NBA MVP Race: Power Ranking the Best Candidate from All 30 Teams

Imagine for a moment that team records had no effect on MVP voting. The MVP race expanded from a handful of players on a handful of teams to the most valuable player from each franchise.

The best of the best and the best from the rest, if you will.

How would this effect people's view on statistics and their impact on the voting? Would players be rewarded for putting up monster numbers with little support or punished for compiling numbers simply because no one else could?

In turn, would the powerhouse team's stars be penalized for the caliber of their teammates and the amount of defensive attention they require? Or would the fact that they can find a way to lead a contender that has other options, all the while compiling jaw-dropping numbers?

Unless the NBPPA (National Basketball Player's Parent's Association) decides that it's in the best interest of these young men to stop keeping score and letting everyone be a winner, this will probably never happen.

Wins mean more than any other statistic. And they should. "You play to win the game" after all, right Herm Edwards?

Still, the voting process might be a lot more compelling. It might even look like something like this...

*All stats current through Wednesday, April 11.

30. Jarrett Jack: New Orleans Hornets

Notable numbers: 15.6 points, 6.3 assists, 3.9 rebounds

Making his case: It was tempting to put Chris Kaman (and his expiring $14 million contract) here, but with the focus on this season, Jack has been the best Hornet.

He's always been a nice complementary player, but with Eric Gordon missing nearly the entire season, there's been no one for Jack to complement.

29. Kemba Walker: Charlotte Bobcats

Notable numbers: 12.4 points, 4.4 assists, 3.4 rebounds

Making his case: In what was said to be the weakest draft class in years, Walker entered the league with as much fanfare as any rookie. His rookie campaign may not warrant that buzz, but in a normal draft class, that buzz would've never been there.

Still, he's been good enough to show that he's talented enough to be an NBA starter. That's something that experts questioned about the combo guard after he left Connecticut.

28. Luol Deng: Chicago Bulls

Notable numbers: 15.7 points, 6.5 rebounds

Making his case: Deng suffers from two major factors that can cripple any MVP candidacy: He is not his team's best player (if reigning MVP Derrick Rose had stayed injury free, Deng wouldn't be on this list) and his supporting cast is so good that his importance is hard to gauge.

But Deng has been arguably the best Bull this season. He's taken over when needed and edges Carlos Boozer with his defense. It's hard to understate Rose's value, but when his team plays .667 basketball without him, it's even harder to understate the talent that surrounds the reigning MVP.

27. Luis Scola: Houston Rockets

Notable numbers: 15.9 points, 6.5 rebounds

Making his case: The photo does a great job of highlighting how exciting the blue collar Scola's game is. The guy will never wow anyone with highlight plays or gaudy numbers, but he'll tally his 16 points and seven rebounds every night.

Houston has been one of the Western Conference surprises and bases its strength off of its depth. But Scola has been the most consistent (see: 57 games played) of all the Rockets.

26. John Wall: Washington Wizards

Notable numbers: 16.6 points, 7.8 assists, 4.6 rebounds

Making his case: By this time next season, the newest Wizard (Nene) might be in this slot. But this season, Wall gets the nod here.

Wall's sophomore slump has at least slowed his development, if not regressed it. His turnover numbers (3.89) are frightening and as the coach on the court, he needs to shoulder some of the blame for the myriad of problems that Washington has.

Still, he's the best player on this roster and is the key to any Washington success in the future.

25. Jose Calderon: Toronto Raptors

Notable numbers: 10.5 points, 8.9 assists

Making his case: Calderon or DeMar Derozan? It's a tough sell for either side because if Andrea Bargnani had just been healthy this season, he'd be here.

Derozan is the more explosive of the two (and more recognizable given plays like these), but Calderon is the steady, reliable hand for the Raptors. His assist-to-turnover ratio (4.52-to-1) is best in the league and his outside shot (36.9 percent) demands defensive attention.

24. Ty Lawson: Denver Nuggets

Notable numbers: 15.6 points, 6.7 assists

Making his case: Playing on one of the league's deepest teams ensures two things: You'll always be in playoff contention and your MVP argument will be one of the weakest.

