NBA: Top 10 Candidates For Most Valuable Player Award In 2016-17

As the 2016-17 NBA season approaches, the race for the Most Valuable Player Award feels wide open. Here are the top 10 candidates for MVP.

Jun 13, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) during the third quarter in game five of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

The NBA is a league of superstars, and although championships are won with defense, depth, team chemistry, three-point shooting, injury luck and a myriad of other factors, at the end of the day, it often takes heroic play from a top superstar to carry the load and win a title.

We saw as much last season, when the Cleveland Cavaliers pulled off the greatest upset in NBA Finals history, defeating a 73-win Golden State Warriors team thanks to the Herculean efforts of LeBron James. More than any other major sport, professional basketball thrives off its star power.

There are plenty of fun awards to hand out at the end of every season, but none is more important than the Most Valuable Player Award. It’s a means for not only measuring individual greatness, but for defining seasons as a whole. As in, “THIS player was the story of the league in that season,” or “That was the year that so-and-so took over the NBA.”

MVP candidacy becomes a hot topic of debate every season. There have been no-brainer selections, close contests that could’ve gone either way and downright egregious misfires on this award in the past. For the most important individual award the NBA has to offer, it’s vital to come as close as possible to choosing the most deserving candidate each and every time.

MVP Awards take into account a myriad of factors, including individual statistics, team success, narrative and actual “value” to their team (i.e., if you took that player off his respective team, how good would they be without him?).

Heading into the 2016-17 NBA season, the MVP Award feels like a virtually wide open race. To try and sort through the league’s most elite superstars, here’s a look at the 10 most likely candidates to win the next Most Valuable Player Award.

Honorable Mentions:  Chris Paul, Draymond Green, Damian Lillard, Karl-Anthony Towns, Carmelo Anthony, Jimmy Butler, John Wall

Oct 4, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (left) handles the ball defended by Los Angeles Lakers center Timofey Mozgov (right) during the first half at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

10. DeMarcus Cousins

A bit of a long shot here, but DeMarcus Cousins is probably the best center in the NBA right now. Under new head coach Dave Joerger, who knows? Maybe the Sacramento Kings won’t be too much of a dumpster fire to prevent Boogie from conjuring up some legitimate MVP chatter for the first time in his career.

Unfortunately, a good coach can only make so much of a difference when the front office spent its summer adding a bunch of rookies and washed up wings for Cousins’ supporting cast. Rajon Rondo, Quincy Acy, Marco Belinelli and Seth Curry are gone, with Rudy Gay likely to follow suit soon enough.

That leaves the Kings relying on new additions like Matt Barnes, Arron Afflalo, Anthony Tolliver, Ty Lawson, Jordan Farmar and Garrett Temple to help Boogie get over the 30-win threshold for just the second time in his career.

That’s not going to be good enough for a playoff spot, nor will it be enough for Cousins to plop himself in the middle of the MVP conversation. He’ll probably put up an MVP-caliber 27-12-3-1-1 stat line again, but without the accompanying team success, it’ll be another wasted year for Boogie’s elite skill set.

Sep 26, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) poses for photos during media day at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

9. Paul George

Coming off a triumphant comeback season that saw him put up 27.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.0 steals per game in the playoffs, Paul George has more offensive firepower around him in 2016-17. The Indiana Pacers took a step back defensively, but if they can finish with a top seed in the East, PG-13 will be in the MVP conversation.

Last season, George got off to a scorching hot start, averaging 27.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game on .458/.451/.850 shooting splits through November. Unfortunately, he was unable to sustain that MVP-caliber play, with his numbers plummeting to 22.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game on .407/.351/.863 shooting from then on.

With Jeff Teague and Thaddeus Young aboard, there won’t be as much pressure on PG-13 to create for himself on offense. He’ll have a larger workload on the defensive end, but George will quickly garner MVP consideration if Indiana emerges as one of the top teams in the East.

That’s a tall task for a Pacers squad that will be relying on second-year center Myles Turner to anchor the defense, but everyone already knows Paul George is one of the game’s elite two-way players. Now it’s time to go out and make “MV-PG” happen.

Oct 1, 2016; Bossier City, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) passes the ball as Dallas Mavericks forward Harrison Barnes (40) applies the pressure during the first half at CenturyLink Center. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports

8. Anthony Davis

Is there any MVP candidate more overlooked than Anthony Davis right now? Remember, this was the guy who put up a 24-10-3-2-2 stat line as recently as 2014-15, when he led the New Orleans Pelicans to the playoffs, challenged Wilt Chamberlain‘s all-time best Player Efficiency Rating and finished fifth in MVP voting for a 45-win team.

