Last year was a two-horse race for the league’s MVP, with Kevin Durant beating out the South Beach-laden LeBron James in his last season in Miami.
The only other possibility was New Orleans’ Anthony Davis, who was frequently referred to as “the future most dominant player in the league”.
But when KD took out the Maurice Podoloff trophy, nobody batted an eyelid, except maybe for Durant himself during his now-famous speech.
But this year? Durant has been a ghost, LeBron is going though his moving-home blues – the kind we usually get when looking through the pantry at our parents’ place – and a handful of up-and-comers are storming into MVP contention.
Listed below are the top contenders, in order of least likely to most.
Honorary mentions
Too injured to be considered
Anthony Davis, New Orleans
Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City
Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers
Too Spanish to be considered
Marc Gasol, Memphis
Pau Gasol, Chicago
Too boring to be considered
LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland (dependable big men are so 1995)
Jeff Teague, Atlanta
Paul Millsap, Atlanta
Pretty Much Anyone From, Atlanta
The top five
Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers
Somehow, CP3 has put together a quiet season while leading the Clips. Not “quiet” in the hasn’t-done-anything way, but “quiet” in the same-old-Chris-Paul way.
He’s averaging over 10 assists a game to go with his near-20 points, and with Blake Griffin away, he’s been carrying the scoring load for his squad. In a starting five featuring DeAndre Jordan and ‘The Original Neck Tat’ Matt Barnes, someone’s gotta do it, right?
And this is overlooking his tight D on younger, more athletic guards in the west.
Paul may be one of the most fundamentally sound players of his generation and for him to win an MVP at some stage seems fair. But while his best days certainly aren’t all behind him, he may have missed the MVP boat (Clipper?) with the armada of young talent working their way into the picture.
Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors
While Chris Paul rarely has an off-game, solidly racking up his 18-and-10, Steph Curry is the total opposite. CP3 won’t go for 50 any time soon, but there’s always a chance Steph will go off on an unsuspecting opponent.
It seems like every game Steph is making highlight reels – whether it’s his seemingly-ridiculous shot selection, his regular disembowelling of a poor defender with his freakish dribbling skills, or the sort of face that your nanna wants to pinch with all her might.
Curry slips above Paul due to the attention he and his Warriors are receiving – and rightfully so, given their dominant record. He’s the best player on the best team in the league and will surely score some MVP votes based on that fact alone.
James Harden, Houston Rockets
The Beard has well and truly made up for the absence of Dwight Howard for most of the season by taking over the Rockets – and maybe even the league. Sure, most of his points come from the foul line, where he’s converting 87 per cent of his five million attempts per game, but he’s a cold-blooded scorer and distributor who is making the Rockets a much-feared Western Conference opponent.
My favourite part about Harden? He is currently second in the league in scoring and still dishes out seven assists a game to the likes of Trevor Ariza (who is averaging double figures pretty much solely thanks to Harden), Patrick Beverley (who is playing professional basketball pretty much solely thanks to Harden), Corey Brewer (who spent the first few months of the season sucking at Minnesota – at Minnesota) and Josh Smith (currently making 31 per cent of his threes since the trade, which is about 35 percentage points above his career average).
LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
It seems that, for most of the season, LeBron and the Cavs have struggled. They limped to a 19-20 record, with several of those losses occurring in a 1-7 slump without James before their infamous bowling night, which worked out much better than when Andrew Bynum tried it.
And yet, despite Cleveland flying since mid-January and LeBron threatening to go 30-10-10 every night, it seems like LBJ is kind of coasting.
He’s probably the best player in the world, and there’s a part of me that feels sorry for the poor team who’ll bear his wrath once the Cavs drop a game or two in the playoffs and he gets nice and pissed off. However, in the meantime, his claim for MVP is being overwhelmed and overshadowed by somebody who is playing with that edge each night.
Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
There’s a part of me that doesn’t want to like Russ. There’s the Kevin Durant fan in me who wants the world’s best scorer back in the league, but we won’t see his full range of skills with Russ also in the line-up.
There’s the part of me who thinks that every team has somebody who would dominate the game if given the keys to the team like Russ has.
And there’s also the part of me who heaps scorn on the sort of person who plays NBA 2K on its easiest setting so they can screenshot their created player’s ridiculous stat lines at the end of the game and post it on Instagram.
Westbrook seems like he’s doing that – but in real life. NBA fans are lucky to see his sort of statlines once or twice a season – but four consecutive triple doubles? And not even the Jason Kidd-esque “10-10-10” TDs – he was averaging 37 points in the stretch.
Russ is playing like a man possessed. He’s dominating the ball, sure – but isn’t that the most entertaining basketball you can watch? A hyper-athletic, skillful point guard who is carrying an entire team on his shoulders and dominating the league?
