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NBA Awards Watch: The MVP race is over

By Brad Rowland

Feb 27, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts after hitting the game winning shot against the Oklahoma City Thunder in overtime at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 27, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts after hitting the game winning shot against the Oklahoma City Thunder in overtime at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 3, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) gestures after making a three point field goal against the Washington Wizards in the fourth quarter at Verizon Center. The Warriors won 134-121. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 3, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) gestures after making a three point field goal against the Washington Wizards in the fourth quarter at Verizon Center. The Warriors won 134-121. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

Most Valuable Player

  1. Stephen Curry, PG Golden State Warriors – Everything you need to know can be found by watching this shot. Okay, that is a slight overstatement, but the performance that Stephen Curry put on against the Oklahoma City Thunder on national television this week was a firm stamp on his MVP candidacy. Curry checks the box as the “best player on the best team”, and that is often enough to win the NBA’s MVP award. However, Curry also doubles as the best player in the league right now, leading the NBA in scoring (30.7 points per game) while posting a 52/47/91 shooting line that makes even the most hardened NBA pundit shake their head with envy. Steph Curry is going to win the MVP award barring epic disaster in the form of injury, and at this point, we are all just admiring his greatness.
  2. Kawhi Leonard, SF San Antonio Spurs – This is a one-man “race” right now, but Leonard has still been phenomenal from wire to wire. His 51/49/88 shooting splits are almost inconceivable from where he was just a few years ago, but more than anything, Leonard’s defensive prowess lends him inclusion on this list. He is suddenly the best offensive player on the Spurs and a borderline elite offensive option given the efficiency, and when coupled with his utterly terrorizing defense, a superstar is born that happens to be anchoring a 50-win team with more than a full month of basketball left to play.
  3. Chris Paul, PG Los Angeles Clippers – While Leonard is a clear number two behind Curry, the pursuit of third place is wide open, and Chris Paul’s case for inclusion is very real. The Clippers are a staggering 22-7 without Blake Griffin in the lineup this season, and Paul has been absolutely lights-out in carrying his squad. Paul’s raw numbers (19.9 points, 9.6 assists, 2.1 steals per game) are impressive and his shooting splits (47/38/90) are quite efficient as well. He ranks among the top ten players in the NBA in PER, win shares and numerous other overarching categories, but more than anything, Paul’s work in keeping Los Angeles afloat without Griffin puts him on this list.
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