With the Pellies dropping to 30 wins last season and the Brow missing 21 games, however, his stock took a slight hit in 2015-16. He failed to make another leap in his fourth year, and the concerning narrative that he has yet to 70 games in a single season gained more steam.

New Orleans probably didn’t do enough to get him help this summer, but the pressure is back on this singular talent to stay healthy and carry a lackluster supporting cast into the playoff picture again in 2016-17.

That’s going to be a tall task for the Brow, especially with Jrue Holiday and Tyreke Evans out to start the season. Davis’ best teammates right now are E’Twaun Moore, Solomon Hill and rookie Buddy Hield, for crying out loud. But if the Brow somehow elevates his game and puts the Pelicans in the running for a postseason spot, it’ll hard to deny him some MVP votes.

October 4, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) dunks the basketball against Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) during the second quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

7. Blake Griffin

If the Los Angeles Clippers‘ preseason opener — a 45-point drubbing at the hands of the Golden State Warriors — was any indication, either the Dubs are juggernauts, the Clips are not as good as advertised, or some combination of the two.

In any case, the path to redemption after last year’s first-round playoff exit starts and ends with Blake Griffin. Chris Paul carried Lob City to 53 wins, while Griffin missing 47 games because of a quadriceps issue and then a broken hand as the result of an alteration with a team equipment manager. Now the onus is on Griffin to deliver an MVP-caliber season in return.

With Kevin Durant joining the Warriors, there’s one less title contender for the Clippers to worry about out West. With Tim Duncan retiring, there’s an ever so slight opening for Lob City to make its first conference finals appearance in franchise history.

If that’s going to happen, the Clippers will need the Blake Griffin who looked like the LeBron James-Kevin Garnett–Magic Johnson hybrid he was in the 2015 NBA Playoffs, when he posted a 26-13-6-1-1 stat line and had his team within one win of the conference finals. If he can bounce-back with a career year and the Clippers seize a top-three seed, the Flyin’ Lion may soar to MVP heights.

Oct 4, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) reacts after a play during the second quarter against the New York Knicks at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

6. James Harden

Consider James Harden the dark horse MVP option outside of our power five candidates. His league-wide reputation has never been lower thanks to laughable defensive effort, constant feuds with Dwight Howard and his team’s 41-41 record last year, but the Beard could be poised for a monster bounce-back year all the same.

To be fair, it’s hard to “bounce back” from last season’s 29.0 points, 7.5 assists, 6.1 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game, but there’s no question those stats were emptier than they look on paper when you included Harden’s lack of defense, leadership and team success.

The Houston Rockets were a far cry from the 56-win team they were in 2014-15, but if Mike D’Antoni‘s offense and having more threats on the perimeter can unleash Harden like never before, his pure statistical output might be too impressive to ignore.

Harden has to take steps as a passable defender and a more vocal team leader, but we already know he can carry an offense by himself. If he puts up career numbers in a high-powered offense and the Rockets move back toward contention, the Beard could come out of nowhere to seriously challenge for the MVP Award — much like he did just two seasons ago.

Oct 3, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (2) dribbles against Phoenix Suns guard Leandro Barbosa (19) during the first half at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

5. Kawhi Leonard

This probably seems a bit too low for a guy who finished second in MVP voting last year, especially since he’ll be handed the full reins of the San Antonio Spurs in 2016-17. But these top five spots are virtually interchangeable, and with the Spurs unlikely to win 67 games again, Kawhi Leonard takes a step back in the MVP rankings.

Last season, Leonard averaged 21.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.0 blocks per game, leading his team in scoring and winning his second straight Defensive Player of the Year Award. He’s quickly established himself as quite possibly the best two-way player in the NBA, and those “system player” labels seem pretty silly at this point.

However, as much as Tim Duncan’s numbers took a nosedive in 2015-16, and as much as the Spurs are poised to move on without him, the absence of his leadership and defense could take a toll on San Antonio’s win total, especially as the team downgrades on the interior to Pau Gasol.

In a season where guys like Harden, Russell Westbrook and others will put up gaudy stats, Kawhi has to bump up his individual numbers to make up for the slight regression that can be expected from his team’s win total.

If he can do so, however, his lockdown defense and the whole “successor to Tim Duncan” narrative may give him an edge in MVP voting.

October 4, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrates after making a three-point basket against the Los Angeles Clippers during the first quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

4. Stephen Curry

No disrespect to the two-time reigning MVP, who just put together the greatest offensive onslaught in regular season history, but people just aren’t as high on Stephen Curry at the moment.

Whether it was the Golden State Warriors‘ 3-1 collapse in the Finals, Kevin Durant joining the mix or all the love the Dubs got last year, Curry suddenly enters the 2016-17 campaign as something of an underdog in the MVP race. Voter fatigue is bound to set in, and Curry’s numbers probably won’t look as good with Kevin Durant joining the starting lineup.

