The 2015 MVP race has been as wide open as any in recent memory, but a group of players have risen above everyone else. Who has risen to the top of the NBA and will claim the MVP trophy?
5) Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
Westbrook (28.1 ppg, 8.6 apg, 7.3 rpg) missed a chunk of time at the beginning of the season, but he’s the biggest reason why Oklahoma City nearly made the playoffs. He went on an absolute rampage during the last few months of the season, recorded 11 triple-doubles, and won the league scoring title, but he wasn't able to keep the Thunder from falling out of the postseason. Despite his ridiculous numbers, the lack of team success puts him at five.
4) LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
LeBron James is still the best player in the world, but he didn't have a great season by his standards. He still produced another masterful year (25.3 ppg, 7.4 apg, 6.0 rpg) and the Cavaliers didn't even look like a playoff team when LeBron wasn't on the floor, but he's not higher on our list because of the numerous games he missed due to injuries.
3) Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans
Davis toils in relative obscurity out in New Orleans, but don’t be fooled. He is the absolute prototype of what an NBA big should be in today’s game – flexible inside and outside of the paint, quick on and off the ball, with a killer instinct down low that makes him almost impossible to defend when he gets his space. Aside from dominating both as a scorer and rebounder with a double-double average (24.4 points, 10.2 rebounds), Davis has supplanted OKC’s Serge Ibaka as the most feared interior defender in the game – leading the NBA in blocks with 2.9 per game.
If Davis wasn't in New Orleans, he would have gotten much more recognition for his season. He did lead the Pelicans to the playoffs, which is an accomplishment that pushes him to No. 3 on the list.
2) James Harden, Houston Rockets
Harden narrowly lost the NBA scoring title with 27.4 points per game, but is also showing his all-around game with 7.0 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game. He’s almost single-handedly carried the Rockets to the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference playoffs as they’ve played without star center Dwight Howard for most of the season. However, he didn't do enough to catch the guy ahead of him.
1) Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Stephen Curry has officially taken the leap over the past year-plus, graduating from top-tier NBA marksman to the most deadly pure shooter in all of the NBA. Give Curry an inch, and he’ll confidently launch for 5, 10, 20, or 30 feet. Add to the mix his deadly first step and NBA2K15 set of handles, and Curry’s offensive game has opened up the floor for the rest of the NBA-best Warriors to get theirs.
Averaging 23.8 points, 7.7 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.1 steals per game, Curry narrowly missed out on becoming just the 7th all-time member of the 50-40-90 club – shooting 48.7% from the field, 44.3% for three, and 91.4% from the free-throw line. Throw in one of the best regular seasons in NBA history (Curry led the Warriors to a 67-15 record), and you have all the ingredients for an MVP season.
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