Early NBA MVP candidates

The best players on NBA teams that have winning records and would not be their best without them. In DubStepHD’s list of top 5 MVP candidates would all have better records with Los Angeles Lakers if they were there in place of Lebron James.

Top 10 NBA MVP candidates 50%+ records

ToP 10 NBA MVP candidates.

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo
2. Nikola Jokic
3. Kawhi Leonard
4. Stephen Curry
5. Kemba Walker
6. Kevin Durant
7. Damian Lillard
8. DeMar DeRozan
9. LaMarcus Aldridge
10. De’Arron Fox/Buddy Hield

Top 10 NBA MVP candidates sub 50% records

1. James Harden
2. Lebron James
3. Zach Lavine
4. Devin Booker
5. DeAngelo Russell
6. Luka Doncic
7. Paul George
8. Russell Westbrook
9. Hassan Whiteside
10. Deandre Ayton

Top 10 NBA MVP candidates rationale.

Lebron James

On a combined list Lebron James would not make my cut for TOP 10 NBA MVP candidates. Right now if you swapped Lebron with any of the Top 6 candidates, the Los Angeles Lakers would have a better record. He merely has shown a reduced ability to control the end phases of an NBA game.

Giannis Antetokounmpo has less help than many other top NBA teams. He is playing only 30 minutes a game, and his stats are 25 points a game, 14 rebounds, 6 assists and 1.7 blocks a game at the time of writing.

Nikola Jokic important attribute is his playmaking from the center position He is considered the best passing big man averaging 7.1 assists and scoring three-point shots at 44%.

Kawhi Leonard is averaging 27.3 points a game the highest of his career. He was expected to have a slow start, nothing is quiet and is averaging the highest amount of minutes of his career at around 35 minutes.

Stephen Curry is basically the best shooter of all time but has Kevin Durant on his team. Golden State Warriors still would have won those games if he did not play as well. It is hard to place him higher as you can be the best player, best performing player and still not be the MVP because if your team is stacked, you are not going to be as valuable to your organization.

Kemba Walker is in a contract year, his best chance of a big deal is with the Charlotte Hornets. Charlotte has no success without him and no help for him. They would be a lottery pick team in those circumstances. Michael Jordan is so cheap, just imagine if put Julius Randle with Walker. Randle will be the runaway winner of the 6th man of the year if he continues at around 18 points a game.

De’Arron Fox and Buddy Hield

De’Arron Fox is doing it now, but Buddy Hield is such an efficient scorer on a team whose Roster still is not very good. Sacramento Kings results speak for themselves and the chemistry in this team starts with the backcourt.

Lebron James NBA MVP case

Lebron James is still the best player in the league. If you managed to switch him with any member of the top 5, I believe the Los Angeles Lakers would have a better record only in due to this particular sample set. The Los Angeles Lakers have lost close games, partly because he has allowed his teammates and coach Walton to manage the end of games. If he took control at the end, it would not be the case. He has not, so the statement holds true on this sample set.