5. Kawhi Leonard, Toronto Raptors
Kawhi Leonard has a lot to prove in 2018-19, both on and off the court. After playing just nine games, he has to prove the quadriceps injury is behind him and that he’s still capable of being a dominant two-way superstar. After forcing his way out of one of the NBA’s most respected organizations, he also has to prove he’s still a team player, even if his time with the Toronto Raptors only amounts to a one-year trial run.
Last year, it was pretty clear Leonard was hampered by rust, the quad injury and all the negative energy surrounding his relationship with the San Antonio Spurs. However, this is still the guy who posted 25.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.8 steals per game in his last healthy season.
Leonard would have to increase his numbers — particularly in the playmaking department — to truly challenge these other MVP frontrunners, but the Raptors just won the No. 1 seed in the East last year with DeMar DeRozan’s porous defense in his place. A fully healthy Kawhi launches them into another stratosphere, and Danny Green‘s 3-and-D skill-set only pushes them further.
If the Raptors earn a top-two seed in the East and Leonard is the driving force behind it, he’ll be an MVP contender. It’s hard to place him any higher than this, however, until we see how he fits under first-year head coach Nick Nurse, and until we know for sure he can stay on the court and shake of the cobwebs.