With the NBA regular season tipping off this week, there is much anticipation and prognosticating about who will be the teams to beat and who will walk away with MVP honors come season’s end. Giannis Antetokounmpo ran away with the honor last season with James Harden finishing a distant second. Let’s take a look at the top candidates for this season’s award.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
There should be no surprise that he lands on top of this list. He lead the Bucks to their first 60-win season since the 1980-1981 campaign. Antetokounmpo finished in the top five in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 27.7 points and 12.5 assists per game. His scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage his increased every season of his career. At just 24 years old and with seven seasons under his belt, Giannis has yet to reach his peak. Should the Bucks make win the title or make it to the finals, you could very well see a repeat MVP winner.
LeBron James
The Lakers won just 37 games a season ago and LeBron James missed 27 games due to injury. The soon to be 35-year old in his 17th NBA season was still remarkably productive, averaging 27.4 points, 8.5 rebounds and 8.3 assists. Those number equaled or surpassed his career averages. Already a four-time league MVP, the key for James to claim his fifth honor will be avoid injury and lead the team deep into the playoffs. There still appears to be plenty left in the tank for James to do so.
Anthony Davis
Joining James in Los Angeles is All-Star Anthony Davis, who averaged 25.9 points and 12 rebounds per game last season. Much like James, Davis needs to stay healthy, having played in only 56 games last season. Entering his eighth NBA season, the 26-year old has posted six consecutive 20-plus points, 10-plus rebound per game seasons. If the Lakers do deep into the post season, it will be interesting to see who gets more MVP consideration, James or Davis? Both on the same team will increase the Lakers odds of winning, but likely reduce both players odds of winning the MVP. Still, Davis will be in the mix for the honor.
Joel Embiid
The Philadelphia 76ers won 50 or more games for the second straight season and much was due to the play of Embiid. He averaged 27.5 points and 13.6 rebounds per game. He set personal season highs in nearly every major statistical category. Although he played in only 64 games, that was also a career best. The good news for the 76ers and bad for the rest of the league is that Embiid reported 20 pounds lighter and in the best condition of his career. Seventh in the MVP vote last season, if Embiid stays healthy and the 76ers make it to the finals or win it, he is a lock for MVP honors.
James Harden
The 30-year old in his 11th NBA season is coming off a career season in which he averaged 36.1 points, 7.5 assists and 6.2 rebounds per game. He scoring average was the highest for a single season since Michael Jordan averaged 37.1 back in 1987. Harden’s scoring has increased of the past five season. The addition of Russell Westbrook will likely drop Harden’s average considerably and increase the Rockets chances in the Western Conference. Should Houston go deep into the post season, Harden’s name will certainly be in the conversation for MVP award.
Steph Curry
The best shooter of this generation and arguably the best in NBA history, the 31-year old Curry has never shot below 40 percent from beyond the arc and hits nearly 91 percent from the free throw line. His 27.3 point per game average last season was his seventh consecutive season with at least 20 points per game. The road will be more difficult for the Warriors without Kevin Durant, DeMarcus Cousins and Klay Thompson, who will be out until the All-Star break with a torn ACL. A two-time MVP Award winner, Curry will have to perform magic to get the Warriors back into serious NBA Finals consideration. Should he do that, he will walk away with his third MVP Award.
