Way-too-early NBA awards & LeBron returns to Lakers lineup | The Big Number

Tom Haberstroh and Dan Devine give their way-too-early awards for the NBA season thus far. They debate whether Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Nikola Jokić should be the NBA MVP and whether the Rookie of the Year award should be awarded to Cooper Flagg or Cedric Coward. Next, they discuss why it’s a unanimous decision to give Victor Wembyanama the Defensive Player of the Year despite his injury and why Ryan Rollins has the strongest case for Most Improved Player of the Year. Plus, why has there been an increase in star player injuries this year? Tom gives his insight. Lastly, LeBron James made his season debut last night against the Utah Jazz. Will he continue to bring the Lakers to life? All that and more! 1:14 SGA for MVP? 4:10 Jokic for MVP? 9:15 Honorable mention MVP: Giannis 14:48 Rookie of the Year picks 21:02 Wemby for Defensive Player of the Year? 27:35 Ryan Rollins for most improved player? 29:59 Jalen Duran for most improved player? 37:07Jaime Jaquez Jr for 6moy? 44:41 NBA star injury crisis 55:41 LeBron makes his debut 📢 Check out the Yahoo Sports podcast network or yahoosports.tv