10 bold predictions for 2017-18 NBA season

3. Giannis Antetokounmpo wins MVP

Giannis Antetokounmpo finished fifth on our list of top 10 MVP candidates, but we’re going to take this dark horse pick into bold prediction territory. In a field that includes Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, the Greek Freak is going to emerge as the Most Valuable Player at age 23.

This is obviously a ballsy pick, but why not? Westbrook already shattered the notion that an MVP’s team has to rank in the top-three of his conference standings to win the award as long as the numbers are gaudy enough. Though Giannis won’t be putting up a triple-double this season, he seems poised to take the league by storm nonetheless.

For starters, the East is as weak as it’s been in recent memory, which should allow the Milwaukee Bucks to build on their 42-win season in 2016-17. The Greek Freak led his team in all five major statistical categories behind averages of 22.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.9 blocks and 1.6 steals per game, so he’s clearly already a two-way terror.

After winning Most Improved Player of the Year, the next target for him is MVP. Maybe predicting that outcome in 2017-18 is a year premature, but it’s only a matter of time before this league belongs to Giannis. If Milwaukee wins 50+ games and snags a top-three seed in the East, don’t rule this out.