Hoops Habit
Fansided

2016-17 NBA Awards Season: Top 5 Fringe MVP Candidates

By Gerald Bourguet

Mar 8, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) drives in against Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (4) during the first quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 8, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) drives in against Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (4) during the first quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 6
Next
NBA Awards
Apr 19, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) after a three point basket against the Portland Trail Blazers during the third quarter in game two of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Stephen Curry

Before his injury, Kevin Durant was the best player on the 2016-17 Golden State Warriors. But the Most Valuable Player award is not the same as “Best Player,” and the way Stephen Curry spearheaded the offense during KD’s absence was remarkable.

Finishing the season with a team-high 25.3 points per game, the two-time reigning MVP also averaged 6.6 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game on .468/.411/.898 shooting splits.

Now, compared to his last two historic seasons, those numbers seem like a step backward, and they are. The truth is, he hasn’t had to carry as much offensive weight with KD on board.

But to say that Chef Curry isn’t Chef Curry anymore would also be ridiculous, since he still managed to lead the league in plus/minus while knocking down 324 three-pointers — the most in the league and the second-most in a single season in NBA history, trailing only to his mark of 402 last year.

Next: NBA Awards - Top 10 Defensive Player Of The Year Candidates

Curry stepped up his offense to 26.9 points on .473/.421/.848 shooting with KD sidelined, he set the record for most three-pointers in a game (13) and the floor spacing, ball handling, passing, shot creation, effective finishing around the rim and knockout punches he provides remain invaluable for this Warriors juggernaut. For those reasons, he should lock up that fifth and final spot on plenty of MVP ballots outside of the four main contenders.