NBA Player Power Rankings: Change of the Guard

Mar 16, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) steals the ball from New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) during the third quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The Pelicans defeated the Kings 123-108. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /

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Mar 16, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts after being called for a foul against the New York Knicks during the first quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

Last Rank: No. 1

Position: Point Guard

Age: 28

Slash Line: .514/.462/.904

Season Averages: 33.8 MPG, 30.5 PPG, 6.4 APG, 5.3 RPG, 2.0 SPG, 5.2 3PM

Barring an unforeseen meltdown, Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors will surpass the Chicago Bulls’ all-time mark of 72-10. From there, it’s a mere formality that Curry will be named NBA MVP—and there’s no rational debate against his doing so unanimously.

Curry has a role and a team unlike any we’ve seen before, but that’s no reason to fault him; he’s the face of the modern generation.

Curry won MVP in 2014-15 based on the strength of Golden State’s 67-win season. The team ended games prematurely, thus leading the average fan into the most tantalizing area of sports: their imagination.

In 2015-16, Curry has left nothing to our creative thinking, scoring at a level that doesn’t even make sense on NBA 2K16.

The Warriors could potentially fall short of the Bulls’ legendary mark, and the San Antonio Spurs could still finish with the best record in the NBA. Both are improbable, however, as Golden State would have to go 11-4 to tie Chicago—and four losses in 15 games sound improbable after suffering six in 67.

More hoops habit: The next Stephen Curry is in the 2016 NBA Draft. Who is he?

There are a number of viable candidates for MVP, but Curry and the Warriors are having a season for the ages.