So this one is coming down to.

Like I said before, I think Nicola Jokic is in the conversation.

LeBron James is there.

He's third on my list right now.

Joel Embiid is second.

I know they have the best record in the East thus far up a half a game on the Brooklyn Nets.

But I'm going with James Harden.

I've been saying this the whole time.

The fact that Kevin Durant's been out so many games this year.

James Harden pretty much averaging a triple double, it feels like, has really stepped up.

And the reason I just feel like also, they're coming with the addition of Blake Griffin.

Hear me If Kevin Durant is healthy, where Blake Griffin, Kyrie, Irving, James Harden.

It's over.

It's over.

I will pick them to be the favorite over the Los Angeles Lakers.

James Harden right now is my M v P.

You can wave me off key.

Say whatever you want.

He's the perfect player to fit with how James Kyrie and Katie play, and that would be a second M V P award.

They often say defense wins championships defensively of the year.

I'm going to Philly Ben Simmons.

Just the numbers are off the charts.

Obviously, Rudy Gobert can be in this conversation.

Some people will probably choose Rudy Gobert, but I just have this burning image of Rudy of Ben Simmons going against Luca.

Don check where he just held him to one of the worst games.

And look, people need to start giving this player the recognition that he deserves.

We always want to see him shoot jump.

Shots were waiting for him to become LeBron James.

To a degree, he's not that type of player.

He is a defensive player of the year candidate, a guy that can set up your teammates, make the game look easy, push the ball in transition.

And he is an absolute dog on the defensive end.

Speaking of Make it look easy out of the gate Rookie of the year Lamelo Ball Man tires.

Halliburton could be in this conversation for the Sacramento Kings to he deserves a lot of praise.

He was one of my sleeper picks in the NBA draft, but lamelo ball has been this guy.

Man, look, he didn't start, okay?

It came off the bench worked in.

Now he's a full time starter, shooting the ball from really deep.

And he's He's magical with the basketball man.

He makes plays.

There's a Luca Don check in him, and but also look, man, he has that swag to him.

We all know it.

He has that swag.

You feel like he's, uh, he's in Hollywood, but in Charlotte.

But so J.

With that being said Rookie, the year at midway season point at some point in time, as I said a month or so ago, can he be, if not the face of the NBA?

One of the young faces one of the young faces.

I just don't know about the face yet.

There's still a lot to be accomplished for me to salute.

Yeah, absolutely.

He has the potential.

He has the potential lamelo, the first rookie in 60 years to lead rookies in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals at the break.

And, as Jay said, didn't even start, I believe until February he was even starting until February.

So think about that.

Points, rebounds, assists, steals.

60 years since we've seen a rook do that, I think Michael got this one right.

Michael, of course, was never this in his career.

Sixth Man of the year.

We're going out to Utah.

You can talk about how Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert feel disrespected.

There's no way they're in a position they are right now.

Unless Jordan Clarkson pops off for 18 points per game, there's he feels like he is that guy in Utah.

As confident as Donovan Mitchell feels like he's a superstar, Jordan Clarkson believes he's a superstar crazy that he was once playing for the Lakers and could put up points.

But like he is, that player shoots unlimited range and has the moxie of a superstar.

All them young players shade that we had in the room, Uh, Jordan, Jordan, Clarkson, the guys that we moved on ball, Julius Randle.

They turned their turning out to be pretty Larry.

Now there turned out to be some pretty good players, so the Lakers obviously did a good job in terms of this election.

Always find a way to bring it back to the Lakers.

You can always you can always you mentioned the Lakers.

I just follow up.

You know who.

Believe it or not, the Lakers are looking up coach of the year, going to the second place team in the Western Conference.

Phoenix Suns.

Monty Williams.

I mean, one hell of a job.

I knew that when they got CP three this summer, I was okay.

They'll compete in the Western.

They'll complete man like compete.

Compete.

Means be a six or seven seed.

Like I knew that they were undefeated in the bubble.

But, you know, be the team here.

The double okay, Like you guys are gonna go off its But they are a squad.

I mean, CP three, The way he's let them.

Devin Booker becoming an All Star, which Look, I thought Devin Booker should have been all star CP three.

Should have gotten the alternate spot due to a D.

Whatever way you panned out this team DeAndre in, um, Miquel Bridges.

They have the pieces.

They are dangerous.

I'm not saying they can win the Western Conference, but damn second place Monty Williams, Coach of the Year right now, 24 11.

Overall, J.

Let me ask you about CP 30 when he was on the move.

How come no teams that was real like championship contenders?

Because they've got money.

The money, right?

So his money was a lot of money worth that money.

As you look at him playing right now, depending where you are in the cop.

I mean, I always thought I would have loved to see CP three become a clipper again.

Yeah, I think that's a dynamic.

Or sometimes they miss a little bit.

Uh, but, you know, what do you have to give up in order to get a C p three?

It takes away from some of your depth and things like that.

So I'm sure, like Lou Will or a lot of draft picks, things like that would have definitely been involved in the drop mix.

I just want to see him when he's one of those guys that I want to see win a championship.

But it might be tough in Phoenix.

Well, there was that one time he could have been on the Lakers.

Don't wanna bring that up.

Got avoided.

Avoided.

Next up, Who's showing the most growth Most improved player to my man, Jay Rose.

Detroit Stand up.

It's been a lot of tough years for Detroit.

A lot of tough years.

Jay Rosen.

I talked about all the time, but Jeremy Grant, I mean it.

Dudes averaging 23 points per game.

He leads them in points and just the maturation that he's taken from last year as a guy.

I remember if you saw him in the bubble, a defensive player going against LeBron James, it's He was just a defensive guy, a guy that kind of fit in here and there.

I did not expect him to become the star player for the Detroit Pistons.

Big ups to Jeremy Grant becoming a star at this level and that size.

That frame can give it to you in a variety of ways.

On the on the court.

Here's the one thing I would say keep calling for the trial.

You know, they don't do that in the NBA anymore.

No more travels in the NBA.

Here's what I would say about Jeremy Grant to buttress your point.

And then we'll get to a really interesting discussion about one name we haven't heard in this entire discussion last five years.

Points per game for Jeremy Grant, 5.48 point 4, 13.6 12 point.

Oh, 23 points and when there's 12 point Oh, he was a defensive guy for Denver last year, he was guy guarding LeBron James.

That was his role in a spot up shooter here and there.

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