NBA MVP Power Rankings: Anthony Davis makes statement in week one action

4. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Once again, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be in the heat of MVP conversations. After finishing in a near tie for second place in MVP voting last season, Gilgeous-Alexander is poised to take the next leap and win his first MVP award.

While it is easier said than done, Gilgeous-Alexander has the best road map to winning his first MVP.

After adding Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso to an already stacked unit, the Oklahoma City Thunder are well on their way to hoisting the Larry O'Brien trophy in June. The Thunder haven't only already begun the journey back to the playoffs but they have looked like the standalone best team in the Western Conference.

In the Thunder's first game of the year, they had an impressive victory over Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. Thunder center Chet Holmgren not only had an impressive night, but the team looked like they had just stepped off the plane after losing to the Dallas Mavericks in the second round.

With an already mid-season form team behind Gilgeous-Alexander's back, he could very well be on his way to winning his first MVP award and leading his team to the Finals. Unfortunately for Thunder fans, they will not be able to catch Hartenstein in action for another few weeks after suffering an untimely hand injury right before the start of the season.

Despite this, the Thunder haven't looked like they missed a beat. Gilgeous-Alexander is the favorite to win the MVP after just one week of action.