Golden State Warriors: Stephen Curry shaping up as unlikely MVP favorite

Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry is one of the best players in the league, and has been for a number of seasons. However, like LeBron James, Curry’s talents and contributions are underappreciated in a certain sense. In the early stages of this season, Curry is shaping up to be an MVP contender.

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry is a superstar, and has been one of the faces of the league for the past few seasons. His ball-handling ability and shooting wizardry continue to leave fans wondering what they just saw when they watch Curry.

Despite this, Curry has been a little overlooked, partially due to the arrival of Kevin Durant, as well as monster seasons from Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Kawhi Leonard in 2016-17.

This, in a way, has been similar to how we as fans perceive LeBron James. James is widely regarded as the best player in the world, however, is seldom discussed as an MVP frontrunner anymore. This has been the case for a number of seasons now.

In the short time that has elapsed since the season began, Curry has been touted as a favorite for the MVP award. Many ranking lists have got him placed in first, and sometimes second, behind James Harden or Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Curry has been his usual world-beating self on offense, and has improved drastically on the defensive end. Warriors coach Steve Kerr even stated his belief that Curry is a two-way player. This is not a claim that would’ve been attributed to Curry in seasons prior.

The season is still very young, and plenty can, and will, happen before the MVP trophy is awarded in 2018. However, with Curry emerging as a candidate, let’s take a look at the likelihood of him being the 2017-18 NBA MVP.

Curry’s re-emergence

It would be unfair to say that Curry is re-emerging in terms of his career. His relevance has not lessened, and he has not struggled on the court. However, the arrival of Durant meant Curry took a backseat to some extent. What we saw as last season progressed, though, was that Curry didn’t need to take a backseat. They gradually learned how to complement each other’s style, and that’s what made the Warriors so dominant come playoff time.

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This season, Curry hasn’t had to go through that feeling-out process, and it shows. His averages — 25.7 points, 6.4 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game — are almost identical to last season’s stats, but it’s the intangibles that have made all the difference. Steph looks bigger, stronger and faster, and this shows on the defensive end.

He’s been playing much tighter defense, sticking to his man and challenging everything that comes his way. Furthermore, for those who like advanced stats, according to Basketball Reference, his plus/minus rating is +26.7, which is absolutely mind-boggling. Against the Denver Nuggets on Nov. 5, he recorded a career-high plus/minus of +44. Simply astonishing.

Curry has managed to fight his way back from permanent MVP exclusion. Like James, we began to take Curry for granted, Last season, after Durant joined the Warriors, Westbrook was touted by many as MVP favorite. The MVP candidates are often decided by the fans before the season even begins. But Curry has avoided being subjected to this. He now finds himself atop many MVP leaderboards, as we find ourselves already over one-eighth of the way through the season.

Likelihood of Curry winning MVP

This season marks Curry’s quest for a third MVP crown in four seasons. His competition is broader, tougher, and more varied than ever before. After Westbrook won MVP from the sixth spot in the Western Conference, Curry no longer has the comfort of a dominant winning record with the Warriors. If he continues the way he is playing now, however, he won’t need it.

There’s a very strong chance that Curry will be the next MVP. If he can continue to lead the Warriors to victory and position them for another championship, his chances bode well. He has been the best player on arguably the best team this season, and it is truly frightening for the NBA that Curry and the Warriors aren’t fully warmed up yet.

There are likely only four true challengers to Curry’s claim to the throne: Harden, James, Leonard (depending on his return) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (dark horse). James is likely to continue being underappreciated. Harden’s contributions will likely lessen with Chris Paul‘s impending return. This sets up Curry to be the frontrunner.

Next: 2017-18 Week 4 NBA Power Rankings

Curry’s greatest threat may come from within, as Kevin Durant continues to impress. Durant could definitely emerge as another contender, although Curry is currently the Warriors’ best player. Should he win his third MVP award, it will definitely be well-deserved.