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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 3, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (2) dribbles against Phoenix Suns guard Leandro Barbosa (19) during the first half at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Kawhi Leonard

This probably seems a bit too low for a guy who finished second in MVP voting last year, especially since he’ll be handed the full reins of the San Antonio Spurs in 2016-17. But these top five spots are virtually interchangeable, and with the Spurs unlikely to win 67 games again, Kawhi Leonard takes a step back in the MVP rankings.

Last season, Leonard averaged 21.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.0 blocks per game, leading his team in scoring and winning his second straight Defensive Player of the Year Award. He’s quickly established himself as quite possibly the best two-way player in the NBA, and those “system player” labels seem pretty silly at this point.

However, as much as Tim Duncan’s numbers took a nosedive in 2015-16, and as much as the Spurs are poised to move on without him, the absence of his leadership and defense could take a toll on San Antonio’s win total, especially as the team downgrades on the interior to Pau Gasol.

In a season where guys like Harden, Russell Westbrook and others will put up gaudy stats, Kawhi has to bump up his individual numbers to make up for the slight regression that can be expected from his team’s win total.

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

If he can do so, however, his lockdown defense and the whole “successor to Tim Duncan” narrative may give him an edge in MVP voting.