NBA: Top 10 candidates for MVP in 2017-18 season

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7. Stephen Curry

Remember him? The two-time MVP who may have put up the greatest regular season in NBA history in 2015-16? Though Kevin Durant may have snatched the title of alpha dog away from Stephen Curry last year, the greatest shooter in league history is arguably still the most important player on the Golden State Warriors.

Curry doesn’t hold a candle to KD on the defensive end, but the ball-handling, shot creation, passing, 3-point shooting and pure defensive gravity he creates power the Dubs’ unstoppable offensive onslaught. Durant makes this well-oiled machine hum like never before, but the truth is, it’d still be beastly with any competent, 3-point shooting, high-scoring wing in his place.

Durant is obviously the best-case scenario of this NBA Death Star being realized, but there’s a reason Golden State was still able to win 73 games when Harrison Barnes was playing that same spot. The two-time MVP probably won’t get credit for it now that Durant is onboard, but Curry is the first and foremost reason the offense is so deadly.

Last season, his numbers dipped to 25.3 points, 6.6 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game, which couldn’t hold a candle to his 2015-16 numbers, especially as his shooting splits dropped to .468/.411/.898.

But Chef Curry looked like he found himself when Durant missed those 20 games due to injury, and with a year of familiarity under their belts, there’s a chance Curry and Durant are even better together in 2017-18. If that’s the case, another historic shooting season could plop Steph Curry right back in the MVP picture, even if KD’s still the favorite here.