2012 NBA MVP Race: Kevin Durant Climbs the Ladder as LeBron James Falls

The MVP award can often be won in the season's final week, as NBA superstars do their best to put not only their teams over the top, but themselves as individuals as well.

This season’s award promises to be a very tight race, with Miami’s LeBron James and Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant viewed as the two runaway favorites to claim the award. There’s still some valuable basketball to be played for both teams down the stretch, and the MVP will likely be decided by what happens in the next couple of weeks.

Has Durant overtaken LeBron for the lead?

Let’s find out as we look at the top five contenders in the MVP ladder.

5. Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs

Someone has to give Tony Parker some love for the season he’s put together, so he’s included on the list.

When you talk pure value to a team, they really don’t come more valuable than Parker. His numbers are nice, averaging 18.8 PPG and 7.7 APG. But it’s his consistency that's been the big reason the Spurs have a 40-16 record and are a threat to come out of the Western Conference.

Parker posted an efficiency rating of 21.74, which is fourth among all point guards. If you measure true value, just think about where the Spurs would be this season without Parker.

4. Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves

Love has next to no chance at winning the MVP due to the fact that the Timberwolves are 25-34 and out of the playoff picture, but on numbers alone, he should be in the picture.

Putting up a season that’s cemented him as the best power forward in the game, Love has averaged 26.0 PPG (fourth in NBA) and 13.3 RPG, good for second in the league. His 25.5 efficiency rating puts him fifth in the NBA, and that’s all you really need to know about the type of season Love’s having.

If the Wolves were a playoff team, Love likely is right in the mix to be the MVP.

3. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers

Bryant has been outstanding, leading the NBA in scoring at 28.1 PPG. He’s helped lead the Lakers to the head of the Pacific Division and a 37-22 record.

What Kobe’s done has been impressive considering he’s been banged up for most of the season. Also consider the fact that the Lakers haven’t had a productive point guard for most of the season, have got next to no production from the small forward spot and have next to no bench.

Bryant’s season has been outstanding, but his value is measured in the fact that the Lakers probably wouldn’t be a playoff team without him, and I don’t know if you can say that for the next two guys on the list.

2. LeBron James, Miami Heat

LeBron James drops out of the lead for the MVP, but is having an outstanding season and can still do enough to claim the award.

His numbers are outstanding, averaging 26.9 PPG (third in NBA), 7.9 RPG, 6.4 APG and a 30.67 efficiency rating (leads NBA).

While his game has picked up down the stretch, the fact that the Heat have been sliding hurts James’ case a little bit. Miami’s only 5-5 in their last 10 games and while LeBron has been outstanding, his grip on the MVP is slipping.

1.  Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder

Durant takes the slight edge in the race for the MVP, not because of anything James has done to let it slip away, but from him playing consistent game after consistent game throughout the entire season.

His numbers are great, averaging 27.5 PPG (second in NBA) and 7.9 RPG and more importantly, he’s helped lead the Thunder to a 42-16 record, the best record in the Western Conference, only two games behind the Chicago Bulls for best record in the NBA.

Durant’s consistency along with his teams success bumps him into the lead. Only five times all season has the opposition held him under 20 points in a game. The same has happened to James on 11 different occasions. Durant has also had more success in tight moments late in the season, which is something James has been questioned about all season long.

So while a lot can happen between now and the end of the regular season, if the season ended today, the MVP award would be going to Durant and not James, even though both guys are certainly worthy.