The NBA Playoffs are here, so let’s turn our attention back to the NBA. First things first, everyone wants to talk about the MVP race so I’ll weigh in as well and point out why everyone could win as well a future NBA MVP.
James Harden 27.6ppg 6.9apg 5.7rbg
James Harden has had the best all-around season long performance of any of the candidates. He doesn’t
seem to get enough credit for getting the Rockets to a 56-26 record and Southwest division
championship as well as the 2nd seed in the Western Conference.
Dwight Howard has missed a majority of the season and Harden has minimal help outside of Howard.
For most of the season the Rockets have had Harden as their go to guy with Trevor Ariza and Donatas
Motiejunas as their second and third leading scorers. Harden has done the most with the least of any
candidate. Time to give the beard the credit he deserves. If I had to pick, Harden is my MVP.
Stephen Curry 23.6ppg 7.7apg 4.3rpb
Let’s just tell it like it is Steph Curry is the best player on the best team. It’s that simple. The best player
on the best team will always get lots of MVP hype and deservedly so be a front runner to win it.
Curry is indeed having a special season. The clear argument for Curry to be MVP, outside of being the
whole best player best team thing, is that his team has been so good that they are not often in close
games and he has had a number of games he doesn’t see the court in the fourth quarter.
This argument is more than just an argument, it is the truth. Curry is playing the second lowest mpg of
his career, the only year he averaged less was the ’11-’12 season when he was injured and played in only
26 games. Despite the drop in minutes he has his second highest ppg average. Last year he averaged
slightly more points while playing significantly more minutes. I think when it’s all said and done Curry is the runner-up.
Russell Westbrook 27.5ppg 8.6apg 7.2rpg
The argument for Russell Westbrook is simple—over the final 2 months or so of the season he put up
hands down the best numbers in the NBA, that isn’t even up for debate and no one would be surprised
That said the Thunder missed the playoffs with the 8th and final playoff spot in the Western Conference
going to the Pelicans. The Thunder missing the playoffs may affect his chances of winning, however it
does not take away from the ridiculous stats he has put up. Anytime a guy is putting up numbers that we
haven’t seen since Oscar Robertson he is more than worthy of an MVP.
The one knock on Russ is also fairly simple—while the Thunder have played much of the season without
reigning MVP Kevin Durant, he still has substantially more help than a guy like James Harden. Serge
Ibaka is All-Defensive type player with an underrated offensive game and the immergence of Enes
Kanter is also something that can’t be overlooked. In the end win the MVP or not Westbrook has had a
historic year and we need to sit back and enjoy the show we have all got to witness this season.
LeBron James 25.5ppg 7.4apg 6rpg
LeBron is on this list because he’s LeBron. While for parts of this season, mostly in the early season he
has not looked like typical LeBron he is still the best player on the planet. Being the best player on the
planet has to count for something, right?
Many people feel that when LeBron doesn’t win the MVP it is basically just to keep things interesting by
giving to someone else. I agree with this to a point, MJ went through the same thing when he was the
best player on the planet. I do not agree with that if you are suggesting that that will be the reason why
he doesn’t win it this season. The 3 guys I already mention, Curry, Harden, and Westbrook have all had
better season in my opinion. Regardless, LeBron should and will get some MVP love this season.
Anthony Davis 24.3ppg 10.3rpg 3bpg
I add Anthony Davis to list mostly because he is the future of the NBA and has dominated the game in
every aspect. He won’t win it this year and may have to wait a while until he actually will win the award
but I still think that at some point Davis will get his. Davis is only 22 years old and as scary as this is, will
only continue to get better. Leading the Pelicans to the playoffs also doesn’t hurt the case that Davis
made this season but on the other hand perhaps it heightens his expectations for next year…
The one thing that will certainly hold Davis back in his development and certainly hold him back as far
ever reaching MVP status is injuries. Davis always seems to be getting injured. This is very frustrating for
his fantasy owner, take it from me I have personal experience with this matter. But it also very
frustrating for fans of the Pelicans who could have the next great big man in the game on their team. I
don’t see any way he wins it this year but mark my words his time is coming.