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Hi All,

I wanted to start a discussion around the upcoming 2016-2017 NBA season and who you see emerging as the top candidates for the League MVP? For me:

1/ LeBron James: you can't ignore that the championship will give him credibility going forward in this season. I think he'll have a personal mission to get another League MVP and title by leading the champs to the best record in the east. You also can't ignore last season's team record without LeBron and so many statistics that prove his importance to the team.

2/ Russell Westbrook: I think two players are significantly impacted by Durant's decision to move to Warrior land. Russell Westbrook will touch the ball more, which should be scary if you consider the triple double machine he was last year. Only question is, can the Thunder get a good enough regular season record to be in the conversation to deliver the MVP?

3/ Kevin Durant/Steph Curry: I purposely have put Steph on 3rd place because he's the second player impacted by KD's decision. Curry and KD will receive most of the media attention and praise with their team, yet you can argue that the Warriors will still win a lot of games without one of them. I also cannot see either one of them giving the spotlight to the other. Because of this, their importance to their team will be less obvious than with my two previous candidates and as a result I consider them as outsiders.

Let me hear your thoughts

I don't think bron will be on any kind of mission during the season. He realizes that the warriors bolstered their roster by adding one of the best players in the league. He needs to stay fresh for a deep playoff run.

Imo westbrook will probably be the best regular season player, but the team's seed could hurt his chances. Curry and durants chances are diminished, so of it gives bron a chance to win it with less effort than usual.

lambchop wrote:I don't think bron will be on any kind of mission during the season. He realizes that the warriors bolstered their roster by adding one of the best players in the league. He needs to stay fresh for a deep playoff run.

Imo westbrook will probably be the best regular season player, but the team's seed could hurt his chances. Curry and durants chances are diminished, so of it gives bron a chance to win it with less effort than usual.

ehh, if it gets to like game 30 and Lebron leads the herd, he'll definitely go for it. It's like the 70 win season the Warriors had last year; they werent planning on it, and before the season started, they wouldve said health/rest is more important than RS wins, but when youre in a position to do something historic, you best believe they'll go for it. 5 MVP's gets him tied with MJ in that regard, and theres no real telling if it'll impact his championship chances

mademan wrote:

lambchop wrote:I don't think bron will be on any kind of mission during the season. He realizes that the warriors bolstered their roster by adding one of the best players in the league. He needs to stay fresh for a deep playoff run.

Imo westbrook will probably be the best regular season player, but the team's seed could hurt his chances. Curry and durants chances are diminished, so of it gives bron a chance to win it with less effort than usual.

ehh, if it gets to like game 30 and Lebron leads the herd, he'll definitely go for it. It's like the 70 win season the Warriors had last year; they werent planning on it, and before the season started, they wouldve said health/rest is more important than RS wins, but when youre in a position to do something historic, you best believe they'll go for it. 5 MVP's gets him tied with MJ in that regard, and theres no real telling if it'll impact his championship chances

Yea, but like you saw with the warriors, that kind of historic stuff can cost you in the end. The warriors really pushed hard for 73 wins towards the end of the season, I don't see bron doing the same.
Plus I feel like bron could still win an MVP a couple of years from now. However a ring + finals mvp is definitely more difficult.

1. Westbrook. With KD gone, he is the man now. If OKC makes it to the playoffs, for me he is the top candidate.
2. Leonard. With Duncan gone he is everything for the spurs now. He was already the alpha, but now he must step up and be the leader.
3. George. This is his season. He has great supporting cast on paper and his team will probably go deep in the playoffs. His matchups with lebron will show his progress.

Top 3 is tough. You have to put Harden in there. He was second two years ago and now he is going to play PG and he will going to have the ball in his hands even more. I think his numbers are goig to be insane.

Russell Westbrook- He will average triple double
Karl Anthony Towns- Wolves will be a top 4 seed and Towns will average 25/12
Kyle Lowry- He's in a contract year and Raptors will be No.1 seed in the East

I think Hardens and Westbrooks numbers will be insane, but I dont see both teams finishing with a record good enough to really put them into MVP discussion.

Most realistic for me are:
1. Leonard
2. Curry
3. Lebron


based on the fact alone that i think these three teams will have the best records after the regular season. Curry is maybe not that likely, because he has so much help now and other very good players taking away his numbers.

Same goes for Lebron, but to a lesser extend.

