NBA 2018-19: Ranking the potential 2019 MVP candidates (2024)

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Perhaps the most intriguing discussion every season is, who is going to be the league MVP? The answer, to that question, last year was James Harden. Harden led the Houston Rockets to a league-best 65 wins and they wound up one win shy, of the NBA Finals. Harden himself had a great season. He averaged 30.4 points per game and 8.8 assists per game.

It is usually outstanding and dominant performances in conjunction, with team success, that gets a player noticed, nominated and ultimately selected, as an MVP. Here is a look at five potential MVP’s this season.

#5 Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi Leonard had a nine game season in 2017-18. An injury led to a dispute, with the San Antonio Spurs management, and a top three player, in the NBA, wound up, via a trade, on the Toronto Raptors roster. The Raptors who were already a good team, as they won 59 games last year, are re-tooled and better, with a seemingly healthy Leonard.

The Raptors are 21-7 and own the best record, in the NBA, in large part to Kawhi Leonard. Leonard is defensively dominant. His offensive assault, on opponents, is impressive, as well. He is averaging 26.1 points per game, 8.3 rebounds and 3 assists per game over his first 22, in a Raptors uniform. He shoots 38.1% from three-point range and 48.8%, from the field overall.

Leonard also averages nearly two steals per game. Should this pace continue, and the Raptors win 60 or more this season, Kawhi Leonard is the league MVP. It would be impressive, for a player, coming off the injury he had last year and, in his first year, with a new franchise. However, Kawhi Leonard is a former NBA Finals MVP and multiple time all-star.

#4 Giannis Antetokounmpo

The “Greek Freak” is the undisputed star of the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks sit second, in the Eastern Conference, at 18-8. This could be the year that they make noise, in the playoffs, and, if they do, Antetokounmpo will contribute much, to that success.

A 6’11 point forward, Antetokounmpo runs the open floor hard, handles the basketball, like a premier guard, and attacks the basket mercilessly. He is, in his third year, of averaging well over 20 points a game, at 26.5 points per game this year. Antetokounmpo also averages 13.3 rebounds per game and 6 assists.

There are a couple of flaws in his game. Antetokounmpo gets to the foul line about nine times per game. However, he only makes 69%, of those attempts. He handles the ball a lot, for a 6"11 forward, which is impressive. However, his turnovers are 4.3 per game this season.

He also shoots only 11.9% from behind the arc, but he spends little time shooting from long range. The Milwaukee Bucks may be the team to challenge the Raptors, in the Eastern Conference, this year and Antetokounmpo will be a major factor.

#3 Russell Westbrook

What is there to say, about this point guard? He is an MVP candidate it seems every single year. He won this award two years ago, on the strength of a triple-double season, in points, rebounds and assists. All he has done, since, is repeat that per game triple-double again last season, but it wasn’t enough to win MVP honors.

Ever since Kevin Durant left Oklahoma City for Golden State, Russell Westbrook has put the Thunder franchise, on his back, and led the team admirably win or lose. He is a seven time all star and is a two time scoring champion in 2015 and 2017. For the third straight year, Westbrook is averaging a triple-double. This year he is averaging 22.1 points per game along with 10.2 assists and 10.6 rebounds per game.

At 17-8, Westbrook’s Thunder lead the Western Conference. Along with the Nuggets, Lakers and Clippers, Westbrook and the Thunder appear to be the serious competition to the Warriors defending their NBA title, in 2019.

#2 Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant has been a franchise player, from the time he was drafted 2nd overall, at the 2007 NBA draft, by the Seattle SuperSonics, now the Oklahoma City Thunder. A two time NBA Champion, with the Golden State Warriors, and a two time NBA Finals MVP, Durant has won league MVP once, in 2014.

While Golden State, have won one of their three titles, in the last four years, without Durant, they probably wouldn’t have won the last two, without him. His unsettled contract situation this summer is a concern, as is team chemistry. Durant and teammate Draymond Green had an on-court spat last month.

Provided Durant is focused, arguably the only player better, in the NBA, is LeBron James. This season Kevin Durant is averaging 28.8 points per game and 6.2 assists per game. Durant also averages 7.7 rebounds per game this season.

The scoring average is his highest since the 2015-16 season. In a game, two weeks ago, against the Toronto Raptors, Durant scored 51 points. Golden State did not have Stephen Curry or Draymond Green that night.

#1 LeBron James

James was drafted, in 2003, by the Cleveland Cavaliers. LeBron James has been the topic, of much debate, about the greatest player ever. His status has been hampered, by being introduced, to the NBA, during the Kobe Bryant era and then the introduction of Kevin Durant four years, after James was drafted.

However, LeBron is definitely, in the upper echelon class, of basketball greatness. He is a three-time NBA Champion, twice, with Miami, and once, with Cleveland. James has been to 8 consecutive NBA Finals.

Many NBA players never even played one NBA Finals Game, much less lead their team, to the Finals, eight years, in a row. At age 33, LeBron James has won the NBA MVP four times, in 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2013. Its been five years since LeBron has received this distinction, as the NBA’s best.

This year, LeBron is leading a young Lakers team. At 17-10, LeBron’s Lakers are, in the playoff mix, in the Western Conference. James is averaging 28.3 points per game, 7.1 assists, and 7.7 rebounds per game this season. The Lakers were 35-47 last year, so LeBron is leading an enormous turnaround, in Los Angeles.

Kawhi Leonard, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant and LeBron James are a very impressive list of current basketball greatness. In order to be considered the Most Valuable Player one has to be in a class way above their colleagues. This season, as is the case, in many seasons, the candidates, for MVP not only lead their teams, in statistics, but are leading their teams to contention, for the NBA Championship.