With six Nuggets averaging between 10.1 and 15.6 points, it'd be hard for anyone to separate themselves. But Lawson leads Denver in assists and scoring and boasts an incredible field goal percentage for a point guard (47.7).

23. Andre Iguodala: Philadelphia 76ers

Notable numbers: 12.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.5 assists

Making his case: Iguodala's 76ers may be the deepest team in the NBA, with two of their top three scorers coming off the bench.

But Philadelphia's calling card is their league-best defense (88.46 points allowed per game) predicated on coach Doug Collins' no excuse attitude. Iguodala embodies that physical play and has emerged as one of the league's best one-on-one defenders.

Given how good Philly's team defense has been, it takes more than defensive effort to stand out on this club. Iguodala's versatility on offense (seamlessly transitioning from initiator, scorer and hustler) earned him an All-Star berth this season and a place on this list.

22. Brandon Jennings: Milwaukee Bucks

Notable numbers: 18.7 points, 5.5 assists

Making his case: While Jennings was debating his future in Milwaukee or a larger market, the Bucks were busy bolstering their already talented (and young) roster with trade deadline pickups Monta Ellis and Ekpe Udoh.

Jennings and Ellis needed a few games together before either looked comfortable, but Jennings recently rattled off 18-plus points in seven consecutive games.

By this time next season, Ellis, Ersan Ilyasova and perhaps Udoh or Drew Gooden could all presumably have a claim to this spot next season. But this year, it's Jennings' team.

21. Danny Granger: Indiana Pacers

Notable numbers: 18.6 points, 4.8 rebounds

Making his case: While many hoop fans slept on the tough push that Indiana gave Chicago in last year's opening round of the postseason, it's hard to think that many basketball experts are surprised by the team's play (35-22, third in the Eastern Conference entering Wednesday).

The team has assembled a nice base of players through smart drafting (Granger, Paul George, Roy Hibbert), good trades (Darren Collison and George Hill) and free agency (David West) to built a formidable roster.

But at the end of the day, this remains Granger's team. He's the best scorer on the team and has put any durability questions to rest by appearing in 55 of the team's 57 games.

20. Greg Monroe: Detroit Pistons

Notable numbers: 15.6 points, 9.6 rebounds

Making his case: Detroit fans have had little to cheer for this season (21-36) because their team won't sniff the playoffs, nor a high draft pick without some lottery luck.

But Monroe has been one of the few positives and he, along with rookie Brandon Knight, could give the Pistons a solid point guard/center combo for years to come. He's not quite an automatic 20-10 big man yet, but he has tallied eight of those games so far. Throw in his three 30-point games and four 15-plus rebound efforts and it's tough to gauge how high his ceiling is.

19. DeMarcus Cousins: Sacramento Kings

Notable numbers: 17.9 points, 11.2 rebounds

Making his case: It's been a tale of two seasons for the second-year Cousins.

In January, he seemed to embody the immature, hot-tempered attitude that scouts worried about after he left the University of Kentucky following his freshman season. A trade demand was leaked, a team-imposed "suspension" was handed down and Cousins' physical gifts appeared destined for being hamstrung by a loose screw.

Then, he followed that one game hiatus with 16-plus points in five of the next six Kings games and 10-plus rebounds in four of those contests. He's also since tallied 31 of his 34 double-doubles (sixth most in the NBA) and now looks like he may realize that massive potential after all.

18. David Lee: Golden State Warriors

Notable numbers: 19.9 points, 9.5 rebounds

Making his case: The Warriors have been tanking for a solid month now after shipping star guard Monta Ellis and rising big man Ekpe Udoh to the Milwaukee Bucks for the injured Andrew Bogut.

Apparently, no one bothered to tell Lee the gameplan.

He's looked spectacular in his second season with the Warriors, whether complementing the team as the third option behind Ellis and Stephen Curry or being the key cog on the Warriors' mix of young talent and in-season acquisitions.

The Warriors have added enough defensive pieces to mask Lee's shortcomings on that end which has allowed him to expend his energy doing what he does best—scoring at will and generating the offense.

