The end of the season is far away, but that doesn’t mean we can’t start talking about potential MVPs.

Through the first quarter of the campaign, there have been a few truly standout performers. We’ll be talking about their contributions so far, and our thoughts on their potential to win the award.

Giannis Antetokounmpo (3 to 1)

Giannis Antetokounmpo has responded to his playoff heartbreak with a wild start to the season. He is averaging 30.8 points, 13.1 rebounds, 5.4 assists and has him leading the early MVP race. He’s also doing this with an NBA-topping PER of 33.7.

He’s got the Bucks riding a 14-game win streak, and their most recent game was a complete evisceration of the Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers had both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George available, but it still wasn’t enough to stave off The Greek Freak and his supporting cast.

Antetokounmpo became an even larger favorite this week, and the odds of his success have dropped to 3 to 1 from their previous 3.3 to 1. If you still want to buy Giannis, you’re going to want to do it now. Until proven otherwise, Giannis is still the man to beat for the award.

Luka Doncic (4.7 to 1)

Luka Doncic has had the most meteoric rise in potential MVP potential. Just earlier this week, he was paying out 6 to 1 for the award. Now, you can only net 4.7 to 1 on him.

The reason is simple: he’s playing out of his mind and helping the Mavericks put together some serious wins. He’s also averaging nearly a triple-double with 30.3 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 9.2 assists along with a PER of 31.9.

Doncic has also helped the Mavericks to a second-place record in the West. They’ve won 9 out of their last 10 games and most of their success can be credited to the Slovenian star. If he helps the Mavericks to a top three finish, and continues to maintain his statistical output, he might just sneak in and steal the award from Giannis Antetokounmpo.

James Harden (5.5 to 1)

The problem isn’t production for James Harden. His 38.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 7.5 assists and PER of 31.3 show that he’s one of the best players alive right now.

The issue for Harden’s MVP bid is the unpredictable play of his Rockets team, and their penchant for losing games that they should have had in the bag. With the Rockets currently sitting fifth in the West, they’re going to have to go on a bit more of a run to help Harden re-enter the conversation.

This is going to be a tough win for Harden if the Rockets continue on their current trajectory. He’ll need to continue playing out of his mind to give himself a chance.

LeBron James (7.5 to 1)

It may be strange to see LeBron James be so low in the MVP conversation, but he’s not particularly having the best season.

He has been solid, by any measure. He’s putting up 25.6 points, 7 rebounds, and 10.7 assists per game. He’s still posting a PER of 27, good for sixth in the league.

The problem for LeBron is that he’s also playing with Anthony Davis, who has legitimately lived up to the hype that came with the massive trade that sent most of the Lakers’ young talent to the Pelicans.

However, the MVP award often goes to the best player on the best team. LeBron’s Lakers currently top the Western Conference, and don’t seem to be showing signs of slowing down. They have the exact same record as the Bucks, but in a much harder conference.

If the Lakers emerge as the top team out of the West, LeBron would deserve the MVP award. That’s why he’s a smart bet at 7.5 to 1 right now.