2018-19 NBA MVP Ladder: October edition

3. Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi Leonard is already having a dynamic impact on the 7-1 Toronto Raptors, who remain undefeated when he plays and undefeated at home. They’ve had a friendly early schedule with six of their first eight games at Scotiabank Arena, but there’s no question he’s already paying dividends on both ends of the floor.

Leonard is showing zero signs of rust after playing only nine games last year due to a quadriceps injury. He’s averaging 27.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.0 steals per game while shooting 50.4 percent from the field, 44.4 percent from 3-point range and 91.4 percent from the foul line.

His numbers may not be as jaw-dropping as some of our other candidates, but he’s the best player on what looks like the team to beat in the Eastern Conference so far. That, along with what he brings to the table defensively and the narrative of replacing DeMar DeRozan, will weigh heavily with voters by season’s end.

The Raptors were expected to be a top-two team in the East this season, and if this torrid pace continues, Leonard’s two-way impact could very easily outshine more impressive individual numbers from the other candidates to earn the Claw his first MVP award.