17. Marc Gasol: Memphis Grizzlies

Notable numbers: 15.1 points, 9.5 rebounds

Making his case: Gasol doesn't have the jaw-dropping finishes of Rudy Gay and never had the buzz of a Zach Randolph. And he'll probably never have the star power of either player.

But his presence in the middle makes Memphis who they are.

With Gay sidelined last season, Gasol and Randolph orchestrated a second-round push of the Oklahoma City Thunder. When Randolph went down this season, Gasol and Gay kept the Grizzlies entrenched with the Western Conference elite.

If Gasol ever missed significant time, his loss would be felt immediately. He's a tough, physical presence on defense and one of the league's best passing big man on offense (six games with seven-plus assists).

16. Dirk Nowitzki: Dallas Mavericks

Notable numbers: 21.1 points, 6.8 rebounds

Making his case: It'd be crazy to say any Maverick has been more of a disappointment than Lamar Odom.

But it'd be just as crazy to say any Maverick has been all that impressive either.

Nowitzki's scoring and rebounding are at the lowest they've been since his second season in the NBA (1999-00). His field goal percentage (45.6) is at its lowest since his rookie season and his three-point shooting is at an eight-year low.

But the Mavericks will still go as far as he can take them. That should be good enough for a playoff visit (at 32-26 Dallas holds the seventh seed) but Nowitzki needs to regain his touch to make that an extended postseason stay.

15. Kyrie Irving: Cleveland Cavaliers

Notable numbers: 18.8 points, 5.7 assists

Making his case: Question marks surrounded Irving after he left Duke following a freshman campaign that lasted all of 11 games for the then-freshman phenom.

It's safe to say that Irving's managed to answer those questions already.

He's shown flashes of stardom (seven 25-plus point efforts) and a basketball IQ unrivaled by many of his older peers.

But Irving's on-court performance isn't the reason he's ranked this high. It's what he's done for the city of Cleveland and the Cavaliers organization. He's helped Cavs fans move on from LeBron James and the debacle that was "The Decision." Cleveland's future looks brighter now than some thought it would in years.

14. Al Jefferson: Utah Jazz

Notable numbers: 19.5 points, 9.4 rebounds

Making his case: With the glut of big men in Utah (Paul Millsap, Enes Kanter, Derrick Favors), it'd be easy for any one of them to get lost in the fold. Jefferson, meanwhile, has emerged as one the league's best big men.

His career has been more notable for his injury history (ankle and bone spur problems, a torn meniscus and a torn ACL, among others) than for his on-court production, but with "Big Al" finally looking healthy, the potential that allowed him to make the high-school-to-the-pros leap in 2004 is showing.

He's a big body in the paint who's shown a remarkably soft touch around the basket. He's also used his 6'10", 290-lb frame to become a better defensive presence with his work on the boards and blocked shots (1.7).

13. Deron Williams: New Jersey Nets

Notable numbers: 21.3 points, 8.6 assists

Making his case: Williams has given New Jersey fans few reasons to smile this season, and his possible offseason departure has caused an uneasiness around the club all season.

It'd be easy to point at that uncertainty as a cause for Williams' career-high in turnovers (4.0) and his lowest assist average since his rookie year in 2005-06.

But that'd be conveniently forgetting that this is the weakest club that Williams has ever been a part of.

The fact that he's managed to churn out these more-than-respectable stats with so little help from his teammates highlights why teams will be in a bidding frenzy for the impending free agent.

12. Carmelo Anthony: New York Knicks

Notable numbers: 21.6 points, 6.0 rebounds

Making his case: Jeremy Lin's remarkable midseason run nearly earned him this spot, but a season-ending knee surgery limiting him to just 35 games for the season makes him an impossible pick here.

Enter Anthony. His first full season as a Knick would have to be considered a disappointment with his scoring at an eight-year low and his rebounding numbers at their lowest in six seasons.

But a down year for him is a career year for most players, so he's the obvious pick. Playing alongside Amar'e Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler, Anthony's Knicks will be a tough out for any team in the postseason.

