MVP Predictions for 2016-17 NBA Season: LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook & Kawhi Leonard Are The Frontrunners, According to Sports Analysts
As the 2016-17 NBA season approaches, early predictions are starting to circulate around. Some sports analysts have named LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard as the early frontrunners for the 2016-17 Most Valuable Player award.
Top Picks for The Next Season's MVP
The ESPN Forecast team, composed of sports analysts and enthusiasts, ranked James of the Cleveland Cavaliers as the top NBA player who will most likely be awarded with the 2016-17 NBA MVP recognition. The panel was impressed with James' performance last season as he brought the elusive championship to the Cavaliers and snatched the NBA Finals MVP award.
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The ESPN panel also voted Westbrook (Rank 2) of Oklahoma City Thunder and Durant (Rank 3) of Golden State Warriors as James' close competition for the next season's MVP title. Westbrook averaged 23.5 points last season, while Durant obtained 28.2 points.
Leonard (Rank 4) of San Antonio Spurs and Curry (Rank 5) of Golden State Warriors were also among the panel's top picks for the MVP recognition. Leonard made an impressive 21.2-point average last season. Curry, the reigning NBA MVP, obtained his all-time high average of 30.1 points.
Other NBA players who received votes from the ESPN panel for the next season's MVP include James Harden (Houston Rockets), Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers), LaMarcus Aldridge (San Antonio Spurs), Paul George (Indiana Pacers), Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers), Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota Timberwolves), Anthony Davis (New Orleans Pelicans) and Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers).
More Predictions
Jared Stearne of SB Nation also made his early predictions for the NBA players who will most likely bring home the league's highest individual recognition. He included James and Westbrook in his top five picks for the MVP award. However, he projected that Westbrook will finish first, while James will settle in the fifth spot.
Stearne explained that James' performance might gradually decline because of the NBA superstar's age. He added that if Westbrook will stay healthy next season, he will most likely win the award because he has shown a lot of potential in the past seasons.
Moreover, Stearne also predicted Curry and Leonard to finish third and fourth, respectively, in the 2016-17 NBA MVP race. He also picked Towns as the second player who has more probability of winning the most coveted NBA award.
The 2016–17 NBA season will mark the league's 71st season. The regular season will officially kick off on Oct. 25, 2016.
