring (31.7) and assists (9.7). How in the world is that even possible? He’s also shooting at a 41 percent clip from distance and putting up a .563 effective field goal mark. Can you say MVP?
Equally as important, Harden’s performance has his Rockets in first place out west, ahead of the defending champion Warriors. Just imagine how much Harden’s legend would grow in Texas if he were able to topple Golden State.
Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
A brilliant and infectious personality off the court, Embiid has taken his game to a whole new level on the court. In fact, this one prominent coach is terrified with what he brings to the table.
That was magnified after Embiid put up a dominant performance against the two Los Angeles-based NBA teams, after which point he admitted that partying in Southern California helped with his performance.
Thus far this season, the former top-five pick is averaging 23.0 points, 11.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. Needless to say, he’s a much loved man in Philly.