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NBA: Top 10 Candidates For Most Valuable Player Award In 2016-17

By Gerald Bourguet

Jun 13, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) during the third quarter in game five of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 13, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) during the third quarter in game five of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 4, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) reacts after a play during the second quarter against the New York Knicks at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

6. James Harden

Consider James Harden the dark horse MVP option outside of our power five candidates. His league-wide reputation has never been lower thanks to laughable defensive effort, constant feuds with Dwight Howard and his team’s 41-41 record last year, but the Beard could be poised for a monster bounce-back year all the same.

To be fair, it’s hard to “bounce back” from last season’s 29.0 points, 7.5 assists, 6.1 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game, but there’s no question those stats were emptier than they look on paper when you included Harden’s lack of defense, leadership and team success.

Related Story: NBA: Top 10 Candidates For 2016-17 Rookie Of The Year

The Houston Rockets were a far cry from the 56-win team they were in 2014-15, but if Mike D’Antoni‘s offense and having more threats on the perimeter can unleash Harden like never before, his pure statistical output might be too impressive to ignore.

Harden has to take steps as a passable defender and a more vocal team leader, but we already know he can carry an offense by himself. If he puts up career numbers in a high-powered offense and the Rockets move back toward contention, the Beard could come out of nowhere to seriously challenge for the MVP Award — much like he did just two seasons ago.