John Wall
The Washington Wizards have been an utter dumpster fire to kick off the season. While they've avoided the bottom of the Eastern Conference (mostly thanks to fellow dumpster fire the Cleveland Cavaliers), they currently hold an abysmal 3-9 record on the season. While they did manage to go 2-2 on the week, but they are still in the bottom three of the East. While the Wizards' season has been pretty bad, John Wall himself is having a solid season for himself, with this week, in particular, being one of his strongest of the season so far. For the week, Wall averaged 24.3 points, 9.5 assists, and 2.8 steals per game while shooting 46% from the field and 40% from three-point range. Maybe the Wizards can pull it together and save their season, especially if Wall keeps playing the way he did this past week.
Zach LaVine
Zach LaVine is out here having a breakout season this year. While he's always been a strong scorer, but this year he's gone above and beyond, averaging 27.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and a steal per game while shooting 46% from the field and 35% from three-point range. Despite the Chicago Bulls posting an underwhelming 4-9 record so far this season, LaVine is looking like a potential all-star this year. This week was no different, as he led the Bulls to a 2-1 record over the last seven days. For the week, LaVine averaged 29 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.7 steals and a block per game while shooting 43% from the field and 37% from three-point range. LaVine's best performance of the week came in a win over the New York Knicks when he put up a career-high 41 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals.
Victor Oladipo
While it's looking like the top spot of the Eastern Conference will be fought for by the Toronto Raptors & the Milwaukee Bucks, you can't count out the East's biggest dark horse in the Indiana Pacers. Currently 8-6 on the year, the Pacers are currently tied for third in the East with the Philadelphia 76ers, and while they went just 1-2 on the week this past week, they still have a solid roster that could take them far in the playoffs. Leading the way this past week was Victor Oladipo, who has built off his breakout season last year to put up some more great numbers. For the week, Oladipo averaged 28.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 2 steals, and a block per game while shooting 47% from the field and 30% from three-point range. Oladipo's best performance of the week came in a win over the Miami Heat when he put up 36 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 blocks.
Hassan Whiteside
To say Hassan Whiteside disappointed last season is an understatement. Following a season where he averaged 17 points, a league-best 14.1 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game and shot 56% from the field, Whiteside looked to be on the brink of becoming an all-star. However, a combination of frequent injuries and an apparent falling out with the team caused his numbers to fall. This season, however, Whiteside has rebounded and looks like the dominant player he was back in the 2016-17 season. In particular, Whiteside was a dominant force this weekend on both ends of the floor, putting up great numbers while the Heat went 2-2 on the week. For the week, Whiteside averaged 18.3 points, 18 rebounds, and a staggering 5.7 blocks per game while shooting 58% from the field. Whiteside would grab 20 rebounds in two separate games this week, including a 29 point, 20 rebound, and 9 block performance in a win over the San Antonio Spurs.
Joel Embiid
While they only managed to go 2-2 and move their record to 8-6 on the season, this week has to be seen as a successful one for the Philadelphia 76ers. Already with an all-star and a potential all-star on their roster, they added another all-star caliber player in Jimmy Butler. If you want my thoughts on that, click here for them. But until Butler actually plays a game for the 76ers, the top dog on the team is undoubtedly Joel Embiid, who continued an MVP-caliber start to the season with another great weekly stat line. For the week, Embiid averaged 23 points, 14.8 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game while shooting 46% from the field. Embiid's best performance of the week came in a win over the Charlotte Hornets when Embiid put up 42 points, 18 rebounds, and 4 blocks.
Kemba Walker
The Charlotte Hornets haven't had a great start to the season, but they have managed to remain in the top half of the Eastern Conference with a 7-6 record so far. Whether or not they can keep up that kind of play and make their way back into the playoffs, especially when they really only have one player who can score the ball. Luckily, that one player is Kemba Walker, and Kemba Walker is really, really good at scoring, among other things. This week, the Hornets went 1-1 as Walker put up great numbers, averaging 29.5 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 steals per game while shooting 41% from the field. Walker's best performance came in a loss to the Philadelphia 76ers when he put up 30 points, 7 rebounds, and 9 assists.
Anthony Davis
The New Orleans Pelicans haven't had a great start to the season so far. Not terrible, but nothing to write home about. Currently 6-6 on the year, they're nowhere near as bad as the Phoenix Suns but are still in the bottom five of the Western Conference right now. They did, however, go 2-1 on the week, so things are looking up a bit for the Pelicans right now...just a little bit. Leading the way for the Pelicans this week was Anthony Davis, who has continued to prove why he's one of the best players in the league. For the week, Davis averaged 26 points, 12 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 2.3 blocks per game while shooting 44% from the field. Davis' best performance of the week came in a win over the Chicago Bulls when he put up 32 points, 15 rebounds, 7 assists, and 4 blocks.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Even though they have one of the best players in the league right now, the Milwaukee Bucks have to be exceeding a lot of people's expectations right now, myself included. After they underperformed last season, I did not expect them to be one of the top teams in not just the Eastern Conference, but the NBA itself. Well, they are, as they currently hold the third best record in the league at 10-3. A lot of that is thanks to their aforementioned star player, Giannis Antetokounmpo. Antetokounmpo has remained true to form to start the newest NBA season and continues to put up some of the best numbers in the league, and this week was no different despite the Bucks going just 2-2. For the week, Antetokounmpo averaged 25 points, 12.8 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 2 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 58% from the field. Antetokounmpo's best performance came in a blowout win over the Sacramento Kings when he put up a 26 point, 15 rebound, 11 assist triple-double.
Andre Drummond
Coming off of arguably the best season of his career, Andre Drummond was likely looking to repeat that stellar stat line this season as well. So far, he's not only matched it but has improved even more. Drummond is leading the league in rebounds and averaging almost 20 points per game and while the Detroit Pistons aren't having a great season so far, currently sitting at 6-6 on the year, but Drummond is looking set to make his third appearance in the all-star game. This past week, Drummond went above and beyond and put up some of his best numbers of the season so far as the Pistons went 2-1 on the week. For the week, Drummond averaged 23.7 points, 18 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 2 blocks per game while shooting 62% from the field. Drummond's best performance of the week came in a loss to the Miami Heat when he put up 25 points and 24 rebounds.
Kyrie Irving
And rounding out my list for this week is Kyrie Irving, my pick for the player of the week. While he did end up missing one game during the week, his numbers from the rest of the week are just too good to pass up. The Boston Celtics haven't had the ideal start to their season so far, as they are currently just 7-6 on the season and tied for fifth in the Eastern Conference. Some of that might have to do with Kyrie Irving putting up slightly underwhelming numbers by his standards. However, if this week is any indication of just how good he can be when he's hot, then the Celtics should have no problem making it deep into the playoffs this year with Irving leading the way. For the week, Irving averaged 35 points, 6 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 3 steals and a block per game while shooting 58% from the field, 53% from three-point range, and a perfect 8/8 from the free throw line. Irving's best performance of the week came in a win over the Phoenix Suns when he put up 39 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals.
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