11. Steve Nash: Phoenix Suns

Notable numbers: 12.8 points, 11.1 assists

Making his case: If Nash played on a legitimate NBA team (which could happen next season) what kind of assist numbers would he put? He's averaging the second-most in the NBA this season with no better options to pass to than the 39-year-old Grant Hill, the consistently inconsistent Shannon Brown, the 28-year-old (and somehow still up-and-coming) Marcin Gortat and the defensive stopper Jared Dudley.

And his numbers aren't even the craziest part. He actually has his team (yes, with those teammates listed above) in playoff contention.

Over the span of his 15-year career, he's had seasons with better numbers. But this might be the best Steve Nash the league has seen yet.

10. LaMarcus Aldridge: Portland Trail Blazers

Notable numbers: 21.7 points, 8.0 rebounds

Making his case: There must be something in the water in Portland.

The Trail Blazers are the face of bad luck drafting (Greg Oden, Brandon Roy, Sam Bowie) and when they finally get it right with Aldridge (the second pick of the 2006 draft) they still can't catch a break.

If Aldridge was surrounded by a healthy Roy and Oden in addition to the talent that survived Portland's fire sale at the trade deadline, Portland would be among the NBA's best franchises.

With Roy retired and Oden looking like an early retirement candidate as well, Aldridge is nothing more than the latest NBA superstar considering ending his 2011-12 season early.

9. Rajon Rondo: Boston Celtics

Notable numbers: 12.2 points, 11.3 assists, 4.9 rebounds

Making his case: Rondo's current streak of 18 games with double-digit assists (the longest such streak in the NBA in 20 years) would be enough to get him on this list.

But that'd be a discredit to just how special he's been all season long.

He's already posted four triple-doubles this year and has usurped Boston's Big Three as the key to Celtics success.

Danny Ainge may have simply been doing his due diligence reportedly listening to offers before the season and at the trade deadline, but Rondo has crept dangerously close to being
"untouchable."

8. Josh Smith: Atlanta Hawks

Notable numbers: 18.9 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, 1.5 steals

Making his case: If Smith is right and Atlanta really doesn't appreciate what he brings after the season he's had, it's time for both sides to move on.

He'll never be a great shooter nor the smartest player on the floor. But he will impact every game that he plays in.

He and Dwight Howard are the only players in the top 20 in steals (Smith ranks 19th) and top 10 in blocks (Smith is eighth). He's also ranked 10th in combined points-rebounds-assists.

He's also kept his Hawks afloat in the Eastern Conference despite playing without perennial All-Star Al Horford for most of the season.

7. Chris Paul: Los Angeles Clippers

Notable numbers: 19.3 points, 9.0 assists, 2.5 steals

Making his case: The story of the offseason, Paul's move to the Clippers has, as expected, made them a Western Conference contender and one of the league's most exciting shows.

Paul's game has been more substance than style (amazing considering how much style is there), and he's actually averaged more points this year than he had since 2008-09. He's again paced the league in steals, while being near the top in assists (third) and scoring (19th).

His legacy will largely be defined by L.A.'s postseason successes, but if the regular season is any indicator, the Clippers will playing for a while.

6. Tony Parker: San Antonio Spurs

Notable numbers: 19.1 points, 7.6 assists

Making his case: Remember when Parker used to be the luckiest man in the world? You know, when he was Mr. Eva Longoria and piggybacked the talented duo of Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili to multiple championships?

Well, his luck may have run out in some cases (although if he managed to get Eva, chances are he's still doing well for himself), but he's also given a bit of luck to those same two teammates.

Ginobili, who's managed just 25 games this season, and Duncan, he of the DNP-OLD designation from coach Gregg Popovich, have watched Parker lead San Antonio to a 40-15 mark (second-best in the Western Conference).

If the youthful (in Spurs years) 30-year-old can continue his MVP play in the postseason, expect a lengthy playoff run for Parker and company.

