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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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Sep 26, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) during media day at Cleveland Clinic Courts. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) during media day at Cleveland Clinic Courts. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

2. LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers 

How can the best player in the world not be the favorite to win the MVP?

It’s easy, really; there’s too much uncertainty around James and the Cavs. Of course, the Cavs are going to be good, but James’ role has yet to be determined. He’s the best player in the game and will surely impose his will just as he did in Miami, but how much does he yield to Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving? How long does it take them to gel together?

Before the season, that is impossible to know.

James is already a four-time MVP and two-time NBA champion. In terms of winning another MVP, he may also be the victim of being the best for too long. James has set such high bar for himself with his play early on in his career that it’s hard to live up to night after night.

Season G MP FG FGA FG% 3P% FT% TRB AST STL PTS
2011-12 ★ 62 37.5 10.0 18.9 .531 .362 .771 7.9 6.2 1.9 27.1
2012-13 ★ 76 37.9 10.1 17.8 .565 .406 .753 8.0 7.3 1.7 26.8
2013-14 ★ 77 37.7 10.0 17.6 .567 .379 .750 6.9 6.3 1.6 27.1
Career 842 39.5 9.9 19.9 .497 .341 .747 7.2 6.9 1.7 27.5

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

Last season, it was obvious James showed some signs of fatigue and frustration at times, and he didn’t always appear engaged, offensively or defensively.  With that said, James stats hardly slipped at all from his last two MVP seasons. In fact, last season James played better, statistically, than he did in 2011-12 when he won his third MVP.

James shot 57 percent from the field while averaging 27.1 PPG last season. I’ll be slightly surprised if he plays better than that this season, but if he does, he could win his fifth MVP trophy.

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