By Dionysis Aravantinos/ info@eurohoops.net
As always LeBron James; a household name, is having a phenomenal season, as his team is winning, is an efficient scorer, while he is also handing out assists and grabbing rebounds.
James Harden, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving have also had great years, to go along with their team’s winning, as well as the two Europeans who have shined throughout this two month period are Kristaps Porzingis and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Eurohoops presents you, the top five (+two) MVP candidates so far, this year, with two of them being from Europe.
6 (5+1). Kristaps Porzingis / New York Knicks
– Stats: 24.7. points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.0 blocks
– Team Record: 17-15
– Position: F
– Age: 22
Kristaps Porzingis is having an excellent year for the re-building and over five hundred New York Knicks. The 22-year old star is averaging 24.7 points on 45.3% shooting, 6.7 rebounds and an impressive 2.0 blocks to lead the league. He is playing 31.7 minutes a night and leading this unit to wins. At Madison, Square Garden the Knicks are 15-5 and have played a lot better than playing on the road (2-10). At just 22 years of age, Porzingis has become the leader of a historic franchise and has succeeded expectations both individually and on a team, level these first two months. The team is competing and challenging for a playoff spot, and he is one reason as to why the team has been good this year.
Great defensively and offensively, he has become a significant two-way player for coach Hornacek. The ‘Unicorn’ has had some unbelievable games this season, where he has made history. Against the Los Angeles Lakers, he was on another level, as he finished with 37 points, 11 boards and five blocks in a 113-109 overtime win. Besides, he became the only player in NBA history with 35 points, ten rebounds, five blocks and five made 3-pointers in a game. Finally, he was also named Eastern Conference player of the Week.
6. (5+1) Kevin Durant / Golden State Warriors
– Stats: 26.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.2 assists
– Team Record: 26-7
– Position: F
– Age: 29
Tied with Kristaps Porzingis in our list is ‘KD’. Kevin Durant is having an excellent season as his team is winning, has the second-best record in the Western Conference, despite having some injuries throughout these first 33 games. With Steph Curry being out, he led his team to a 11-game winning streak. The 29-year old is averaging 26.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.2 assists, while shooting an efficient 50% from the field. Moreover the 2017 Finals MVP has had some incredible games this season. On December 6th, he scored 35 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and handed out 10 assists.
In a team that’s winning, a player of Kevin Durant’s caliber, posting up these kinds of numbers and leading his team on and off the court, despite it’s missing players is something we took into consideration while thinking as to why he belongs in this list.
5. DeMarcus Cousins / New Orleans Pelicans
– Stats: 25.9 points, 12.1 rebounds, 5.2 assists
– Team Record: 17-16
– Position: C
– Age: 27
DeMarcus Cousins has been impressive for a good 17-16 over five hundred New Orleans Pelicans team. The 27-year old is putting up MVP types of numbers as he is averaging 25.9 points, 12.1 rebounds, 5.2 (!) assists, while shooting an efficient 46.0% from the field. In a 17-16 record Pelicans team, he has become a leader, on and off the court, next to Anthony Davis who had been sidelined due to injury. From a center position, DeMarcus is managing to hand out 5.2 assists per game as he is facilitating down low.
The 2.11m (6’11’’) ‘big man’ has also improved on the defensive side of the court, as he is blocking 1.5 shots per game. His team has been on track so far, this year but could be better, with Anthony Davis next to DeMarcus Cousins. After 33 games, New Orleans team has been on the playoff picture but can improve, especially on the second unit. Finally, DeMarcus has had some incredible stat-lines. Against the Denver Nuggets, he managed to put up 40 points and 22 rebounds, while at Sacramento he put up 41 points and 23 rebounds. He has had 24 double-doubles (second in the NBA) and one triple-double this season.
4. Kyrie Irving / Boston Celtics
– Stats: 24.9 points, 4.9 assists
– Team Record: 27-9
– Position: G
– Age: 25
A lot of questions were raised when Kyrie Irving was traded to the Boston Celtics this off-season about his leadership and if he could lead a team, while also becoming a true point guard. This year, he has answered these questions with his level of play. The 25-year old point guard is scoring 24.9 points per game while also handing out 4.9 assists. What has been great however so far, this year about Kyrie is his defense and how much he has improved in this department. He is averaging 1.3 steals per game, but his presence and precision on the defensive side of the court have helped his team as they rank number one in defensive rating and second in opponents points per game this year.