5. Dwight Howard: Orlando Magic

Notable numbers: 20.6 points, 14.5 rebounds, 2.2 blocks

Making his case: Howard forgot most of the lessons laid out by Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James in their handling of leaving their long-time employers. The NBA's best center, Howard had enjoyed a lengthy career as a media darling and was often chastised for appearing overly nice (see: careless) in games.

It's safe to say Howard's days of positive press are a thing of the past after he held his team (and general manager) hostage for the first half of the season debating whether or not he wanted to stay in Orlando, then later reportedly asking for his coach (Stan Van Gundy, a Coach of the Year candidate no less) to be fired.

Luckily, Howard did remember that when approaching a potential change of scenery, it's important to keep his numbers at an impressive level (or increase them). His numbers have been remarkable this year as he leads the league in rebounds and ranks near the top in both blocks (third) and scoring (13th).

Whether Howard or Van Gundy deserves the credit for keeping the Magic entrenched in the Eastern Conference playoff picture, that's up for debate. But no other Orlando player comes close to Howard in terms of value.

4. Kevin Love: Minnesota Timberwolves

Notable numbers: 26.5 points, 13.5 rebounds

Making his case: Love was so close to being labeled a specialist after a productive season at UCLA.

Given his body type (see: beefy) and lack of athleticism, scouts weren't sure how his game would translate to the pros.

If he was simply a solid rebounder, would he be any better than Reggie Evans? If he was more of a shooting big, was his ceiling that of Vladimir Radmanovich?

As it turns out, he's the next Moses Freakin' Malone. He's a double-double machine (a league-best 48 so far) and has posted three 30 point, 20 rebound games this season.

With his new chiseled frame (OK, maybe a stretch but he did lose serious weight) and improved supporting cast, Love could lead Minnesota to prominence much sooner than later.

3. Kobe Bryant: Los Angeles Lakers

Notable numbers: 28.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists

Making his case: Here's how you know Bryant's season has been impressive—he put German medicine on the map.

The 33-year-old Bryant had started to show signs of wear and tear last season (never mind his ho-hum 25.3 points) and decided to try an innovative knee procedure by German doctors over the summer. Without getting into the particulars of the procedure, let's just say the results have been impressive: 33-year-old scoring champ impressive.

The bounce is back and Bryant has led the post-Phil Jackson Lakers to the third best record in the Western Conference. It's impressive considering the immaturity shown by the team's second-best player (Andrew Bynum) and by the lack of support for the team's third-best player (Pau Gasol). It's more impressive considering the amount of point guard minutes given to Derek Fisher and Steve Blake.

Oh, and did I mention he's 33 years old?!

2. Kevin Durant: Oklahoma City Thunder

Notable numbers: 27.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists

Making his case: Durant may be the ideal basketball player.

He has good size (6'9", 235 lbs), excels on both ends of the floor and represents his organization on and off the floor.

Offensively, he may be the most gifted scorer in the league. He trails only Bryant in points per game, but may possess the most diverse set of offensive skills. He can beat defenders inside and out, has "in the gym" range, can direct an offense and can play above the rim.

Oklahoma City has managed to build the perfect complementary lineup to maximize his abilities, but ultimately this team will go as far as Durant can take them. Or, should that be as far as Russell Westbrook allows Durant to take them?

1. LeBron James: Miami Heat

Notable numbers: 26.9 points, 7.9 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.9 steals

Making his case: This is one of those rare seasons where the most talented player from the most talented team has compiled the most impressive numbers.

The last time the two-time MVP won the award (2009-10), he had the second-largest margin of victory in league history (trailing Shaquille O'Neal's lone MVP season in 1999-00). If this were most seasons, James could break that mark this year, but Durant and Bryant should keep the voting somewhat close.

James is, and has been for years, one of the rarest NBA players—an elite player on both ends of the floor. Offensively, he can orchestrate an offense, operate in the post or do anything in between (he's cut back on his three-point attempts despite shooting a career-best 35.9 percent from deep). Defensively, he can guard point guards to power forwards, and who can forget his jaw-dropping blocks?

Detractors will point to his apparent hesitation to close games and his up-and-down playoff performances. But he's a championship away from ending all of that talk and that championship could be less than a few months away.