Predicting the NBA's Top MVP Candidates for the 2012-13 Season

LeBron James was named the 2011-12 NBA MVP, and while there were a number of great performances all season long, it appeared that the award was his to lose for a majority of the year.

While there’s no formula for telling how a player is going to perform in the future, it’s never too early to start speculating as to who could take home the league’s most prestigious individual award next season.

10. Dwyane Wade

2011-12 Stats: 22.1 PTS, 4.6 AST, 4.8 REB, 1.7 STL

Wade has been willing to step aside for LeBron James in Miami this season, but he still remains as good as he’s ever been throughout his time with the Miami Heat.

Arguably a top-three player in the NBA today, Wade would find himself higher on this list if he wasn’t playing behind LeBron James night in and night out next season.

His clutch play is still near the top of the league, and while his points dipped slightly this season, he could remain in MVP banter next year if he stays healthy and stays hungry to win in the regular season.

9. Russell Westbrook

2011-12 Stats: 23.6 PTS, 5.5 AST, 4.6 REB, 1.7 STL

Russell Westbrook has emerged as a top point guard in the NBA, but as long as he is playing alongside Kevin Durant, he’s likely going to receive less MVP talk than a player with his talent deserves.

The guy should be in the discussion, as his numbers compete with the best point guards the league has to offer.

Westbrook increased his point total by nearly two per game this season, but as a result, his assists dropped nearly three per contest.

If the 23-year-old guard can keep his points and assists both on the incline, he could find himself climbing this list as his career continues.

8. Andrew Bynum

2011-12 Stats: 18.7 PTS, 11.8 REB, 1.9 BLK, .558% FG

Andrew Bynum began to emerge this season, but with the Los Angeles Lakers still being Kobe Bryant’s team, it will be difficult for him to get the MVP recognition he’s begun to earn.

He’s making strides in competing with Dwight Howard as the best center in the league, and if he stays healthy again next season, his numbers could continue to grow.

Career highs in points and rebounds this season were great to see from the 24-year-old center, but he’s going to need to prove that he can handle the load both physically and mentally before he creeps into the upper-half of this list.

7. Rajon Rondo

2011-12 Stats: 11.9 PTS, 11.7 AST, 4.9 REB, 1.8 STL

With Boston’s big three possibly breaking up this summer, Rajon Rondo could have the opportunity to elevate his game to another level next season.

His career high in assists led the league this year, but if the Celtics rid themselves of either Kevin Garnett or Ray Allen this summer, Rondo could jump at the opportunity to take on more of a scoring role within the rotation.

The 6’1” point guard has become a triple-double machine, and if he can ever add a consistent jump shot to his arsenal, he could prove to be one of the most unstoppable point guards that the NBA has to offer.

6. Dwight Howard

2011-12 Stats: 20.6 PTS, 14.5 REB, 2.1 BLK, .573% FG

Dwight Howard may be the biggest wild card on this list.

Although he’s officially opted in to the final year of his contract with the Orlando Magic, the drama he provided this season makes it reasonable to add a giant question mark to next year's performance.

His talent, however, is undeniable.

His numbers this year make it easy to consider him the best big man in the game, and while back surgery took him out of the playoffs this season, he’s expected to make a full recovery.

5. Kevin Love

2011-12 Stats: 26.0 PTS, 13.3 RPG, 2.0 AST .372% 3PT

Kevin Love’s improvement over the past few seasons has been incredible to watch.

Despite playing in only 55 games this year, Love led the NBA in double-doubles with 48 and was the only player in the league to rank in the top four in both scoring and rebounding.

As a player who doesn’t often play above the rim, Love’s ability to rebound the ball is outstanding, and his shooting touch helps spread the floor on every possession for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Love is arguably the best power forward in the game right now, and if he can get his team into the playoffs next season, he could make a serious push at the league’s most coveted individual award.

4. Chris Paul

2011-12 Stats: 19.8 PTS, 9.1 AST, 2.5 STL, .371% 3PT

Chris Paul turned a 32-50 Los Angeles Clippers team into a contender out West this season and is the biggest reason the team is still competing in the second round of the playoffs.

His game is as solid as ever, but his leadership is what especially stood out during the 2011-12 campaign.

Don’t expect any of that to change next year, and if Blake Griffin and the rest of the roster can continue to improve next season, the team could find itself making even more noise come 2013.

3. Kobe Bryant

2011-12 Stats: 27.9 PTS, 4.6 AST, 5.4 REB, 1.2 STL

Kobe Bryant averaged the second most points in the NBA this year, and if he had played in the final game of the regular season, he would have had a chance to pass Kevin Durant as the league’s scoring champion.

Year in and year out, Bryant continues to get it done, and with his scoring ability and drive to succeed, this year proved to be no exception.

The injury bug has certainly hit Bryant over the past few seasons, but looking at his stat line and watching the 33-year-old veteran on the court, you’d never guess he was as banged up as he actually is.

As a 16-year veteran, Bryant’s age will catch up to him one of these days; I’m just not sure it’s going to happen next season.

2. Kevin Durant

2011-12 Stats: 28.0 PTS, 8.0 REB, 3.5 AST, 1.2 BLK .387 3PT%

Kevin Durant was the NBA’s scoring champion this season and has emerged as one of the league’s best players at this point in his young career.

The scary part? At just 23 years old, Durant is still getting better.

Posting career numbers all over the stat sheet, Durant’s scoring ability is among the best that the league has to offer, and his career-high eight rebounds per game shows that he is expanding his game as he matures.

A total of 185 points separated Durant and LeBron James in this year’s MVP race, but if Durant’s leadership, statistics and clutch performances continue to improve, the Oklahoma City Thunder should improve as well, further helping his chances at the league’s MVP award.

LeBron James

2011-12 Stats: 27.1 PTS, 6.2 AST, 7.9 REB, 1.9 STL, .531% FG

My gut is telling me that Kevin Durant belongs here, but my head is saying that LeBron James just can’t be stopped at this point in his career.

James’ stats are easily MVP-worthy every season, but it was his aggressiveness and overall efficiency that helped him earn the league’s most prestigious individual award this year.

His 2.4 three-point attempts per game this season is the fewest he’s ever attempted, but his 36.2 three-point percentage is the highest of his career.

Getting into the post helped, too. A career-high in field-goal percentage and rebounds helped prove that he can be play the point guard through power forward positions on virtually any given night.

If James can stay as disciplined next season as he was this time around, there’s nobody in the league who should be able to snatch away the title of league MVP.