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3 Dark Horse NBA MVP Candidates

By Brandon Carney

Jan 27, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) celebrates a basket in the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Target Center. The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 126-123. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 27, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) celebrates a basket in the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Target Center. The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 126-123. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /
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NBA
Feb 22, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) reacts after scoring a basket in the fourth quarter during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Antetokounmpo scored 27 points as the Bucks beat the Lakers 108-101. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /

Giannis Antetokounmpo, G/F, Milwaukee Bucks

Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the most interesting players in the entire league, and not just because of his name that looks like the alphabet threw up on itself.

Rather, Antetokounmpo is slated to play point guard next season for the Milwaukee Bucks despite the fact that he is listed at 6’11”. That’s the kind of athlete he is. He’s capable of running an offense despite his height, something that has drawn him comparisons to Kevin Durant.

And with this new role in what figures to be a potent offense, he may get a little bit closer to Durant-esque numbers.

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The Bucks will certainly be hoping to improve on their 33-49 record last season.

With the signings of Matthew Dellavedova and Mirza Teletovic, the drafting of Thon Maker and the expected steps forward from Jabari Parker and the Greek Freak himself, Milwaukee could be looking at a big turnaround in 2016-17.

If the talent improves around him as he improves himself, there’s no telling what Antetokounmpo, the obvious focal point of the offense, could accomplish.

Giannis figures to have a well-rounded stat line and last season was indicative of that as he put up 16.9 points, 4.3 assists, and 7.7 rebounds per game. Obviously the assists are the most lackluster stat in that line, but with the move to point guard, that number should skyrocket.

When you consider that and then look at the MVP voting results from last season in which Draymond Green (14 points, 7.4 assists, 9.5 rebounds) finished seventh, it’s not hard to see how Antetokounmpo could approach or surpass those numbers and get himself into the conversation as well.

More hoops habit: 50 Greatest NBA Players Without a Championship

Again, like Towns, this all depends on the success of the Bucks as well, but these guys are “dark horses” for a reason. A lot has to work out in all of these guys’ favors but there is a chance, albeit a fairly small one, that one of them could end up NBA MVP at the end of next season.