Los Angeles Lakers superstar Anthony Davis has received the recognition he rightly deserves for his strong start to the 2024-2025 NBA season.

Lakers’ Anthony Davis comes out on top on the latest NBA MVP ladder

Davis was ranked No. 1 overall on the NBA’s latest MVP ladder because of the work he put in through his first seven games of the year. The 13-year veteran currently leads the league with 32.6 points per game. He is averaging a double-double with 11.6 rebounds per night.

The Kentucky product led the Lakers to a 4-3 record before going down with plantar fasciitis following their loss to the Detroit Pistons on Monday. Los Angeles has since suffered a 131-114 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies in their last outing, proving the huge impact Davis has had on their winning ways.

Davis received the honor among four elite MVP candidates

Davis came in ahead of Boston Celtics All-Star Jayson Tatum (No. 2), Denver Nuggets reigning MVP Nikola Jokic (No. 3), Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (No. 4) and Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star Donovan Mitchell.

Tatum is also averaging north of 30 PPG with 30.2 PPG for the 7-2 Celtics, while Jokic is the only player in the league posting a triple-double worth 28.8 PPG, 13.5 RPG and 11 APG. Gilgeous-Alexander leads the league’s best team at both ends of the court, while Mitchell has lifted the Cavaliers to a 9-0 start as the only undefeated team left in the Association.

Davis has a real chance to take home his first career MVP

But through it all, Davis shone above his peers. It would be quite a challenge to find a player who can protect the rim and play perimeter defense like a Defensive Player of the Year while efficiently getting buckets like a scoring champion and leading his team in an exemplary manner like the resident of Illinois.

As long as Davis continues to score 30+ points while dominating on both ends and setting the Lakers up for more wins, he should finally be rewarded for his incomparable talent with his first league MVP award this season.