Kevin Durant, not LeBron James, is the NBA MVP favorite for next season

Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant is the MVP favorite for the 2021-22 NBA season, but should LeBron James be counted out? 

It’s almost exactly a month until the NBA season begins and Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant is currently the top candidate to win the MVP. Last season the Nets fell to the Milwaukee Bucks, 4-3, in the Eastern Conference Semifinal.

It’s a sure bet that Durant will come out with a vengeance, but Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James sits towards the bottom of the MVP list. We all know what happens when LeBron is counted out and with a couple of big additions during the offseason that will boost James’ performance, Durant’s race to his second MVP award won’t be an easy journey.

Kevin Durant is the 2022 NBA MVP favorite, LeBron James seventh

In a poll recently conducted by expert panelists at ESPN, Durant sits atop the MVP race after receiving 38.9 percent of the first-place votes.

Durant’s performance during the playoffs last season was nothing short of extraordinary. He forced overtime in Game 7 against the Bucks and if his foot would’ve been positioned a mere inch back, the jumper would’ve counted as a three-pointer and the Nets would’ve moved on to the Eastern Conference Finals.

If Brooklyn can stay healthy, it’s hard to fathom the Nets not making it to the finals, especially with Kevin. He makes everything he does on the court look so easy when it definitely isn’t.

Giannis Antetokounmpo finished in second behind Kevin with 33 percent of the votes after winning the NBA Finals MVP last season. Not that LeBron needs to prove that he’s one of the best players in the league, but if he catches wind of this it’ll only be added fuel to the fire.

Let the games begin.