NBA All Star Game Odds: Breaking Down Stars' MVP Chances

The NBA All-Star MVP is only for a select few.  

Since 2000, Kobe Bryant has won four times, Shaquille O’Neal three times and LeBron James twice.

This year the field is wide open. The NBA is enjoying a resurgence in young talent that it hasn’t seen in years. 

So when you think about potential MVPs, two important factors must be considered. They need to be a starter and they need to be a veteran to the game. With that in mind, here are the five most likely MVPs to hoist the trophy Sunday night.

Kevin Durant: 3-to-1

KD is due.

He scored 34 last year, but 26 shots from Kobe Bryant ensured the hometown hero won the MVP in LA. This year the Western Conference is Durant’s team, and expect him to receive the majority of the touches. With teammate Russell Westbrook coming off the bench, the duo will be deadly in the open floor.

With his versatility and athletic ability to dominate even the best Eastern Conference defenders, he is the favorite to win the award.

Kobe Bryant: 5-to-1

One of the quirkier aspects of the Western Conference squad is that Kobe is the only shooting guard on the roster.

Coach Scott Brooks will be forced to play a lineup that features two point guards quite often, but you’d have to assume Bryant is going to get some major minutes (just what Lakers fans want to hear) and plenty of shooting opportunities.

We all know Kobe has never met a shot he didn’t like.

Dwight Howard: 10-to-1

The only reason Howard is on this list is because the game is in Orlando.

In previous All-Star games, his lack of effort has been quite evident. Last year he attempted only four shots in 21 minutes of action and two of them were three-pointers.

It remains to be seen how hard Howard will play in front of a home crowd he is desperately trying to leave.

LeBron James: 12-to-1

LeBron is currently in the midst of one of the most efficient seasons in the history of the league because he isn’t taking as many three-pointers and is attacking the basket consistently.

He seems to be on a mission to shut up all of his critics who continue to bash him for coming up small in the clutch.

While winning the MVP of the NBA Finals is the real goal, LBJ has the potential to sweep three MVP awards (All-Star, regular season, and Finals) and you can bet he’s been thinking about it.

Chris Paul: 15-to-1

Point guards rarely win the award, but this year might be the exception. Lob City has taken over the NBA and CP3 will have Blake Griffin to chuck alley-oops to.

Paul’s knee has fully recovered and he is using the 2011-12 season to remind everyone that he is the best point guard in the NBA.

John Stockton was the last pure point guard to win the award all the way back in 1993, but Paul has a shot to buck the trend.