Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry Is the NBA MVP Thus Far

Leading the Golden State Warriors to a franchise-best 24-5 start, Stephen Curry has been the league’s MVP through the first trimester of the season. While candidates like Anthony Davis and LeBron James may have flashier statistics, Curry’s play has been the biggest reason the Warriors own the best record in the NBA.

After the firing of head coach Mark Jackson and the subsequent arrival of Steve Kerr, Golden State’s new brand of basketball certainly seems to be working. The rapid improvement from Draymond Green, Klay Thompson and Harrison Barnes, among others, has been important, but the evolution of Curry’s game has been vital to Golden State reaching new heights.

Currently averaging an impressive 23.1 points per game (seventh in the NBA) while dishing out 7.7 assists per game (fifth), Curry is the only player not named LeBron James in the top seven in both categories.

Of course, Curry isn’t the only player who has taken a giant step forward this season. James Harden and Anthony Davis have both propelled themselves into the superstar stratosphere, but not in the same way that Curry has.

Averaging career highs in points (27.2), rebounds (6.1) and assists (7.0), Harden has helped carry the Rockets to a 21-8 record, but he has not played efficient basketball. Shooting a lowly 43.1 percent from the field, Harden’s ability to get to the free-throw line and his 37.6 minutes per game (Curry’s averaging 33.5 minutes) have contributed to his inflated numbers. Taking into account individual play, efficiency and team success, Curry gets the nod over Harden.

The case for Davis is entirely different, as he has posted the undisputed best stat line in the NBA. With a ridiculous player efficiency rating of 32.55, Davis is averaging 24.6 points, 10.2 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game.

And while Davis’ impact on both ends of the floor makes him a viable MVP candidate, the lack of team success severely hurts his case. Until the Pelicans take that next step like the Warriors have this season, Davis will continue to post gaudy numbers without receiving any hardware.

In the case of Curry, his ability to improve on previous weaknesses has helped put him in the forefront of the MVP discussion. Once known as a liability on defense, Curry leads the league in real plus-minus (7.85), which is the net point differential per 100 offensive and defensive possessions. This incredible point differential is a strong indication of how valuable Curry is to the Warriors while he is on the floor.

Also, his well-documented tendency to turn the ball over has lessened, as he is now posting a decent 2.3 assist-to-turnover ratio. Despite being the fifth-worst mark among starting point guards, Curry has still proved to be incredibly efficient. With the sixth-best PER in the NBA (26.30), the fact that Curry ranks ahead of LeBron (25.06) and the turnover-immune Chris Paul (25.07) indicates just how effective he has been.

Perhaps most terrifying for opponents, though, is that there is room for improvement.

Known as the most lethal three-point shooter in the league, Curry has actually struggled from beyond the arc. Still shooting a respectable 38.5 percent, it’s fair to assume that Curry will bump this number closer to his career average of 43.4 percent as the season goes on.

Even if Curry continues to struggle from deep, his 57.4 percent clip on two-point field goals makes defending him that much more difficult. Forcing him off the three-point line is no longer a viable strategy, as his ability to score from anywhere on the floor and improved playmaking skills make him a nightmare for opposing defenses.

It’s no coincidence that Curry’s MVP-caliber play has helped solidify the Golden State Warriors as legitimate title contenders.

All stats courtesy of ESPN.com.