NBA Awards Watch: Stephen Curry Holds the Crown

Most Valuable Player

1. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors – Last week, I told you (in no uncertain terms) that Stephen Curry is not the best player in the NBA, and to be honest, I still believe that. However, he is the MVP of the league as we close the first third of the season. The 26-year-old Curry lands in the top five of the NBA in PER, win shares, plus/minus, scoring and assists, and when you can put that combination together with the best record in the league at 23-3, it really isn’t a difficult choice. With apologies to Steve Kerr, Curry is the biggest reason for Golden State’s offensive surge, and he is virtually impossible to guard when he’s in scoring mode, with the ability to shift into a role as a pure distributor when called upon to do so. Because of sheer volume, Stephen Curry isn’t likely to crack the 50/40/90 plateau from a shooting perspective, but with a true shooting mark over 61%, there really is no weakness to speak of in his performance this season. The crown is his… for now.
2. Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans – Davis, who is still only 21 years old, has been the best statistical player in the league this season. For further evidence, the Pelicans star is leading the NBA in PER (33.46!), win shares, win shares per 48 minutes and blocks, and he hasn’t exactly been a slouch in the “traditional” stats, either. Anthony Davis has a legitimate chance to average 25 points and 10 rebounds (currently at 24.7 and 10.2, respectively) and with his defensive upside (2.9 blocks, 1.8 steals per game), his across-the-board impact is immeasurable. In addition, Davis has the Pelicans in the playoffs right now at 14-13, and that speaks to just how valuable he is.
3. Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers – Paul is a new name for this year’s MVP race, but he has quietly been remarkable. The 29-year-old point guard is having the most efficient shooting season of his career, with 49.6% from the field, 39.8% from three-point distance and 88.2% from the line. That type of shooting line would place him in the Stephen Curry-Dirk Nowitzki class of greatness, and when you remember that Paul is an exceptional defender and the best pure point guard in the league (9.8 assists per game), he is one of the very best. Any real run at the MVP award is unlikely for Paul, given that he isn’t a super-elite scorer and that Blake Griffin would almost assuredly steal votes, but Chris Paul remains one of the best players on the planet.

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