WestBrook
Curry
Melo

If Leonard keeps improving and Spurs get top 2 seed:

Leonard
Westbrook
Curry

Harden

Rockets will win 55 games plus this year, just watch

Curry/Durant
Leonard
Lebron as an outside shot depending if he goes for it

I don't understand how people are voting for Westbrook unless people expect OKC to finish top 3 in the West. No one is going to give him MVP no matter how good his numbers are if they aren't one of the best teams in the league.

Harden is winning MVP like he should've 2 seasons ago. He has a real shot of averaging 30/10 this year.

1. Durant
2. Westbrook
3. Harden

Durant will have the best stats on the team with the best record. Think KD will average a career high in assists (6), still average about 28 PPG with 8-9 rebounds.

Westbrook 2nd for obvious reasons. Think OKC finishes around 7th though so that will hurt his chances. If OKC finishes top 5, he could win it.

Harden 3rd because of D'Antoni. Also motivated from getting snubbed from an All-NBA team last season. Just see a monster season stats wise from him.

Harden - insane stats under D'Antoni
Westbrook - insane stats as usual
Davis - if he gets back to form and somehow gets them back to playoffs

I think it's between Westbrook and Harden, whoever has the best record.
Kawhi is third and LeBron fourth.
I don't think any Warrior will win unless they beat their regular season wins record (which won't happen).

I was thinking Westbrook and Harden as well, the only problem is going to be their record. If you go back at look at the past 25 or so years, the lowest an MVP team's record/standing was second in their conference. I don't see OKC or Houston finishing second in the Western Conference.

If that holds to form, I think you are looking at James, Leonard, Curry or Durant.

I will say it is going to be LeBron, then Leonard and third goes to Curry.

YEAR PLAYER TEAM
2015-16 Stephen Curry Golden State Warriors
2014-15 Stephen Curry Golden State Warriors
2013-14 Kevin Durant Oklahoma City Thunder
2012-13 LeBron James Miami Heat
2011-12 LeBron James Miami Heat
2010-11 Derrick Rose Chicago Bulls
2009-10 LeBron James Cleveland Cavaliers
2008-09 LeBron James Cleveland Cavaliers
2007-08 Kobe Bryant Los Angeles Lakers
2006-07 Dirk Nowitzki Dallas Mavericks
2005-06 Steve Nash Phoenix Suns
2004-05 Steve Nash Phoenix Suns
2003-04 Kevin Garnett Minnesota Timberwolves
2002-03 Tim Duncan San Antonio Spurs
2001-02 Tim Duncan San Antonio Spurs
2000-01 Allen Iverson Philadelphia 76ers
1999-00 Shaquille O'Neal Los Angeles Lakers
1998-99 Karl Malone Utah Jazz
1997-98 Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls
1996-97 Karl Malone Utah Jazz
1995-96 Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls
1994-95 David Robinson San Antonio Spurs
1993-94 Hakeem Olajuwon Houston Rockets
1992-93 Charles Barkley Phoenix Suns
1991-92 Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls
1990-91 Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls
1989-90 Magic Johnson Los Angeles Lakers

My guesses would be:
1. Leonard - just has to finish second in the conference and continue his elite defense
2. Curry/Durant - if warriors are historically good again, whoever ends up being the "alpha" between these two should get votes
3. Chris Paul - similar to Leonard, his goal needs to be second in the conference with his typically good stats

I don't think Lebron is going to be in the conversation. He's going to rest even more because clearly no team in the east is going to touch the Cavs and he needs to be healthy for the postseason. I don't think Harden and Westbrook will have good enough team records to warrant top 3 consideration. Like the guy above me said, the MVP has never come from a team that was below second in their conference and i don't see either of these teams getting higher than 4th.

Most likely out: Curry, Durant

Likely out: LeBron

Most likely top 3:
Westbrook, Leonard, Harden

Westbrook will get insane stats and even more triple dubs. Leonard brings it both ends of the floor and with TD gone, he is the icon of that team. Lucky for Harden - MVP is a regular season award as I don't see the current Rockets setup goes far in playoffs, but they will be a force (at least entertainment wise) in RS.

Curry/Durant are out. There's next to no shot for either unless Golden State wins over 73 at this point.

Lebron is a maybe, but I'd see him coasting more. Could happen though to go with last year's postseason as a sort of makeup vote.

I'd bet Kawhi, Westbrook, or Harden as most likely with one of CP or Griffin having a shot too.