NBA: Ranking the Top 5 Contenders for MVP

As of mid-January, a handful of players have established themselves as leading candidates in the race for MVP.

Whether its due to changing the culture of the team they are currently with, raising a statistical category of their game, displaying strong leadership, or simply being dominant on the court, the following players each have their teams poised to contend for a championship.

Before we get to the players, here is the criteria I am basing my rankings on:

1) Winning: Though it is debatable how MVP's have been selected in years past, you cannot argue that the ultimate basis for their eligibility is their respective team's winning percentage. Anyone can throw up big numbers in a game, but there's a difference between being selfish and excelling your game so that your team can win.

Who This Affects Most: Kevin Love, Minn. 

Ricky Rubio may be the one capturing the headlines in Minnesota, but Kevin Love has established himself as the best Power Forward currently in the NBA and has carried his team on both the scoring and rebounding end, ranking 5th with 25.6 points a game and 2nd with 14.3 rebounds. Is there any surprise the Timberwolves front office is in a hurry to offer him an extension?

2) Leadership: When you are the best player on a team, it is only natural that all the other players will invariably look to follow your lead. Therefore, any player that is vying for MVP would have to use that platform to: 1) demonstrate a strong work ethic, 2) play both sides of the floor with equal intensity, 3) be a vocal leader when necessary, 4) instill a confidence in his team that starts with him and pervades to everyone else.

Who This Affects Most: Carmelo Anthony, NY

Carmelo is arguably the most gifted scorer in the NBA. He has a pure jump shot, is a physical beast (something Kevin Durant can't brag about), is clutch and was blessed with every tool needed to be a perennial MVP candidate. Nevertheless, this is Carmelo Anthony's ninth season in the league and he has yet to shed the reputation that he only plays one side of the court and is a ball-stopper. Currently 3rd in the league in scoring with 26.1 PPG, Carmelo's Knicks are currently one game below .500 at 6-7 while his former Nuggets team is 8-5. In the words of former NBA sideline commentator and current Golden State Warrior head coach, Mark Jackson: "C'mon Carmelo, you're better than this!" Or is it Kenny Smith that says this? Oh well.

3) Irreplaceable: This one is the real biggie. It takes into account everything from stats to intangibles in assessing how valuable a player is to his team. Case in point- if you took them off the team and replaced them with another all-star at the same position, would they be nearly as good?

Who This Affects Most: Kris Humphries, NJ (sorry, couldn't resist)

Actual Player: Rajon Rondo

Before Boston Celtic fans starting screaming bloody murder, keep in mind that Rondo was available on the market. He was being offered in the Chris Paul sweepstakes. And his jump shot is still a work in progress. While Rondo has certainly made his presence felt on the court as a Celtic this season, leading the team with 10.0 assists a game (currently 2nd in the NBA) and being the signature gritty player that the Celtics have built their reputation on, Boston is currently 4-8. Now, ask yourself, if they had Deron Williams, Chris Paul, or Russel Westbrook (another Ainge target), would their record be better?

Without further ado, here are the top 5 candidates for MVP, from least to greatest.

Dwight Howard

2011-2012 stats: PPG: 19.4  RPG: 14.8  BPG: 2.2  SPG: 1.5  FG%: 58%

As much as Dwight Howard has been a nightmare of a distraction for Orlando off the court, he has been a nightmare for the Magic's opponents on it. Currently top seven in blocks and minutes per game, Dwight also leads the NBA in rebounds and is second in field-goal percentage.

Meanwhile, the Orlando Magic currently sit atop the Southeast Division at 9-3.

Pros: Dwight clearly has helped his team in the win department and is arguably the most irreplaceable player on this list. 

Cons: In the leadership category, Dwight has to take a hard hit given his vocal trade requests that will ultimately keep the Magic's potential ceiling fall right below championship contender. Dwight could have easily quashed all the media attention surrounding his pending departure from Orlando by being a consummate professional and keeping his future plans behind closed doors.

Instead, the Magic continue to be pestered by rumors which have thus far overshadowed the team's fairly impressive start. In short, it's not fair to the organization, and it's not fair to the fans.

Besides, talk about history repeating itself. If Howard ultimately lands on the Lakers, his next visit to Orlando could get medieval.

LeBron James

2011-2012 stats: PPG: 29.5  RPG 8.2  APG: 7.4  SPG 2.0  FG %: 57%

"No one has more to prove coming into this season than LeBron James."

This was the popular sentiment surrounding the Miami Heat following their defeat to the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals last year.

However, it's hard to really tell that this backlash against James is really new, given that he was equally criticized following his decision to join Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh on the Miami Heat.

In any case, no one can argue that, on a team considered to preeminent favorites to win the NBA title once again, he is the straw that stirs the drink. Currently, James is second in the NBA in scoring, third in FG percentage, fourth and fifth, respectively, in free throws attempted and made, and is 11th in assists and 12th in steals. Basically, LeBron is a statistical freak that is capable of getting a triple double on any given night.

As for the Miami Heat, after getting off to a hot start, adversity and injuries have come early for the team, as they sit third in the Southeast at 8-4.

