NBA 2018-19: Top 5 early regular season MVP contenders

Jamy
New Orleans Pelicans v Golden State Warriors - Game Five
Stephen Curry and Anthony Davis

#4 Russell Westbrook

Oklahoma City Thunder v Utah Jazz - Game Six
Russell Westbrook

The triple-double machine had two consecutive seasons averaging a triple-double. But he did not get MVP attention despite averaging a triple-double last season because of the mediocre performance from the Thunder. The return of Paul George and their defensive stopper Andre Roberson to the core of Westbrook and Steven Adams make the Thunder an exciting proposition.

They could not gel along perfectly last season. There was Paul George's free agency hovering over their minds. There was Melo whom they could not bench in the regular season despite his inefficient performances.

Now, since both these things have cleared, the Thunder have become a stable unit and it looks very likely that they will improve over the previous season. If the Thunder finish in the top 3 in the West and Russell Westbrook again averages a triple-double season, expect him to take home the MVP honors.

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