The start of the 2023-2024 NBA season is looking decent and there are quite a lot of twists and turns for both players and teams. Of course, these abbreviations are welcome because they can add a bit of drama to the whole show and as fans, we all love to see that.
After all, that’s what makes the league so exciting to watch. As the first month recently concluded, we were able to see some players and teams meeting expectations, while others were having a hard time.
As such, fans are taking their forms to cast in their predictions as to who will win the NBA, who’s going to be the MVP, etc. Sportsbooks report that the number of bets that are being placed on the NBA is unexpectedly high at this point of the season.
With the growing trend of online betting, online bookmakers are witnessing a significant surge in activity surrounding the NBA season. These platforms offer a convenient and accessible way for fans to place their bets on various outcomes, such as the potential winner of the NBA championship, the season’s MVP, and other individual player or team performances. Online bookmakers not only provide updated odds and insights but also enhance the overall experience of following the league by enabling fans to engage more actively with each game and its potential outcomes.
With that being said, we wanted to provide you with a quick analysis of the first month and see who’s the biggest winner and who’s the biggest loser.
Biggest Winners One Month Into 2023-2024 NBA Season
We’ll start things off with the good news first. The start of the season gave us two players who are already in competition to become this season’s MVPs. Interestingly enough, both of them come from Europe and they show that American players will have to grind their teeth a bit more to make sure that they stay on top of their game.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Our first winner on the list is none other than Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Bucks are a decent competitor so far in the Eastern Conference and Giannis is definitely putting in numbers to help them reach the top.
His form is no wonder as last season he was voted in the All-NBA-First Team for the fifth consecutive year. At the start of December, he had his first triple-double of the season – 32 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists against the Hawks.
Although he was ill and was under question for a week, he did not let this small setback slow him down. One game before the Hawks, the Bucks played against the Trail Blazers. Giannis recorded 33 points, 16 rebounds and six assists.
Luka Doncic
Currently, Luka Doncic is on the shortlist to win the MVP award, along with Nikola Jokic. The Slovenian is showing massive potential and is making a statement that he is yet to dominate the NBA. After all, he’s just 24.
In the game against the Trail Blazers, Luka shined on the court as he had a double-double (32 points, six rebounds and 10 assists). Before that, Doncic recorded his second triple-double and his fifth game in which he has at least 30 points. There’s no denying the fact that the youngster is on fire and he is likely to set the NBA ablaze this year.
Biggest Losers of the 2023-2024 NBA Season
Unfortunately, not everyone is shining under the bright lights so far. There are a few players and teams that have not been doing well. Their performances are below the expectations and it is hard to see whether they will get better.
Chicago Bulls’ Big Three
First up, we don’t have one player, we have a trio and it’s the Big Three from the Bulls – Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vučević. Statistics show that the Bulls’ performances in 2021-22 and 2022-23 were disastrous whenever they played together.
The trend unfortunately continues at the start of this season. Their average is minus 18.8 per 100 possessions. Many experts believe that if they continue their bad form, their trade value will fall and that may cost them and the Bulls.
Jordan Poole
Poole is still a youngster and he’s yet to show his true potential. His start of the season has not been the greatest, though. Currently, the NBA’s average effective field-goal percentage is and he’s averaging 46.1.
One additional statistic that does not benefit him is the fact that the Wizards are minus 21.7 points per 100 possessions whenever Poole is on the field and plus 11.8 when he’s off.
