Giannis Antetokounmpo leads Luka Doncic in first MVP ladder of season

Luka's eight straight 30-point games to start the season for the 5-3 Mavs couldn't beat out Giannis Antetokounmpo and the undefeated Bucks for the top spot on the NBA's first MVP Ladder.

Giannis has six 30-point games, seven games with double-digit rebounds, while his team has won seven of their nine games by 10 or more points. 

He's averaging 32.6 points (second in the NBA), 12.9 rebounds (also second), and 5.8 assists. Antetokounmpo is the defensive leader of the Bucks, who are giving up the fewest points in the NBA (101.1 per game)

Luka is averaging 36 points (first), 8.8 rebounds, and 8.6 assists (sixth), though his outside shooting is lagging so far (26.2%). 

Dallas has the No. 2 offensive rating thanks largely to Doncic, but has a middle-of-the pack defense, which is the main element keeping Luka in second place.

Rounding out the top five is Donovan Mitchell of the 8-1 Cavaliers at No. 3, Ja Morant of the 7-3 Grizzlies at No. 4, and Devin Booker of the 7-2 Suns at No. 5. 

Mitchell's fourth in scoring with 31.4 points, and leads the NBA in overtime points for Cleveland, who have won all three of their OT contests. Morant is eighth in scoring and is shooting a scorching 47.1% from beyond the arc, while Booker is 10th in scoring with 27 points.

The two-time defending MVP, Nikola Jokic, is No. 9 on the ladder, probably because of a drop in scoring for the 6-3 Nuggets. Some of that is due to ceding touches to teammates Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr., both back from injury. 

Jokic is taking less than 12 field goal attempts each game, though he has a career high in assists (9.2 per game, which would be a record for a center) and has been wildly efficient, shooting 62.3% and putting up a true shooting percentage of .710.