Early NBA MVP Rankings

The leading candidates for the 2011-12 NBA regular season MVP honors includes some familiar faces, but there are some surprising new entrants in the conversation.

With the expedited schedule, there is going to be a lot of volatility and inconsistency between performances, but these guys have brought it every night in the early part of the campaign.

There is no doubt that other names could rapidly climb the ranks and into one of the top 10 spots, but right now, these guys are carrying their teams to success.

These teams would be a lot different without these guys on the roster.

NOTE: Statistics listed are through Monday, January 2.

10. Ty Lawson

Stats: 18.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 2.5 steals, 2.0 turnovers, 55.4 percent from the field, 80.8 percent from the line

Lawson was a popular pick for breakout player of the year, and he hasn't failed to disappoint on those lofty expectations.

The point guard has really asserted himself as a focal point of what the Nuggets are doing at both ends of the floor, and his efficiency can't be understated.

He could soar a lot higher on this list if he starts dishing the rock with more consistency, but Andre Miller is cutting into his opportunities to serve as the team's distributor.

9. Kyle Lowry

Stats: 13.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, 11.5 assists, 2.5 steals, 3.5 turnovers, 40.5 percent from the field, 90.5 percent from the line

It's shameful that Lowry doesn't get more attention in the national spotlight, because he's been on an absolute tear since he was given the full-time role last season.

He's quietly filling up the stat sheet for the Rockets, and the only gripe about his game is his incredibly low shooting percentage over the first week of the action.

That is largely a product of Houston needing him to shoot in order to put points on the board, but if he stays healthy, Lowry is a definite threat to average a double-double and be a force at both ends of the court all season long.

8. Chris Paul

Stats: 15.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 9.8 assists, 2.5 steals, 2.5 turnovers, 49 percent from the field, 72.7 percent from the line

Paul's contributions in the box score may not be as plentiful as some fans were hoping, but he's got plenty of time to up his production going forward.

His impact on the Clippers offense has been obvious, and his presence on the floor has really allowed the team to explore unorthodox territories on the offensive end.

He's keeping the turnovers low and the assists high. If Paul can log an assist-to-turnover ratio at or better than what he has currently, there's no doubt the Clippers will enjoy his leadership at the point.

7. Dwight Howard

Stats: 17.7 points, 15.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.8 steals, 2.7 blocks, 3.0 turnovers, 54.6 percent from the field, 41.5 percent from the line

Howard is absolutely dominating in all facets of the game, except for his Achilles heel—free-throw shooting.

Although he worked with a free-throw guru this offseason and vowed to be better from the stripe, it hasn't happened yet, and it's unlikely he's going to be registering a solid clip at any point in the near future.

Despite the shortcomings in that regard, Howard is still doing his thing beneath the basket, and it doesn't seem as if the trade winds swirling around him have had an adverse impact on his game.

6. Carmelo Anthony

Stats: 27.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.4 blocks, 44.4 percent from the field, 81.8 percent from the line

Anthony is going to have to carry the Knicks this season if the team is going to live up to expectations, and so far he's done more than his fair share.

New York has struggled to find chemistry on the court, but Anthony has been a scoring machine when a lot of other options on the roster haven't lived up to the hype.

Arguably the best scorer in the league, Anthony should contend for the scoring title, and if that happens he'll get serious consideration for the award.

5. Derrick Rose

Stats: 19.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 8.6 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.6 blocks, 4.0 turnovers, 47.1 percent from the field, 93.1 percent from the line

Rose was the youngest player to ever win MVP when he earned the award in 2010-11, and some had pegged him as a candidate to repeat this season.

His progression every season has been downright scary, and there is really no reason to put a ceiling on what he can become in the NBA.

He's got to be a little more consistent on the defensive end and cut down on the turnovers, but he's shown an uncanny ability to adjust on the fly in an effort to round out his game.

4. Rajon Rondo

Stats: 16.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 10.5 assists, 1.3 steals, 4.7 turnovers, 54.4 percent from the field, 64.7 percent from the line

There was some concern before the season began that trade rumors could distract Rondo's play, but it's had the opposite impact and he has come out of the gate running.

Rondo has been an absolute force, injecting himself into all aspects of the game on a nightly basis, and he's doing it with remarkable efficiency in the process.

He's making easy work of anyone who has been guarding him, and Rondo is really showing how valuable he is to the Celtics.

3. LeBron James

Stats: 29.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 2.0 steals, 1.0 blocks, 3.0 turnovers, 60.0 percent from the field, 78.6 percent from the line

James has been a completely new player in the early part of the season, and his remarkable field-goal percentage is an indication of how he's changed his game.

He's stopped (for the most part) settling for long-range jumpers, and is instead using his size and athleticism to an advantage in the low post.

If James continues to stay true to his new approach and continues to stuff the stat sheet, it's going to be awfully difficult to build a case against him.

2. Kevin Love

Stats: 25.4 points, 15.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.6 blocks, 3.8 turnovers, 47.6 percent from the field, 77.6 percent from the line

Love's play this season can be described in a single word: phenomenal.

Not only is he at the center of everything an improved Minnesota team is doing on the court, but he's also shooting a remarkable 44 percent from behind the three-point line.

He's putting up video game-type numbers without sacrificing any sort of efficiency, and the T-Wolves better be exhausting every option to lock him up with a long-term contract extension.

1. Kevin Durant

Stats: 27.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.0 blocks, 3.7 turnovers, 53.3 percent from the field, 76.6 percent from the line

Durant's stats might not leap off the page like Love's, but make no mistake that his season has been mighty impressive at the initial onset of the year.

He's battling for his third straight scoring title and shooting well over 50 percent from the floor, and he's quickly establishing himself as a far more well-rounded player than many give him credit for being.

With the Thunder out to a very solid 5-1 start and looking like favorites to emerge from the Western Conference in the postseason, Durant is looking at a very good opportunity to win his first MVP.