We’re just one month into the NBA season. Only 18.6% of the games have been played. That’s nothing in the grand scheme of an 82-game grind. Teams are still finding their identities, rookies are adjusting to the league’s speed, and we haven’t even hit the trade rumor frenzy yet.
But early impressions matter. The first month sets the tone, establishes frontrunners and gives us a glimpse into who’s primed to dominate the conversation all year. So, while it’s way too early to draw any definitive conclusions, it’s the perfect time to set a baseline with my one-month award ballot.