The 2013 NBA MVP will be a hotly contested award as the talent pool in the NBA is getting deeper by the year. Already to start the season there are some big names who won’t be in consideration due to injury. A previous winner in Derrick Rose, Minnesota’s Kevin Love and Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki are all going to miss significant time this season and won’t be in the running.
In my mind this is really a two horse race to start the season and barring injury to either superstar the award will come down to either LeBron James or Kevin Durant. There are other contenders for the honor; however, it would take a heroic and masterful season to surplant these two as reigning favorites.
The following list of candidates has the potential and skill to post such a season. As we project the 2013 NBA MVP we select our top-five candidates and breakdown their chance for success.
5- Rajon Rondo – Boston Celtics
If Rondo can assert himself as the heart and soul of the Celtics he will garner some serious consideration. The assist totals are there for Rondo; however, his scoring numbers will need to increase fairly dramatically from his 11.9 ppg from last season. Two things need to happen here for Rondo to catapult himself into consideration: the Boston Celtics win at least 60 games this season and Rondo scores 17.5 ppg to go along with leading the league in assists at 12 apg. It is all quiet unlikely, but that is what it will take.
4- Chris Paul – LA Clippers
I don’t think there is much doubt as to who the best point guard in the league is; it’s Chris Paul hands down. Paul is going to need to improve a bit on last season’s stat line of 19.8 ppg, 9.1 apg while keeping the 3.6 rpg and 2.5 steals per averages if he want to steal some of the spotlight. A scoring average over 20 ppg and an assist average in double digits is a must. The Clippers will also need to win at a better clip than the .606 winning percentage from last year and will need to come close to a 60 win season in the very tough Western Conference.
3- Deron Williams – Brooklyn Nets
Deron Williams is my darkhorse to win this race. The fact that the Brooklyn Nets will be a higher profile team this season will get them some media coverage. Throw in the fact that the Nets will improve dramatically over last season’s 22 wins and should procure a playoff spot this season; the voters will take notice of the turnaround. The main reason for success will be the play of Deron Williams and by maintaining a 20 ppg scoring average while pumping up the assists to around 11 per game; he will receive MVP votes come season end.
2- Lebron James – Miami Heat
The problem in coming off a spectacular season and being all-world in everything is that the bar for individual comparison is raised. Should Lebron James not post another 27 ppg, 6.2 apg and 7.9 rpg while leading his team to the best record in the league; people will see that as being an off-year. Unfortunately voters may not wish to award consecutive MVP’s to Lebron if he isn’t able to at least equal last season’s success.
It is with little debate and most will reluctantly agree that Lebron James is the best player in the league from a skill set perspective, but does that make him the most valuable player? It is going to take another herculean effort from Lebron to take home the hardware this season. While it is certainly doable, I think the focus of the team and Lebron will be on repeating as Champions and that may result in nights off and sitting down in blowout games; which are likely due to the weaker Eastern Conference teams.
1- Kevin Durant – Oklahoma City Thunder
I think the time has come for Kevin Durant to be recognized as the league’s most valuable player. Durant’s role on the Oklahoma City Thunder is without comparison throughout the league; neither Lebron James nor Kobe Bryant shoulder as much responsibility for their team. The only two players who are as fundamentally key to their individual team’s success are Derrick Rose and Kevin Love and neither are healthy enough to be considered for this year end award. Durant means everything to the Thunder franchise, without him they are a bottom third team in the Conference.
The Lebron James versus Kevin Durant rivalry is more media-hyped than reality; however, you know Durant is still feeling last year’s Championship loss to the Heat. If Kevin Durant can lead his Thunder to the best record in the Western Conference and lead the league in scoring while doing so; he will be crowned as this season’s MVP.