Winners and losers from the NBA’s opening week in 2018-19

Winner: Anthony Davis

Prior to the start of this season, Anthony Davis made headlines when he declared himself the best player in the NBA. Then he went out last week and played like it.

Davis was dominant for the 3-0 Pelicans, averaging 30.3 points, 13.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 3.3 blocks and 2.0 steals per game. He might be the frontrunner for MVP as well as Defensive Player of the Year. Of course, no player has won both awards in the same season since Michael Jordan in 1988.

Davis is doing it all on the court. He’s making great passes, he’s hitting 3-pointers, catching insane alley-oops and making clutch plays.

The Pelicans made some significant moves in the offseason, losing Rondo but adding power forward Julius Randle to bolster the frontcourt. Randle is making an early case for Sixth Man of the Year (18.7 points and 9.0 rebounds per game), but the biggest help to Davis’ game has been Nikola Mirotic, who is scoring 28.0 points per game and opening things up for Davis with his long range shooting that stretches defenses.

Davis has been one of the league’s best players for a while, but now his team looks like a serious contender, which gives him a stronger argument for that best-in-the-world title.