Anthony Davis is now a legitimate NBA MVP candidate

Anthony Davis has forcefully inserted himself into the MVP conversation.

Everyone assumed that once DeMarcus Cousins went down for the season with an Achilles injury, then the New Orleans Pelicans would roll over and play dead until next year.

But Anthony Davis isn’t everyone.

He recorded 53 points, 18 rebounds and five blocks for his squad on Monday against the Phoenix Suns, and that resulted in the Pelicans’ sixth-straight win. They are now tied for fifth place in the Western Conference standings, and at this rate they could even have home-court advantage in the first round. Davis knows that something unique is happening, but he is still putting the team before himself.

“Everybody is just playing their part, doing it together. I think that’s what makes it so special,” Davis said to Nola.com. “We’re doing it without one of our main guys, so that makes it more special. Especially when everybody thought we were going down in the standings.”

During the winning streak, he is averaging 41.5 points, 15.0 rebounds, 3.2 steals and 3.2 blocks per game. Those are video game numbers folks. And that is why Davis is now a legitimate candidate for NBA MVP.  The only other players with three or more games with 50 points and 15 rebounds are Wilt Chamberlain, Moses Malone and Bob McAdoo. Can you say Hall of Fame?

James Harden still has the lead for MVP by most accounts, but AD is clawing his way into this race. If the Pelicans are able to scratch their way to third in the conference standings with Davis putting up similar numbers, then it will be a necessary conversation.

He now has five games in the past month with 40 points and 10 rebounds, and it seems like he is just getting started. Whether or not the Pelicans should think about moving on from Cousins after this season is a question for another day, but New Orleans has to be pleased with what they’ve seen from their young superstar. Because Davis is flying himself into rare air, and the pro basketball hasn’t been this good in Louisiana since the days of Chris Paul.

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Watch out James Harden. Anthony Davis is coming for your hardware.