However, Steph’s game is electrifying enough to translate no matter who he’s sharing the court with. He’s the most singularly dangerous weapon in the league, and having Thompson and KD flanking him on the perimeter might open things up for him like never before — both for his drives to the basket and his assist totals on kick-outs.

Best of luck to teams that try trapping Curry-Draymond Green pick-and-rolls, because one of KD or Klay is going to be wide open on the perimeter. If the addition of KD doesn’t undermine Curry’s status as alpha on another 65+ win Warriors team, a three-peat could be in play.

October 4, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) celebrates with forward Draymond Green (23) against the Los Angeles Clippers during the second quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

3. Kevin Durant

Like Curry, Kevin Durant’s stock isn’t particularly high with the voters right now. His former team gave up a 3-1 series lead on the Warriors in the conference finals, he went to join those same Warriors in free agency, and even his superhuman play for the Summer Olympics team hasn’t softened all the super-team criticism.

But none of that should stop KD from racking up MVP votes if he benefits from the same wide open looks Harrison Barnes got last year and puts up 30+ points per game. He’ll have Curry to compete with, which could obviously impact his scoring numbers, but the Golden State Warriors will hardly cringe if their two legitimate MVP candidates fall short of the award as long as the team wins games.

Unlike LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh teaming up in Miami, the Dubs can seamlessly plug Durant’s skill set into their offensive schemes and immediately thrive, as we saw in their preseason home opener when they pounded the Clippers by 45.

Voter fatigue with the Warriors’ success could hinder KD’s chances of winning a second MVP, and there will be talk of “second fiddles” no matter which superstar emerges as the stronger candidate.

Assuming he can still put up around 30 points, eight rebounds and five assists like last year though, KD may give the world a massive middle finger in his first year being under this kind of public scrutiny. Remember, the biggest thing that shut everyone up about LeBron James and the Heatles was blocking out all the chatter and winning games.

Sep 26, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) poses for a photo during media day at Cleveland Clinic Courts. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

2. LeBron James

If it weren’t for the Cleveland Cavaliers needing to rest LeBron James for another Herculean playoff run, the path would be cleared for the King to tie Michael Jordan with his fifth MVP Award in 2016-17. There’s still a chance it happens, but the Cavs might have bigger goals in mind.

With head coach Tyronn Lue committed to resting his Big Three more often this year, James may not have the gaudy numbers in his age-31 season that he’d normally put up. Even last year, he cruised (by his standards) to 25.3 points, 7.4 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game before really turning it on for the playoffs.

Assuming the Cavaliers don’t rest him too much this season though, another 25-7-7 stat line for the top team in the East could be enough to pull LeBron within one MVP of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar‘s all-time mark of six.

With Curry and KD joining forces, it would take a monumental season to get either one of them the award. Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Anthony Davis’ teams might not win enough games and Kawhi Leonard might not have the sheer numbers.

Last year’s heroic Finals feat — defeating a 73-win Warriors team to bring The Land its first NBA title — reminded everyone that James is still the world’s best player when he’s fully locked in. His standing with voters has never been stronger, and if he puts up big enough numbers, LeBron could be poised to bring home the MVP hardware for the first time since 2013.

Mar 9, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts after a play against the Los Angeles Clippers during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

1. Russell Westbrook

LeBron James has the inside track for the 2016-17 MVP Award, but with the Cavs focused on repeating as NBA champions, Russell Westbrook on the warpath takes center stage in our power rankings. If any player in NBA history were ready to replicate Oscar Robertson‘s legendary feat of averaging a triple-double for an entire season, it’d be Westbrook this upcoming season.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are no longer title contenders with Kevin Durant’s departure, but if they win around 50-55 games, make the playoffs and Westbrook bumps up the 23.5 points, 10.4 assists, 7.8 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game he averaged last year, he’ll steal the hearts and minds of MVP voters in a wide open year.

Westbrook has always played the game of basketball like he’s mad at it, but he’s about to be unleashed after coping with what he’ll view as betrayal on KD’s part. This is his first season completely running the show, and even with a lack of perimeter shooting around him, the rest of the league should be very nervous about what he does to their poor rims.

Don’t forget, the season that Durant missed 55 games was the same one that Westbrook led the league in scoring at 28.1 points per game. With an emerging Victor Oladipo and Steven Adams alongside him, OKC should be more successful than they were that year, when they missed the playoffs.

If Westbrook comes close to averaging a triple-double for a competitive Thunder squad, it won’t matter that they’re not contenders anymore. The driving lanes won’t be as wide open, and Westbrook needs to straddle the line between “unleashed” and “unhinged,” but if he can still play composed and avoid the Mr. Hyde side of his game, it will be hard to deny him his first MVP.

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