There have already been a number of big games and memorable performances early on this NBA season.

A league driven by superstars has so far seen a season of one-upmanship by some of their most notable performers. But who’s jumped out to the early lead in the race to be crowned the year’s best?

TSN.ca takes a look at the MVP candidates at the quarter pole of the season:

Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder: Mr. Triple-Double accomplished the feat for the sixth-straight time earlier this week, bringing his total on the year to 11 in 22 games. Westbrook is just as likely to record a triple-double on a given night as he is to fall short.

Westbrook falls just short of leading the league in any one stat category, but no other player can match his incredible line – 31 points per game (second in the NBA), 11.3 assists per game (second in the NBA), and 10.9 rebounds per game (ninth in the NBA).

In an off-season where Thunder fans had to see one of their stars depart for an easier path in Golden State, Westbrook is even more adored for signing a contract extension and keeping Oklahoma City in contention with a 14-8 record through 22 games (sixth in the Western Conference).

Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors: If the vote isn’t split between the Warriors top three – or even four – players, Durant presents a strong case for MVP.

Durant moved on from sharing the spotlight with Westbrook in Oklahoma City, to share it with Steph Curry (and Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green) in Oakland, but he’s not far off from his career averages – numbers that have won him the MVP in the past.

Durant’s 27 points per game are five behind his 2013-14 MVP campaign, but he’s averaging one more rebound per game (8.4 to 7.4) and shooting better from both the field (.565% to .503%) and three-point range (.420% to .391).

The added star power Durant aligned himself with this off-season should help come the postseason, but his easier path to a ring came with the consequence of a much harder one to a second MVP trophy.

James Harden, Houston Rockets: The third current or former Thunder player to make the list, Harden has been plying his trade in Houston the past five seasons, perhaps never more as successfully as this year.

While Harden’s never been named league MVP, he was voted most valuable by his peers after his strong 2014-15 season. His goal this year is to put himself in position to be the clear choice. And so far he’s doing his part. Harden’s stat line through a quarter of the season in better than his almost-MVP numbers of two seasons ago in every major category but one – three-point shooting percentage. But points are up (28.7 to 27.4), rebounds are up (7.6 to 5.7), shooting percentage is up (.447% to .440) and assists are way up (11.6 to 7.0).

Harden will need to make sure the Rockets stay in contention with the top teams in the Western Conference to have a shot at winning the award, especially after a second place finish in the conference two years ago wasn’t enough.

Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs: Speaking of the top teams in the Western Conference…

No list of top teams in the league is complete without the Spurs, just like no list of top players is complete without a Spur.

Leonard has carried the reputation as one of the league’s best defenders for a couple seasons now. It’s his offensive prowess that is now matching his work on the other end of the court that has him in the early-season MVP discussion.

Leonard is setting career-highs in points (24.5 points per game) and assists (2.9 per game) this season while maintaining both his rebounding norms (5.9 per game) and of course San Antonio’s seemingly never ending streak of excellence (18-4 through 22 games).

LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers: Only one candidate from the Eastern Conference a quarter of the way through the season, but it’s a gooden.

LeBron’s scoring numbers are a little down through 19 games so far this season but he’s spreading the ball around more with the Cavs this year, and that’s shown up in his assist numbers – on pace for a career-high 9.2 assists per game.

The rest of his numbers are on pace with the stats he put up in his four previous MVP seasons. And LeBron has the Cavaliers clipping right along atop the Eastern Conference with a 14-5 record.

There have been years prior when voters had to find reasons not to pick LeBron. That won’t be the case this year as the 31-year-old has some extremely heady company vying for the league’s top individual honour.

In a particularly personal MVP race this year, the best news for fans is there is still four months of action to settle things.