Austin Hilliker, Sports Editor
This year’s basketball season has been a wild one.
Lebron James came home to Cleveland, James Harden has yet to shave his beard and Steph Curry still shoots the three ball from anywhere he feels necessary.
Although these three players have their own unique traits, in addition to being on some of the best teams in the National Basketball Association, they still have one thing in common: The ability to be the most valuable player in the league.
With basketball season coming into its last 20 games for most teams, the race is officially on for the NBA’s best player.
Option #1: The King
Lebron James has been a dominant performer, game after game. He can shoot from almost anywhere on the court and never backs down from a challenge.
Standing at 6-feet-8 inches, 250 pounds, James is a force to be reckoned with.
James currently averages 26.2 points, 7.2 assists and 5.8 rebounds per game, numbers only fit for a king.
He has brought national attention back to his home town of Cleveland, and even has his team sitting with a 37-24 overall record.
In terms of playoff implications, the Cleveland Cavaliers sit in the middle of the pack at the number four seed. They hope to climb the ladder as they fight to be the best team in the Eastern Conference.
Even with eleven new teammates and an entirely new coaching staff, Lebron makes quite the case for the MVP.
Option #2: The Bearded Wonder
Critics have spoken and they are saying that we could be in the presence of a new king. In my opinion, this is highly unlikely. A more realistic prediction is James Harden in the MVP race and not sitting up on a throne.
Throughout the 2014-15 regular season, Harden has managed to grab 27.1 points-per-game, alongside 6.9 assists and 5.8 rebounds.
The Houston Rockets are on the rise, as Harden has them at 41-18, which in the Western Conference puts them as the third ranked team behind Memphis and Golden State.
In addition, Harden hasn’t missed a game this year, which means he has played in a total of 58 games, something that most athletes aren’t capable of doing.
Not to mention that standout center Dwight Howard has missed 27 games, and Harden still has kept the Rockets afloat. MVP caliber? I think so.
Option #3: The Kid
Does this guy ever miss a shot? Watching point guard Steph Curry play basketball is one of the most entertaining and exciting things that someone can do.
Curry came to the Golden State in 2009, where he made an immediate impact, putting the Warriors back on the map and stealing the limelight in the state of California.
The kid has managed to put up some impressive statistics as well. Curry has averaged 23.9 points-per-game, in addition to 2.1 steals and 7.8 assists.
In other words, this youngster has brought his team to a 46-11 overall record and even currently a number one seed in the Western Conference.
Former Brooklyn Nets head coach, and now NBA analyst, P.J. Carlesimo said that the award should go to the best player on the best team and Curry makes a very strong case for this.
He has done this even with a great supporting cast around him. It’s not everyday that you see a single player make such an impactful case with equal levels of talent all around him.
Who should win then?
In my mind, Steph Curry makes the best case for the MVP race, but the season isn’t quite over just yet.
We’ll just have to wait and see who comes out on top, until the final decision can be made.
Until then, let the stats speak for themselves and root for whoever you feel necessary.
