Fansided

NBA: 2014-15 preseason MVP candidates

By Bryce Olin

Jan 29, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) is pressured by Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Kevin Durant (35) during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 29, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) is pressured by Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Kevin Durant (35) during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 22, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) dunks over Miami Heat forward Michael Beasley (8) and forward Udonis Haslem (40) during the second quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 22, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) dunks over Miami Heat forward Michael Beasley (8) and forward Udonis Haslem (40) during the second quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans

It’s only a matter of time before Davis flips the whole NBA world on its head. Davis already does it on a nightly basis on twitter and to the fans that actually watch New Orleans play once in a while. Once the team starts to put up some wins, the rest of the country will know how good Davis is on a nightly basis.

Season G MP FG FGA FG% FT% TRB AST STL BLK PTS
2012-13 64 28.8 5.5 10.6 .516 .751 8.2 1.0 1.2 1.8 13.5
2013-14 ★ 67 35.2 7.8 15.0 .519 .791 10.0 1.6 1.3 2.8 20.8
Career 131 32.1 6.6 12.8 .518 .777 9.1 1.3 1.3 2.3 17.3

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 10/5/2014.

If I had to make a guess, I think Davis is still one, maybe two years away from being in that same class as Durant and James, but I would not be the slightest bit shocked  his ascension happens this season. The Brow will sweep America once more!

The biggest problem facing Davis is that he plays for such a bad team. The Pelicans have slightly improved their roster over the last few seasons, but they’ve also made some really bad decisions, like the Jrue Holiday trade and Tyreke Evans’ contract, that have handicapped the Pelicans’ cap space.

Of course, it takes time for great players to be able to carry their team in the win column. If Davis can lead the Pelicans to the playoffs in the West, he’s got a shot at the MVP.

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