Eight NBA Players Who Could Win Their First MVP This Season
Kobe Bryant and Lebron James have won the MVP the last three years. Pretty much it's been between the two of them each year, though Durant finished second in the voting last year.
Other active winners are Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash, and TIm Duncan. While they are all still playing well, the likelihood is that this year's winner will be a first time winner, and it's more wide open than it's ever been before.
LeBron's new surroundings make him less likely to be a winner. He no longer is the undisputed "most important man to his team." Kobe its getting older, but that's not why. Last year's finals showed just how much his teammates matter.
That takes absolutely nothing away from Kobe to say, I just give appropriate tribute to the other members of what is, in my opinion, the most well-rounded team in basketball. Either Kobe or James' could win it, but these are seven players I think could be taking home the hardware for the first time.
Just Missed The List
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Here are a few players that I strongly considered but eventually didn't put on the list, and the reasons why.
Rajon Rondo looked poised to take over the team next year. He very well may do it, but even if he does, it might be hard to convince enough voters of that. Also, he only averaged 13.7 points last year.
The only MVP I can find even close to that was Nash during his '04-'05 season, and that was because it was undoubtedly Nash's team. Plus, Phoenix had the best regular season record. I don't see that happening with Boston.
Amar'e Stoudamaire might be the consolation prize in New York, but I don't see them putting together the kind of team this year that will put Amar'e in the running for MVP.
Chris Paul does have some shot, but he is playing in the West, where there is just too much competition in the West, and he doesn't have the team around him that the other contenders do. Paul could be the fantasy MVP, but he won't be the NBA MVP.
Derrick Rose
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I'll admit it, I'm a Bulls fan, but that'.s not why he's on this list. It's because I see a lot of reasons for a player who is already an All Star to have a tremendous boost to his game.
First, for the first time in his career he has legitimate low post player who can run the pick-and-roll to.
Second, he also has another tool in Kyle Korver, who will help spread the court, which in turn will open up lanes, both for driving and passing.
Third, he's been working on his two biggest weakness, defense and three point shooting, all summer. When coaches like Tom Thibodeau and Mike Kryzewski voluntarily rave about your work ethic, that says a lot about your character.
Fourth there's the experience and maturity he's gaining by being on team USA. In the game against Spain, he was the one the team that went to when the game was on the line.
He score the last four points, including the game winners from the three point line.
Finally, during the playoffs, both this year and last, when he averaged 26.8 points and 7.2 assists, Rose established himself as a player who takes it to a higher level under pressure.
This is a guy who's glad that James didn't come because he wants to be the man. He wants the pressure and the responsibilities, but doesn't crave the glory.
Rose won't be on many list but he makes mine.
Deron Williams
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Williams has a unique situation. Boozer left, and then got replaced by a potentially better player.
He also got another weapon when Utah was able to pick up the power forward who plays like a guard, or guard who has the size of a power forward, depending on how you want to take a look at it, in Gordon Hayward.
It's not inconceivable that Utah, even though they lost some key players, actually improved last year. Now though, this team is truly Williams' team. In reputation at least, he rose to the status of "best point guard" last season. This season could he rise to MVP? It's possible.
Pau Gasol
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First, I'll give you a moment to laugh. OK. Done now? Allow me to explain myself. First, Gasol actually finished 5th in efficiency last year, averaging 18.3 points and 11.3 rebounds.He does actually have MVP type numbers.
The only reason he hasn't been in the consideration in the past is that he's got this other guy named Kobe Bryant on his team.
Now consider a couple of possibilities. First, on the court, Kobe's minutes get cut back a bit. He's getting older, he has a lot of miles on his knees.
He already has almost as many minutes on his knees as Michael Jordan had in his entire career. It's not inconceivable that he plays a little less during the regular season to be better in the playoffs.
Then consider he possibility that Andrew Bynum actually stays healthy for a full year. I'll wait a minute for you start laughing again. OK. But let's just pretend. Done laughing? Alright.
So, Bynum plays but Kobe cuts his minutes back. The Lakers still have more wins than any team in the West.
Now think about one last possibility, and this could actually happen. What if Kobe, already having his MVP, campaigns for Pau, essentially giving permission to those who would vote for Pau to vote for him.
I'm not saying that Pau would be the MVP, just offering that he could win it. After all, you don't have to be MVP to win it, just ask Charles Barkley.
Carmelo Anthony
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What 'Mllo does best is what the fans love most. He scores. He's a decent rebounder, and not much of a passer, but he scores, and he scores pretty and he scores in bunches.
In addition, he's talking about wanting out of Denver, but he might not get traded. If he's playing for a contract you might see some big games, and some big numbers coming from Anthony.
Last season he scored 28.2, just off his career average. If he can put together a 30.0 ppg season, he could be the MVP of the league.
Brandon Roy
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In many ways Brandon Roy is a poor man's LeBron James, in the sense that he really fills out a stat sheet. He does everything well, but nothing magnificent. If he were playing in a larger market, he'd probably get a lot more attention, so he's got that going against him too. Still, if he can improve on his scoring, and get it up to the mid 20s, he has a shot at this award. The other thing he'll need is for his teammates to stay healthy. Portland has the staff to win 60 games. If they do, and Roy is the leader of this team, he could be your next MVP.
Dwayne Wade
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Right now there's all the hatred and rife for the Heat. Winning can change all that. Wade and LeBron form the most dynamic duo I can think of.
People are saying that LeBron joined Wade's team. If that's correct, and Miami does win 70 games, you have to give consideration to one of the two for the MVP. If it's Wade's team, then he is the logical choice. If he becomes the first option for scoring, with LeBron opening things up for him, who knows what he could score.
It might be 25, but it might be 35. If Wade wins the scoring championship, and the Heat win 70, it would be hard not to give it to him.
Of course, if LeBron averages a triple double, which seems to be his goal, it would be hard to ignore that too. This is actually the reason i don't see "sharing" problems between the two. LeBron would take 10 assists over 30 points in a heart-beat.
Kevin Durant
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What? You thought he would be first? A lot of people would have him there, and with good reason. The reigning scoring champ finished second last year, and was the only guy other than LeBron to get first place votes.I have a couple of reservations in placing him first.
First, he may not win the scoring title again, as I believe he'll have serious competition form both Wade and Anthony.
Second, he may not see his production increase, not so much because of his lack, but because of his teammates development. Continued improvement from Westbrook and Green might bite into his numbers. Still, he's second on the list primarily because he's not the guy who's number one.
Dwight Howard
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Dwight Howard is the best defensive player in the league, bar none.
It doesn't even matter who the second best is. The gulf is so wide that it's not even debatable. This is not a case of reputation exceeding reality.
He is so good that he makes the Orlando Magic the best defensive team in spite of the rest of the team not being that great defensively. He's never averaged more than 20.7 points per game in a season.
However, he's been working with Hakeem Olajawon during the off season.
Olajawon is arguably offensively, the most skilled big man since Wilt. There might be another name or two you could drop in there, but the Dream Shake is a move for the ages.
If Howard is working out with him, it's not inconceivable he could boost his scoring average into the mid 20s. If he does, the MVP is his to take home. He doesn't have to be the best offensive center in the game, he just has to be better. His defense does the rest.
