This year’s MVP race, by most accounts, comes down to four guys: Russell Westbrook, James Harden, LeBron James, and Kawhi Leonard.
While all four guys are considered individually deserving of the honor, the majority of the discourse has been centered on Westbrook and Harden because their seasons were so packed with narrative and statistical lines with little historical precedent.
LeBron, although still arguably the best player in the world, will likely see his case suffer once again from voter fatigue (he’s won the thing four times), while Kawhi’s lack of flash and narrative will likely keep him from standing out above the others in the collective consciousness of pundits, fans, and -- most importantly -- voters.