The NBA regular season begins on Oct. 27, so it’s time to start thinking about awards. The MVP race figures to be wide open, and not for a lack of a strong leader. There are several viable candidates for the award once again, so here are the most important names, and why they can win.
*All odds courtesy of Sportsbook.com.
The 2015-16 All-Contract Year Team
LeBron James, F, Cavaliers (+200)
The “King” tops the list, as he should. James remains the best player in the NBA, and his all-around game gives him the leg up on every other challenger. Talent doesn’t always equal production though, and James’ production was down in Year 1 of his second Cleveland stint.
He scored 25.2 points a night, but did it at a 48 percent clip from the field. The previous year, he averaged 27 points on 56 percent shooting. His 3-point percentage dipped as well, and he attempted almost a full shot per year more. James’ rebounding also dipped, but that could be a product of better big men in Cleveland allowing him to return to his role as a small forward.
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James is arguably the most reliable source of production in the NBA, but other players’ ceilings may exceed his based on situation.
Stephen Curry, PG, Warriors (+450)
Curry won it last year, so of course he has a chance. Curry is the best shooter in league history, which helps in a landscape that has completely shifted toward shooting 3-pointers. He is the engine of the NBA’s most electric offense, he’s better than 90 percent from the free throw line, and he doubles as a truly elite passer (7.7 assists). Curry’s biggest issue may be sharing. The Warriors are stocked to the gills with capable offensive players, so all the nights that Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Harrison Barnes have big nights could come at the expense of Curry’s numbers.
Anthony Davis, F/C, Pelicans (+500)
Davis is already arguably the best player in the NBA. He has nothing close to LeBron’s track record, but in his third year Davis averaged 24.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, and an absolutely absurd 2.9 blocks. He shot 53 percent from the field, registered a 30.8 PER (league-average is 15!), and was worth more than four wins with his defense alone. His Pelicans reached the playoffs despite major injuries plaguing multiple, key rotation players.
Davis is going to turn 23 this year. Not a typo. He’s a strong threat for LeBron’s throne.
Kevin Durant, F, Thunder (+500)
Durant is a bit of a forgotten man following his injury-ravaged 2014-15 season, but the year before he was the NBA’s MVP. Durant is the best scorer in the NBA when healthy, and in his MVP campaign he made great strides in his passing (5.5 assists), and efficiency (50.3 percent on 20.8 attempts). As the stretch-power forward becomes a more integral part of each team, Durant looms as the ultimate weapon. He’s 6’10, and has more shooting range than anyone not named Curry.
MVP voters love gaudy numbers, and few fill up box scores like KD. His defense improves every year too, so his main obstacle will be teammate Russell Westbrook being almost as amazing.
James Harden, SG, Rockets (+800)
Harden barely missed out on the scoring title last season, and is the most modern of NBA scorers. He is an excellent 3-point shooter and a master of drawing shooting fouls. Because of the types of looks Harden creates for himself, he’s consistent as rain in the points column.
Harden is also a gifted passer, and creates beautiful looks for his teammates when he’s carving his way toward the rim. Harden’s defensive downside hurts his MVP case, and the addition of Ty Lawson lessens the burden on Harden to create, therefore taking away some of his case as a one-man band with an entire NBA offense on his back.
DARK HORSE: DeMarcus Cousins, C, Kings (+10,000)
Cousins is a monstrous stat-stuffer on a team that is near the bottom every season. Players like that don’t win MVPs, but if Cousins can drag the Kings to a playoff berth, he’ll be damn near a shoo-in.
Cousins put up 24.1 points and 12.7 rebounds last season, but has to improve in other areas to join the class of players above him. First, his field goal shooting must go up. 46.7 percent is weak for a player with his talent, and it stems from him taking more than half his shots from beyond three feet. From zero to three feet out, Cousins’ field goal percentage jumps to 63 percent.
Defensively, he must stop being a sieve. If Cousins can earn a reputation as a rim protector, he will easily be in the MVP discussion because his offensive output is always there.
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