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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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May 31, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) drives to the basket against San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21) during the first quarter in game six of the Western Conference Finals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
May 31, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) drives to the basket against San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21) during the first quarter in game six of the Western Conference Finals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder

It’s nearly impossible to pick against LeBron James, but after the season Durant had last year, he’s got to be the favorite to win the MVP award again this season.

This is no knock on James, either. I still think James is the best player on the planet right now, but Durant plays in a system with lesser talent around him. Other than Durant, Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City has few offensive options. Reggie Jackson established himself in the playoffs last season. But, past Jackson, I don’t even know who OKC’s best player is.

And, that’s not knocking OKC’s roster, either. There’s no way to say this without sounding like I’m hating on the Thunder (which I do regularly), but the Thunder’s offense, or lack thereof, is dependent on Durant making plays for his teammates. Durant has more opportunity, because of his style and his team’s style of play, for Durant to do what it takes, statistically, to be the MVP again.

Season G MP FG FGA FG% 3P% FT% TRB AST STL PTS
2011-12 ★ 66 38.6 9.7 19.7 .496 .387 .860 8.0 3.5 1.3 28.0
2012-13 ★ 81 38.5 9.0 17.7 .510 .416 .905 7.9 4.6 1.4 28.1
2013-14 ★ 81 38.5 10.5 20.8 .503 .391 .873 7.4 5.5 1.3 32.0
Career 542 38.2 9.2 19.2 .479 .377 .882 6.9 3.5 1.3 27.4

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

Last season, Durant averaged 32.0 points, 5.5 assists, and 7.4 rebounds per game. Durant led the league in scoring and averaged 4.6 PPG higher than Carmelo Anthony’s 27.4 PPG. It is the largest discrepancy between the leading scorer and runner-up since the 1986-87 season when Michael Jordan averaged 37.1 PPG, which was 8.1 PPG more than Dominique Wilkens (29.0 PPG).

According to basketball-reference.com, Durant posted the highest usage percentage of his career at 33.0. Usage percentage, for those who don’t know, is “an estimate of plays used by a player when he’s on the court.” Durant also led the league in usage percentage, which can be attributed to Westbrook’s 36-game absence last season.

Durant might have Westbrook back this season, for now, but he’s by far the best scorer in the game and as long as that’s the case, no one is taking that MVP trophy back from this season.

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