Taking a look at the NBA MVP race

This year features one of the more fascinating MVP races in recent memory, and it doesn’t even involve the reigning MVP, Kevin Durant. There are at least five legitimate candidates in this year’s field, with several other strong candidates outside of those five. Let’s take a look at the top candidates. (odds from Bovada as of 2/16 via IBTimes.com)

Stephen Curry (1/2): Curry is the best player on the best team, and he’s having a phenomenal season. He’s first in the league in RPM and second in WAR, per ESPN. The Golden State Warriors have been an absolute juggernaut with him on the floor this season, and significantly worse when he’s on the bench. And not only is he extremely valuable, but he’s super fun to watch.

James Harden (7/2): While Curry is second in WAR, Harden is first. Harden is having a career year himself, leading the Houston Rockets to a 39-18 record despite Dwight Howard and others missing a significant amount of time due to injury. Harden is basically the entire offense in Houston, and when he hits the bench, the Rockets’ offense goes in the tank. Because of his individual brilliance and the circumstances surrounding the team, he’s currently my pick to win the award.

LeBron James (9/2): James started the season slow, as did his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers. But we’ve gotten a good taste of just how much James means to his team this season. When he sat out a bunch of games earlier in the year, the Cavaliers fell apart, and there were rumors about head coach David Blatt getting fired. But since James has come back, Cleveland has been nearly unstoppable with him on the floor. The Cavaliers now look like the title contenders most thought they would be, and much of that is because of James.

Anthony Davis (12/1): Davis was an even stronger candidate a few weeks ago, but then he got injured and remains on the shelf with a shoulder injury. Even though he has missed some time and the New Orleans Pelicans aren’t currently in the playoff picture, Davis should be in the conversation simply because of his otherworldly numbers. The 21-year-old has a PER of 31.21, which is one of the best marks of ALL-TIME. And again, he’s 21 years old. Incredible stuff.

Kevin Durant (14/1) Russell Westbrook (20/1): I don’t even know how Durant was still on this list, but Westbrook is the real MVP candidate from the Oklahoma City Thunder, and his odds are getting better by the day. The case against Westbrook is that he has missed 14 games, but when he has played, he has been unbelievable. (Second in PER) Westbrook has willed the Thunder back into the playoff picture with Durant ailing for much of the year, and it would be something if Westbrook won the award a year after Durant.

Marc Gasol (18/1): I put Gasol a tier behind those top five guys, but he still deserves plenty of recognition for the Memphis Grizzlies’ great season. Gasol has slowed a bit after a huge individual start, but he’s still the backbone of the stingy Grizzlies defense and initiates a lot of offense from the high post. He’s not nearly as flashy as the other guys, but he gets the job done.