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NBA: Top 10 Candidates For MVP In 2015-16

By Gerald Bourguet

Jan 15, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) and Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) wait for a rebound at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 15, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) and Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) wait for a rebound at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 10, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) controls the ball against the Portland Trail Blazers during the third quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The Sacramento Kings defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 94-90. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

9. DeMarcus Cousins

For the Sacramento Kings, the 2015-16 season will be all about disproving the growing sentiment that DeMarcus Cousins fits the “right player, wrong environment” stigma — a foul stench that’s hung over this franchise for almost a decade now. Based on the numbers alone though, Boogie would’ve been an MVP candidate last year.

Averaging 24.1 points, 12.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.7 blocks and 1.5 steals per game last season, Cousins joined Hakeem Olajuwon, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kevin Garnett, David Robinson and Bob McAdoo as the only players in NBA history to ever average a 24-12-3-1-1 stat line in a season. At age 25, Boogie is only going to get better from here.

The question is whether or not his ragtag Kings team can turn an Island of Misfit Toys into something special for Sactown. Keep in mind, Anthony Davis didn’t win MVP last year despite putting up even more efficient numbers and leading his New Orleans Pelicans to the postseason.

That means it’ll take something truly special from Boogie and the Kings to conjure up a legitimate MVP discussion, even if his individual numbers would be more than deserving.

Next: No. 8