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5 DARK horse NBA MVP candidates (I MEAN DARK)

By Roje Smith

SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 09: DeMarcus Cousins
SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 09: DeMarcus Cousins /
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NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 10: John Wall #2 of the Washington Wizards dribbles up court against Brandon Jennings #3 of the New York Knicks in the first half of the preseason game at Madison Square Garden on October 10, 2016 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 10: John Wall #2 of the Washington Wizards dribbles up court against Brandon Jennings #3 of the New York Knicks in the first half of the preseason game at Madison Square Garden on October 10, 2016 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

3. John Wall – Washington Wizards

When thinking about the top point guards in the NBA, names such as Steph Curry, Chris Paul, Kyrie Irving and Russell Westbrook come to mind. However, there’s another player that should quickly come to mind as well and he once referred to himself as the “best point guard in the league.” While it might seem like a delusional claim, there is a lot of merit to John Wall’s belief. There is also a lot of merit in believing that he is a true dark horse candidate for the MVP award.

Ever since his arrival in 2010, Wall has proven himself as a spectacular playmaker that can easily take over a game. He is a three-time All-Star and even earned All-Defensive team honors for the 2014-15 season. Wall is also ranked second out of all active players in assists per game behind Paul. He was also the main reason for the Wizards‘ Eastern Conference Semifinal runs in 2014 and 2015. Last year was a bit of a disappointment for Washington as they didn’t make the playoffs. However, it was far from Wall’s fault as he recorded career highs in assists and steals per game with 10.2 and 1.9 respectively.

When it comes to the Wizards this season, their playoff hopes are more dependent on players like Brad Beal stepping up and performing consistently. Wall can’t do it all by himself even though he may try. It also helps that Scott Brooks is the new head coach and has playoff experience from his days with the Oklahoma City Thunder.  Therefore, it’s more than possible for the Wizards to win 50-plus games and return to the postseason.

If Wall goes berserk this season and averages over 20 points and 10 assists, then his name will appear in MVP conversations. It will also help if he improves on his field goal percentage and cuts down on his turnovers. His name will be mentioned even more if the Wizards end up with over 50 wins and a top-four seed in the playoffs. If all of this comes to pass, then don’t be surprised if Wall is suddenly a top candidate to receive the Maurice Podoloff trophy.

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