Westbrook’s freakish run of form, added to his usual solid numbers when sharing with KD this season, should more-than make up for his missed November and see him claim his maiden Podoloff trophy.
Footnote
Just browsing Wikipedia quickly – KD and Russ could be the first teammates to win consecutive MVPs ever.
The closest I could find was Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki in 2006 and 2007. I got excited when I saw that different people won the 1971 and 1972 awards, until I realised they were Lew Alcindor and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
astro
Guest
I'd love to know what film you're watching of Bill Russell and Bob Cousy, considering barely any footage actually exists of Russell in his prime! Of course, today's game is different. Everything is. Russell played in a era where he was racially abused by his own fans...they broke into his house, covered the walls with racist graffiti, damaged his trophies and defecated in his bed! Imagine that happening to Lebron! Simple fact is, we know Russell was legendary, because no other player in that era managed anything close to what he accomplished. You can only judge him by his peers, and he was head and shoulders above them. KD and Russ aren't stand outs in today's league. They're great, but don't have a single championship yet. They don't dominate like Russell did. But don't take my word for it. Let's ask Phil Jackson. In 2013, Phil was asked 'If given the choice of any player in NBA history to start a franchise, who would it be'? His answer: "In my estimation, the guy that has to be there would be Bill Russell. He has won 11 championships as a player. That's really the idea of what excellence is, when you win championships."
Nathan Farebrother
Roar Guru
Currently, the Cavaliers sit tied for eighth. Therefore, if the Cavaliers don't place in the top 5, then LeBron shouldn't win MVP? (Even though he probably will).
Nathan Farebrother
Roar Guru
"6-0 players don’t win MVPS, nor should they. Maybe if he was 6-6, but he isn’t." You haven't said they can't win, but you've said they don't win - which is false. West never won the regular season MVP, which is what we're talking about. He won the NBA Finals MVP in 1969, and the All-Star game MVP in 1972. Additionally, Derrick Rose has also won it (6 foot 3). Four out of Five listed above are under 6 foot 5: James Harden (6 foot 5), Steph Curry (6 foot 3), Chris Paul (6 foot) and Russell Westbrook (6 foot 3). They also all play at guard. The only other candidate in line to win the award is LeBron. Point guards in the NBA are usually 6 foot 4, with it averaging out to 6 foot 2. Unless it's a matchup on court or defensive switch, you're not going to have a 6 foot 6 forward marking a 6 foot 2 guard (there are some exceptions). Jerry West isn't the only elite player under 6 foot 5. John Stockton (6 foot 1), Isiah Thomas (6 foot 1), Gary Payton (6 foot 4), Oscar Robertson (6 foot 5) and Jason Kidd (6 foot 4) all sit in company of West. This is just naming a few. You can obviously add people like Steve Nash and Allen Iverson. Going back to your earlier comment, you stated that guys around 6 foot don't win MVP's, and that they shouldn't. That eliminates at least 3 out of the 5 candidates. So what happens if Curry wins it?
AW Tait
Roar Rookie
No judgment on the quality of the duos from me. I just thought it was interesting that KD and Russ would be in pretty exclusive territory. Whether it's because they're as good as Cousy & Russell, or if it's a quirk in history, makes for a good debate, though! KD & Russ just need another 11 rings to make things interesting!
express34texas
Guest
Different time in today's nba. Go watch film of Cousy/Russell play, it looks like they're in slow motion compared to today's players. Not that they couldn't play today, but they'd be much less of players playing today.
express34texas
Guest
Again, I didn't say a small player can't win MVP. And you obviously don't know nba history much, because if there's anything we've learned about basketball throughout the years is that 'size matters.' Positional-wise, PG and C are the 2 most important positions, however, your best players don't necessarily have to play those positions. What tiny players have ever won MVP? Cousy, West, Nash, and Iverson is all I can think of. And West was probably the only one who might've actually deserved it. And only West is even considered by a few to be considered among the all-time great. History is not on your side, and it isn't changing any time soon. Thomas is the only small to truly be 'the guy' to lead his team to a title, and his team was stacked when the Pistons won back-to-back. Little guys get pushed around a lot easier, that's a fact. If 2 players are 6-6 and 6-1, with the same skills and athleticism, you're going to take the 6-6 guy every time with everything else being equal with no hesitation.
astro
Guest
OK, that's it...we're not seriously discussing Russ Westbrook and KD, two guys who have never won a championship, as being better than Cousy and Russell, are we? And by Russell, we mean Bill Russell, right? The guy who is almost universally acknowledged as one of the top 2 or 3 players in history, who is a 5 time MVP and 11 time champion? Surely, we mean some other dude named Russell?
