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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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October 4, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) celebrates with forward Draymond Green (23) against the Los Angeles Clippers during the second quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Kevin Durant

Like Curry, Kevin Durant’s stock isn’t particularly high with the voters right now. His former team gave up a 3-1 series lead on the Warriors in the conference finals, he went to join those same Warriors in free agency, and even his superhuman play for the Summer Olympics team hasn’t softened all the super-team criticism.

But none of that should stop KD from racking up MVP votes if he benefits from the same wide open looks Harrison Barnes got last year and puts up 30+ points per game. He’ll have Curry to compete with, which could obviously impact his scoring numbers, but the Golden State Warriors will hardly cringe if their two legitimate MVP candidates fall short of the award as long as the team wins games.

Unlike LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh teaming up in Miami, the Dubs can seamlessly plug Durant’s skill set into their offensive schemes and immediately thrive, as we saw in their preseason home opener when they pounded the Clippers by 45.

Voter fatigue with the Warriors’ success could hinder KD’s chances of winning a second MVP, and there will be talk of “second fiddles” no matter which superstar emerges as the stronger candidate.

Assuming he can still put up around 30 points, eight rebounds and five assists like last year though, KD may give the world a massive middle finger in his first year being under this kind of public scrutiny. Remember, the biggest thing that shut everyone up about LeBron James and the Heatles was blocking out all the chatter and winning games.