Moreover, in these first couple of months, the Celtics have the best record in the Eastern Conference with a 27-9 wins. Despite Gordon Hayward’s injury on opening night they have been exceptional, proving that this could be the year they compete for a spot in the NBA Finals. In addition, Kyrie is shooting an efficient 49.2% from the field and 41.2% from the three-point line. Earlier in the year, he went for 47 (!) points for the Boston Celtics 16th straight victory against the Dallas Mavericks.
Against the Philadelphia 76ers, he stopped at 36 points. As Kobe Bryant has stated, Kyrie Irving and Giannis Antetokounmpo have the ‘Mamba mentality’.
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo / Milwaukee Bucks
– Stats: 29.6 points, 10.5 rebounds, 4.6 assists
– Team Record: 17-14
– Position: F
– Age: 23
Giannis Antetokounmpo in just his fifth year in the NBA is putting up sensational numbers. The ‘Greek Freak’ is averaging 29.6 points, 10.5 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.4 blocks per game showcasing his perfect all-around game. Giannis is also very efficient as he is shooting 54.2% from the field. In a good 15-11 Milwaukee team, Giannis is emerging as a leader and an NBA superstar! The 2017 Most Improved Player of the Year, has his eyes set on the MVP award and his team’s winning night in and night out. The Bucks are currently sitting at the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference and the team’s goal this year is to finish in the top-4 in order to have home court advantage in the playoffs.
In his first four games this season, Giannis made history. He had 147 points, 43 rebounds, and 21 assists through four games this season. No other player in NBA history has had that many points, rebounds, and assists through his first four games of a season.
He is such a unique player who can pretty much do everything on the court. His best games this season prove this exact thing. Earlier in the year against the Portland Trail Blazers, Antetokounmpo scored a career-high 44 points, while he also grabbed eight rebounds and dished out four assists. Against the Utah Jazz, he managed to put up 37 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists and two steals while shooting 63.6% from the floor.
2. LeBron James / Cleveland Cavaliers
– Stats: 28.4 points, 9.2 assists, 8.2 rebounds
– Team Record: 24-9
– Position: F
– Age: 32
In year 15 of his career, LeBron James is still arguably the best player in the world. No other player in NBA history managed to put up these kinds of numbers in their 15th year in the association. LeBron James however at almost 33 years of age is still playing like he is 26. He is shooting off the charts at an incredible 57.0% (his career-best) while scoring 28.4 points per game. The ‘King’ is also handing out 9.2 assists but also grabbing 8.2 rebounds a night, flirting with a triple-double almost every single night. Despite his team’s bad start this year (5-7 record) Tyronn Lue’s team managed to turn things around with LeBron leading the way, and as of today, they have the third-best record in the East (24-9).
In these first 33 games, he has had 22 double-doubles and six triple-doubles, while also having some incredible stat-lines and scoring a season-high 57 points (!) against the Washington Wizards.
Against the Los Angeles Clippers, he managed to score 37 points to go along with 14 rebounds and six assists. He has been sensational this year, proving he still is the best player in the world.
1. James Harden / Houston Rockets
– Stats: 32.5 points, 9.0 assists, 5.1 rebounds
– Team Record: 25-6
– Position: G
– Age: 28
Number one in our MVP ladder is non-other than James Harden. The Houston Rockets have been playing extremely well, had won fourteen straight games until the Lakers shocked the NBA and beat D’Antoni’s team and currently sit at the top in the Western Conference standings. Out of all the thirty NBA teams, the Rockets have the best winning percentage and to a large extent, James Harden’s year has played a considerable role. The ‘Beard’ is averaging 32.5 points, 9.0 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game while also shooting 45.8% from the field. The last few years he has been the MVP runner-up, but this year it seems like it will be his year. The Rockets are winning, he is playing great team basketball, while also scoring efficiently from the floor under a perfect Mike D’Antoni system with two guards. Chris Paul and James Harden.
Harden has had 12 double-doubles, nine of them with points and assists (leading the league) and two triple-doubles this season. Against the Utah Jazz, he put up 52 points after three quarters and barely played in the fourth. He finished with 56 points on 19/25 shooting to go along with 13 assists, in the Rockets’ win.
Harden, also had two other games where he scored 48 points. Against the Portland Trail Blazers and against the Phoenix Suns.