Pros: LeBron, much like Howard, is about as irreplaceable as they come in the NBA. His statistical production alone is enough to warrant his candidacy in any MVP race. Additionally, LeBron has shown himself to have leadership qualities by being a glue guy that keeps the vibe of the team upbeat while mentoring players like Norris Cole, Terrel Harris and Mario Chalmers.

Cons: LeBron's team ranks the lowest of any MVP candidate in the win department. Some of this can be blamed by Dwyane Wade's early injuries, which the Miami Heat coaching staff has admitted he wasn't fully recovered from when he played in Miami's three loses during their west coast trip. Not to mention, LeBron is lacking in other areas, from not being the closer on the team to continuously struggling at the free throw line in pivotal moments.

Finally, for all the praise LeBron has received for developing and invoking a post game, he has also shown a lack of commitment to implement it in late game situations. All in all, the unofficial best player in the NBA is underachieving despite being fourth in the MVP race. And regardless of public opinion, this demotion has nothing to do with being on the same team as Dwyane Wade.

Kobe Bryant

2011-2012: PPG: 30.8  RPG: 5.7  APG: 5.5  FG %: 45%  FT %: 82 %  SPG: 1.2

At 33 years old and in his 16th season in the NBA, Kobe has proven again and again that there is one thing he loves to hear: doubters. Ranked as the seventh-best player in the NBA by a panel of NBA analysts and writers, Kobe had one mission in mind coming into the season: prove them wrong.

In the process, he has put up consecutive games of 40-plus points and is leading the league in scoring at 30.8 a game. If that is not impressive enough, consider that he is going through the early stages of a divorce, is due to lose half his fortune and estate as a result, has battled injuries on his body and arm that almost looked cartoonish, adjusting to the changing dynamics of having a new coach and his supporting cast is about as god-awful as it's been in years. 

Oh, by the way, despite all of this, Kobe has the Lakers atop the Pacific Division at 10-5. And this is on top of having the roughest early-game schedule of any team in the NBA.

Putting it simply: In case you didn't know, Kobe is the most mentally and physically tough player the NBA has.

Pros: Kobe may not be the freak of nature he used to be, but he is above average in every department of this MVP race. Sure, he may be aloof and he may be a ball hog, but Kobe gets the job done, plain and simple. Most importantly, LeBron can learn from Kobe what a reward it is to stop trying to be such a people-pleaser in the grand scheme of getting comfortable in your own skin.

Cons: If history serves me correctly, this version of Kobe Bryant ends up winning more individual awards than team awards. But, for all the things we could list in this category, we all know Kobe good and well by now, and he has overcome more than any player on this list, which is why it's not worth it to even list. All I can say is, never doubt the Mamba.  

Derrick Rose

2011-2012 stats: PPG: 20.8  APG: 8.7  RPG: 3.5  FT %: 87 %

Some people may disagree that Derrick Rose is ahead of Kobe Bryant in this ranking, but the Bulls were 12-2 before losing Rose to injury. Furthermore, unlike Kobe, who has the second-best center in the NBA and Pau Gasol, Rose's two best offensive sidekicks (Deng and Boozer) would be any other championship contender's third-best player. Simply put, Rose has had to carry a lot of the offense for the team, and he has not slowed down in the least bit from his MVP season last year.

Ranking third in the NBA in assists and eighth in points, Rose has the Chicago Bulls atop the Central division of the Eastern conference at 12-3.

Pros: Rose may not excel in the statistical category of this ranking, but he is clearly at the top in terms of being a leader and irreplaceable for the Chicago Bulls. Meanwhile, the guy is clutch, as he proved yet again in the first game of the season by scoring the go-ahead basket to beat the Los Angeles Lakers in their home.

Lastly, Rose has already built a reputation for being one of the hardest workers in the NBA who continues to perfect his game in the offseason. At the end of the day, Rose is second not because he does more with less than the other three guys below him, but because he has put his team first in every way possible.

Cons: The only shortcomings that may keep him from remaining a serious contender in the MVP race is his relatively underwhelming statistical production and the length of time he misses due to injuries this year.

Kevin Durant

2011-2012 PPG: 26.0  RPG: 6.8  APG: 3.4  BPG: 1.1  SPG: 1.0  FG %: 50%  3 p%: 39% FT%: 82%

Does Durant have help on this team? Yes. But in every category of this MVP ranking, Durant excels in every department. His team currently has the best record in the NBA at 12-2 while on a seven-game winning steak. Durant is the undisputed leader and has had the unenviable task of having to keep the fiery Westbrook at bay so the team doesn't implode.

In the process, he has continued on pace to be the best pure scorer in the NBA and arguably its most clutch player. Moreover, he has also produced on the other end of the court with 1-2 steals and blocks a game on average.

Finally, and like Derrick Rose, everything he has done up to now has been in the best interest of his team, as he has maintained a remarkably spotless reputation for being a professional and an unselfish player.

Pros: Whether its wins, stats, leadership or being irreplaceable, Durant excels in every department.

Cons: For those that want to argue that Durant has too much help to be the front-runner for MVP at this point, that's fine. I personally think the MVP award shouldn't go to the player who does more with less because, more often than not, that is circumstantial. Rather, I think the MVP is someone whose overall production, leadership and intangibility is an embodiment of what is in his team's best interest from top to bottom. And, as of now, Durant certainly fits that bill better than any other player in the game.