astro
Guest
Nope, not saying he should win MVP, just said he was a legit candidate for it, and if you read the Grantland article and not just the headline, you'd see why. Still think your perceptions of 'smaller' players are bizarre. The vast majority of PGs in NBA history are shorter than the 6-5 cut off you've created, so are you saying that virtually all PGs in the NBA have "less impact" than guys in other positions? So guys like Thomas, Nash, Iverson, Stockton, Frazier, Lenny Wilkins, Payton, Parker, Hardaway, Kidd etc...all these guys had their abilities limited by their height??? Ironically, both Curry and Westbrook are under 6-5 as well, so clearly they can't be MVP according to you criteria.
express34texas
Guest
Relative to eras, I'd still say yes. But forgetting eras, definitely. Westbrook would destroy Cousy. The C's had a monopoly of the league at the time, and only had to win 2 series for the title, and never more than 3, plus much fewer teams then, and they had HOFers coming off the bench some years. Russell was great, but he was a 3rd option for most of his career. Paul is doing very well, but he can't carry a team past the 2nd round. He's had several good chances as well. I don't believe in him. He's viewed as the perfect prototype PG today, which is why he continues to get too much credit. Actually, Paul might be top 10 given all the injuries in the league, though he was fortunate to make the AS game. Aldridge and Davis ahead of him for sure. Cousins is a better player, but still a headcase. I'd take Marc Gasol as well. Several other guys are pretty close to him as well. It's a weak year for MVP. Only 4 players even have a chance, Paul doesn't need any mention here, he's not even close. If James played the entire year, didn't coast so much, and CLE didn't underachieve, then yea, it'd be his to lose, but that's a lot ifs. Westbrook's missed 15 games and OKC is struggling to make the playoffs, so hard to choose him even though I want to. Harden's put HOU on his back with Howard and playing amazingly well. Curry's been great, but MVP great? He'll probably win, but he shouldn't. He's just had the best cast for the reg. season. He better hope Durant doesn't come back, because it'll be a short playoffs for him probably.
express34texas
Guest
Not really, and you totally misinterpreted what I said and didn't read everything. His height doesn't disqualify him. His height limits his abilities than other larger players. Smaller players are less durable on average, and have a much less impact than taller players than average. That's just a given and a fact in the nba, that's why large people play the game. There's only 1 player in nba history who is considered an all-time elite player by most under 6-5 that I can think of, and that's West. It's the same with most other sports as well. And the other side of the spectrum is being too tall, which will limit you as well. I don't think anyone thinks Paul should win, and neither do I. Do u think Paul should win? We've seen enough of Paul throughout his career to know he cannot carry a team to the promised land. And this isn't his best season either. Even with Griffin out some, he's playing with an AS caliber center in Jordan and a decent cast. The Clips aren't doing anything special. They'll be fortunate to make it out of the 1st round. He's not even the best player on his team either. And yea, Paul can hit an elbow jumper, he must be the MVP. Talk about being bizarre.
AW Tait
Roar Rookie
Cousy & Russell! Of course. Dare we think of Westbrook and Durant in the same league as them? CP3 has historically had the numbers, even in New Orleans with fellow basketball titans David West and Peja Stojakovic. He's upped his game since Griffin went down so he hasn't been able to fall back onto his output lately. And I like Paul's game a lot more than I liked Iverson-circa-2001, although I guess he didn't have as much competition in that MVP race as there is nowadays. Who should be fifth?
astro
Guest
"6-0 players don’t win MVPs, nor should they" could be one of the most bizarre comments I've ever read on this site... You don't seriously think Chris Paul shouldn't win MVP because of his height, do you? If height equalled talent, then Manute Bol would be the greatest player of all time! But, if you need further proof that Chris Paul is a serious MVP candidate, just read this: http://grantland.com/the-triangle/monster-of-the-midrange-dont-sleep-on-chris-pauls-deadly-elbow-jumper/
express34texas
Guest
Chris Paul? Seriously? A guy who was fortunate to make the AS game. A guy who's played with at least 1 other AS and very good teams for much of his career, and never made it past the 2nd round yet. He's still a very good player, but MVP level? 6-0 players don't win MVPS, nor should they. Maybe if he was 6-6, but he isn't. I like your other choices. The other 4 will finish top 4 for sure. Westbrook can't win because historically MVPs only go to the best player on a top 5 team, and not only is he not a media darling, but in fact quite the opposite. Though he might deserve it even while missing 15 games so far this season. He's playing at another level than anyone else right now. Durant is loved or at least 'not hated' by pretty much everyone, which is partly why Westbrook receives so much scorn. OKC is so much better with both, but we obviously aren't able to see the full repertoire from each player when they're both healthy. It is so entertaining to watch him right now without Durant, though. Cousy/Russell won MVPs in 57/58.