I wanted to look at some of the early season outstanding performers. I think I'll give props to as many as I feel deserve it, and I feel have a chance at getting the award:
1. Tommy Lee Tompkins - PG - BucsBlue Lob City - 36.2 ppg, 0.8 steals/gm, 4.7 apg, 5.0 rpg
The league's points leader and last year's runner up is off to a phenomenal start, knocking down every shot he gets. His 49 3pt% is good for 6th in the league, and he attempts more shots than any other player in the league. He doesn't only score though, as 4.7 assists per game and 5 rebounds per game would indicate. He's the total package and a future national team hopeful. I think he could probably use some work defensively, but he more than makes up for it on the offensive end.
2. Rémi Bois - PF - West Side Tigers - 21.2 ppg, 13.7 rpg, 5.5 apg, 2.2 blocks/gm
Bois and the Tigers are off to an exceptional start. Bois does it all, he even averages 1.2 steals / gm. He leads the league with a stunning 62.2 fg%, making him deadly efficient. He ranks in the top 10 of so many categories you can't even keep track. Any category by which you sort the leaders, Bois isn't far from the top.
3. Tibor Nyúl - PG - LambdaLambdaLambda - 16.5 ppg, 8.5 apg, 0.3 TO/gm, 1.5 steals/gm
The assists to turnover ratio is incredible. I've never been in a league with someone that had a better ratio through 6 games. He doesn't just give it up, he scores and defends really well also. Lambda's shiny new off-season acquisition is a real player in the MVP race. Rodolfo who?
4. Michele Taddei - PF - Warhawks - 25.5 ppg, 10.8 rpg, 4.8 apg, 41.6 mins/gm
It's no surprise Taddei finds his way in the hunt. He finished 3rd in the voting last season, after all. He is a lot like Bois in that he can really pass. He's maybe a little better off the bounce than Bois as well. He's a legit contender.
5. Jordan Pina - C - nyc warhawks - 12.0 ppg, 21.4 rpg, 2.6 blocks/gm, 45.6 mins/gm
Pina is a defensive monster, he swats everything. Just... stay the hell out of the paint against nyc. If you try to float it in over Pina and Luna, you're gonna have a bad time. Pina also chews glass and spits the shards like bullets. All this, and he's an absolute iron man, gobbling up minutes for his team. He's the Derrick Brooks of III.7, he plays every second, at an all-star level, and is tough as nails.
6. Gaetan Gybels - SF - West Side Tigers - 33.5 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 2.2 steals/gm, 14.0 avg rating
The Luxembourg international is a 2-way machine. Not only does he provide the bulk of his team's offense, he creates turnovers at a very nice clip. Also, how do you mention Bois without Gybels? It just wouldn't be right. That's not to say he doesn't deserve accolades from his own merit; 2nd in the league in both steals and points is pretty incredible.
7. LuÃs Nuno Andrade - PG - North Carolina Tar Heels - 22.8 ppg, 6.2 apg, 2.5 steals/gm, 45.6 mins/gm
He probably deserves to be higher, because thus far, he's been maybe the most productive player in the league. He's low because his game shape is in the toilet, which hurts his chances of getting the trophy. Luis leads the league in steals, he's 4th in mins/gm, 6th in assists, and 12th in points. He also gets 0.8 blocks/gm, which is good enough to put him on the leader boards as a guard. He has a shot to steal the trophy IMO.
8. Johnny Byers - SG - Marshland Mammals - 20.5 ppg, 6.8 apg, 4.8 rpg, 15.9 avg rtg
Byers is the highest rated player in the league, and I'd be remiss if I didn't mention him here. He scores over 20 ppg, he's 4th in the league in assists, and he bangs the boards a little bit as well. He hasn't disappointed at all, despite how big the preseason hype was. He's met expectations and could easily turn in some 50+ point performances, along with a few 10 assist performances and maybe a few 10 rebound performances. He has potential to snag this award, he's within earshot of the league leaders in several categories.