5 MVP candidates not named Kevin Durant
The reigning NBA MVP, Kevin Durant, is out until at least December, but there are plenty of exciting MVP candidates to monitor this season - including Durant, if he can play 60-65 games at the same historic level as he did in 2013-14.
Here are five preseason favorites to take home the 2014-15 MVP award:
LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
James probably would have entered the season as the favorite regardless of Durant's health. As good as KD was in 2013-14, James remains the best overall player in the game, and his Cleveland homecoming will no doubt dominate storylines over the next eight months.
The Cavaliers have plenty of talent around James, and the addition of Kevin Love was paramount. But if James plays to his usual legendary standards while leading Cleveland to more than 55 wins and a top-two seed in the Eastern Conference after a 33-win season without him, the award will likely be his for the fifth time in seven years.
Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
For years, NBA fans have wondered how Russell Westbrook would fare as the clear cut No. 1 option, with a team to call his own. The circumstances surrounding his new role are unfortunate, and he'll only have it for a couple of months, but we're finally going to get an answer to that question.
For as much criticism as Westbrook gets for failing to defer enough to Durant and his sometimes questionable shot selection, the fact remains that the 25-year-old is one of the most explosive and talented players in the Association, who's averaged 20.1 points, 6.9 assists, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.6 steals over his six-year career.
The only other players to average at least 20, six, four, and one in their careers (minimum 400 games played): LeBron, Larry Bird, and Dwyane Wade.
With an even bigger offensive burden on his shoulders, Westbrook should post career numbers this season. If he keeps the Thunder near the top of the West without Durant and plays to his usual standards when Durant returns, he'll absolutely be in the MVP discussion.
Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls
Rose's candidacy is straightforward.
The Bulls had the best record in the league in 2010-11 and 2011-12, the former being Rose's MVP season. They've remained competitive without him, posting 93 wins over the last two seasons while finishing in the East's top five. If Chicago enters 60-win territory again, and the title conversation in Rose's first full season back (assuming he lasts a full season), the 26-year-old will be in the running for his second MVP award.
Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers
There's not much left to say about the Point God of his generation.
Paul has been the undisputed best point guard during a golden age for the position, and he should have an MVP to his name already thanks to his 2007-08 season (Kobe Bryant won it). But CP3 doesn't, just like he still doesn't have a ring or even a Conference Finals appearance.
The Clippers will once again be near the top of the Western Conference this season, and with the Durant-less Thunder expected to slide at least a bit, Los Angeles's chances at the No. 1 seed have increased (they should battle the San Antonio Spurs for it).
Paul's durability is a concern, as he's missed 32 games over the last two seasons, but if he's healthy and the Clippers take another step up the West ladder, this might finally be his year.
Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans
Davis failed to crack the 70-game mark again last season and his New Orleans Pelicans finished 15 games back of a West playoff spot. But the 21-year-old was superb, averaging 20.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.3 steals, and a league-leading 2.8 blocks per game. He joined Dwight Howard as the only players to post a 20, 10, two, one, and one season over the last eight years.
Davis is expected to take another leap this season after his performance for Team USA at the FIBA World Cup, which should put him in the conversation as a top-three player behind James and Durant.
If Davis takes the next step, and if he and the talented Pelicans can finally stay healthy long enough to hang around in the West, he's going to get his fair share of votes.
Five more to consider
- Los Angeles Clippers' Blake Griffin
- Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Durant
- Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry
- Cleveland Cavaliers' Kevin Love
- Houston Rockets' James Harden