Cleveland Cavaliers: LeBron James’ MVP position after All-Star break

3. Russell Westbrook/Stephen Curry

Don’t think of it as cheating by coupling two players. Think of it as a two-for-one special. The two former MVPs are putting up near career years. Russell Westbrook, steady as they come, is averaging 25.4 points per game along with 10.4 assists and 9.4 rebounds in 57 games. Brodie is easily third in Value Over Replacement Player at 5.5 this year, trailing just LeBron and a player that will be mentioned later on in this list.

Equally as good, Stephen Curry is third in the NBA in Win Shares Per 48 minutes at .263. Hampered by injuries, the guard missed 15 games in the first half of the season. While healthy, Curry is averaging 26.6 points, and 5.2 rebounds per game, both near career highs, not to mention 6.5 assists per game. He’s shooting an almost comically impressive 59.7 percent from inside the 3-point line with an efficient field goal percentage of 61.0, the second-best mark of his career.

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Two former MVPs putting up near career years; you’d think one would be favored to earn the award this season. Westbrook and Curry still trail LeBron in the race for the Maurice Poldoloff Trophy. James leads both in VORP, Box Plus/Minus and win shares.

But more than that, LeBron’s narrative is better than the duo’s. Littered with controversy, Cleveland has weathered bruises and internal battles the entire year. Like Atlas shouldered the world, LeBron has carried his team as both its emotional rock and unquestionable leader.

Despite Westbrook’s brilliance, the Thunder underperformed throughout the first 40-ish games. Even with an excellent January, OKC still can’t crack the West’s top four. Curry, meanwhile, is cornered by talent in Golden State, with teammates syphoning his opportunities with their own brilliant play.

Bottom line, LeBron has heroically navigated through controversy while Westbrook and Curry haven’t. The narrative favors James.