With the NBA season coming closer and closer, there's a lot of chatter predicting which team will do well and who will play out of their minds this season. The NBA MVP race is one of the more hotly debated topics for the upcoming season, with a lot of interesting storylines and players out to prove themselves. Is Anthony Davis already a bonafide superstar? Can Kevin Durant show everyone that he's back? Will LeBron James prove once again that he is the best in the world? Who are our early frontrunners?
5. Stephen Curry
2014-2015 Stats: 23.8 PPG 7.7 APG 4.3 RPG
In most cases, having the reigning NBA MVP and recent NBA Champion at 5th place in the MVP standings sounds ridiculous. In Curry's case, however, it just makes sense. It's hard to see the Warriors beating out their spectacular 67-15 season, especially with the West becoming stronger than ever. Without the Warriors at the top of the rankings, Curry will find a hard time gaining traction for another MVP, especially considering the fact that he only averages about 33 minutes in a game. With such a deep Warriors team, he doesn't need to play gaudy minutes in the regular season, which will hurt his chances at another MVP but lets him remain fresh for the playoffs, where he'll be needed most.
4. James Harden
2014-2015 Stats: 28.4 PPG 7.0 APG 5.7 RPG
James Harden and the Houston Rockets definitely surprised many last season by reaching the Western Conference Finals against an incredibly tight West. Harden finished 2nd last season in MVP voting, and he is in the great position to follow it up again this year. However, with the Rockets adding Ty Lawson into the fold, expect Harden's numbers to dip this season. Last season Harden was the primary ball handler for the Rockets, and with Lawson joining the team and other key players returning from injury like Donatas Motiejunas and Patrick Beverly, Harden won't have to carry the team as much as he did last season. This will be great for the team's postseason success, but it hurts his chances of winning the MVP.
3. Anthony Davis
2014-2015 Stats: 24.4 PPG 10.2 RPG 2.9 BPG
Nobody in the NBA has improved as quickly as Anthony Davis has in the past couple seasons. Last season, he averaged a double-double and led the Pelicans to the postseason for the first time since they rebranded. Of all the MVP candidates, Anthony Davis has the most ample opportunity of producing the most monstrous stats. His chances of winning the MVP trophy however, is slim. This is mostly due to the fact that the Pelicans will probably struggle to climb up the rankings this season. Historically, the MVP is usually the best player on the best team. While Anthony Davis will be considered one of the best players in the league, it's hard to see his team beating any combination of the Warriors, Spurs, Rockets, and/or the Clippers for the top 4 seeds. Also, Davis has never played more than 68 games in a season, and missing games will also hurt his chances. With Alvin Gentry coaching this team next season however, the Pelicans are only going to get better.
2. Kevin Durant
2014-2015 Stats: 25.4 PPG 4.1 APG 6.6 RPG
Of all the players on the list, Kevin Durant probably feels like he has the most to prove. He spent most of last season on the sidelines, only playing 27 games due to injury. This season, Kevin Durant will want to reestablish Oklahoma City Thunder's dominance. Durant has already proven he has the ability to take over and win the MVP trophy when he sets his mind to it, and with the competitive fire he must have from basically not playing at all last season, Durant is set to break out and reach whole new levels. The only thing that may be an issue is how he'll come back from his injury. There are still several questions left to be answered about Durant's recovery, but if he is 100% himself, except Durant and the Thunder to be at the top of everyone's list.
1. LeBron James
2014-2015 Stats: 25.3 PPG 7.4 APG 6.0 RPG
Nobody is out to prove himself like LeBron James will be this upcoming season. Heartbroken by the loss against Stephen Curry and the Warriors in the NBA Finals, James is on a mission to show everybody why he is the best player in the world. Most people would not have LeBron at the top of their list due to the fact that he has already won multiple MVP trophies and he has a stacked team, but the Cleveland Cavaliers are going to need him now more than ever, especially with Kyrie Irving out until January. His Cavs have a lot going for them, however. They're more than likely to take the top seed in the East, and since they already had last season to get used to playing with one another, the Cavs will not struggle out of the gate like they did last season. It may come down to whether or not LeBron wants the MVP trophy this season. In last year's finals, he carried the Cavs two wins away from their first Larry O'Brien trophy, and nearly averaged a triple-double in the process. Putting up those kind of numbers in the regular season might be more difficult and LeBron may want to rest himself for the playoffs, but don't be mistaken: LeBron is the top contender for the MVP trophy.