The NBA trade deadline and the All-Star break are finally over and now it’s time to start discussing the league’s next big topic – the MVP race! About 75% of the season is gone, but it’s still too early to say which player will the MVP award. There is a group that consists of about five-six players that have proved themselves to be worthy candidates, however it is just too hard to say which one of them deserves it the most.
5. Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies
Marc Gasol isn’t your typical MVP award candidate – he is humble, his stats aren’t overwhelming and he is a bit of a quiet leader. Even though, he isn’t a freak on the stats sheet – averaging 18.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.7 blocks per game – Gasol is still the Grizzlies most important player on the roster. He has quietly led Memphis to the league’s third best record and they are looking like a very strong title candidate. However, the fact that the Spaniard’s stats aren’t very impressive is the thing that will most likely hurt him, when the time comes for the award to be given.
4. LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
James joins the MVP race a bit late, but it’s all thanks to Cleveland’s explosion in midseason. The Cavaliers have been looking like a real contender lately and that mainly because LeBron James has started playing like LeBron James. In the beginning of the season the King looked rather tired and slow, but after he was given rest due to his knee injury, he’s been like a new guy. Even though James is the main reason why the Cavaliers are in such good form, it will be a bit of a surprise if the wins the MVP award. The four-time winner’s MVP case isn’t as strong a Curry and Harden’s this year, plus James is in this discussion so often that people get used to how great he is.
3. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
What? Westbrook over Durant for MVP? Well, actually, yes. The electrifying point-guard has been in playing out of his mind this season and he is the main reason why the Thunder are currently sitting on the 8th place in the Western Conference. He’s been terrific in Durant’s injury absences, carrying Oklahoma City in almost every game. Westbrook is averaging 26.1 points, 8.0 assists, 6.4 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game – quite impressive if you ask me. However, Durant isn’t the only person from the Thunder that has missed time – Russ has too. The fact that Westbrook was also injured for a huge part of the beginning of the season will definitely hurt his chances of winning the MVP award.
2. James Harden, Houston Rockets
When you look at Harden’s stats the only thing that comes to mind is just a sound like “wow”. He is averaging 27.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 2.0 steals per game – he is just the third player in NBA history to average at least 27.0 pts, 5.5 rbs, 6.5 asts and 2.0 stls per game, the other two guys are Michael Jordan and LeBron James. Harden has been amazing all season long, but the most impressive thing is how he has led Houston in Dwight Howard’s absence. The Rockets are still in title contention mainly because of the efforts James has put in. The chances that the MVP award will go to Harden are quite big, but there is just one tiny problem – Stephen Curry is also in the race.
1. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
The case for Curry finishing the regular season as MVP is almost invincible. Steph and the Warriors have been on fire in the current campaign, owning the best record in the entire NBA. “Already a top player, Curry has displayed an all-around brilliance this year that makes him a legitimate candidate to become the first Warrior to win the award since 1960, when Wilt Chamberlain played for the franchise in Philadelphia. That the Warriors have a league-leading 42-9 record helps Curry’s MVP chances. No player has won the award without his team winning a division or conference title since Michael Jordan in 1988.” The fact that makes Curry’s MVP case even stronger is how bad the Warriors are without him on the floor. The net rating difference for Golden State with Curry on and off the floor is 19.2 – the biggest for any player around the league. Because of this, we can safely say that Stephen Curry is the favorite to win the MVP award at the end of the regular season.
NBA News: Top 5 MVP Candidates at the moment
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