1. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Voter fatigue is difficult to overcome, but right now, Stephen Curry looks capable of doing so. The Warriors are the clear best team in the NBA and Curry is on pace for a career season, shooting 52.9 percent from deep on 11.9 attempts per game through nine contests. That’s insane.
Averaging 33.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.9 assists, Curry is the NBA’s leading scorer by a solid margin. He’s doing that despite a 41-point outing from Kevin Durant and a 52-point outing from Klay Thompson, which speaks to the Warriors’ insane talent level and overarching dominance.
Curry is cementing his status as a top-10 player in NBA history, continuing his reign as the best player on the league’s best team. Few players can impact a game like Curry, whose shooting versatility and endless movement — combined with high-level playmaking chops — allows him to stretch and slash opposing defenses at will.
Right now, the only player better than Curry plays for a 3-5 Lakers team on the verge of firing its head coach. If Curry continues to produce at a historic rate on an elite team, voters will have little choice but to vote for Steph, despite KD and the Warriors’ star-laden rotation.
If Curry wins a third MVP and a fourth title, lock him into the top 10 (if not top five) all-time. We’re watching history unfold, and I would advise you to enjoy it.