4DK NBA: Opening Week Under the Microscope

Anthony Edwards

Edwards scored 47 points in Minnesota’s 127–125 overtime loss to Cleveland on October 26. We do not treat that result as a personal failure: Minnesota needed his shot creation to stay in the game, and he delivered elite volume. But an MVP case also requires the Wolves to convert these performances into wins. The pairing with LaMelo Ball gives Minnesota a second creative guard; the question is how quickly they learn to share the late-game decisions without blunting Edwards’s aggression. This is why he remains No. 2 on our board, with room to challenge Luka if the wins follow.

Ty Jerome

Ty Jerome is not fifth on our board because we expect 35 a night all season. We have him fifth because the opening week happened, and it mattered. Across Memphis’s first three games he averaged 34.7 points and 6.0 assists while shooting 56.3% from the floor, leading a 3–0 opening stretch and earning Western Conference Player of the Week. Against Utah on October 26, he scored 15 on 4-of-15 shooting with eight assists, and Memphis still won 110–105 to move to 4–0. That contrast is the entire evaluation: his shotmaking carried an offense early, and the team survived when the shots stopped falling. We want to see how Jerome responds when opponents trap him higher and force the ball to secondary creators. His current ranking is a reward for actual production, not a projection that the hot streak lasts forever.

Tyrese Maxey

Philadelphia’s early success deserves to be reflected in our MVP board, and Maxey has earned his No. 8 spot on the floor. He averaged 28.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.8 assists over the first four games, earning Eastern Conference Player of the Week. On a roster with other major names, his speed, pull-up shooting and willingness to take difficult possessions still shape the Sixers’ offense. We will judge his candidacy on whether he sustains that pressure against switching defenses and keeps Philadelphia winning, not merely on the award or one high-scoring night.

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Giannis posted 29 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists against Dallas on October 26, but Miami lost 113–109 and fell to 0–4. The triple-double reinforces his individual dominance and the scale of his playmaking burden. The Heat’s winless start, however, cannot be ignored in an MVP discussion. We have him tenth because the production is there but the team results have not matched it. If Miami finds lineup balance, spacing and defensive cohesion, his position could change quickly.

#1 Yaxel Lendeborg

Four regular-season games give us more than a single highlight: 12 points in the opener, 18 and 13 rebounds against Memphis, 26 and nine against Phoenix, then 31 and 12 in Denver. His six assists in both the Memphis and Denver games demonstrate connective playmaking, not just scoring. The counterpoint is Golden State’s 1–3 start and his 1-for-8 three-point shooting against Denver. Our No. 1 ranking rewards his overall production while recognizing that shot selection and team defense remain works in progress.

October 26: opponent: Denver Nuggets, result: W 134–114, points: 31, rebounds: 12, assists: 6, field_goals: 9-19, free_throws: 12-13, minutes: 30:49

#9 Meleek Thomas

Thomas made his NBA debut in Cleveland’s 127–125 overtime win over Minnesota and scored 16 points off the bench. That matters because his first opportunity came in a competitive game, not empty minutes. We are encouraged by his catch-and-shoot confidence and willingness to play within the Cavaliers’ veteran offense, but one game is too small a sample to make claims about season-long efficiency or a guaranteed role.

October 26: opponent: Minnesota Timberwolves, result: W 127–125 OT, points: 16, field_goals: 6-10, three_pointers: 4-5, minutes: 19:07