4. James Harden, Houston Rockets
This feels disrespectfully low for the reigning MVP, especially since he’s also been a top contender in two of the three seasons that came before his eventual breakthrough. However, much like Curry, Durant and the Warriors, what James Harden and the Houston Rockets accomplish in the regular season is now secondary to what happens in April, May and June.
The Beard has been an absolute monster on the stat sheet in recent seasons, and last year, his league-leading 30.4 points, 8.8 assists and 5.4 rebounds per game were accompanied by .449/.367/.858 shooting splits and an NBA-best 65 wins.
There’s no doubt Harden and Chris Paul thrived in the backcourt together, and the reigning MVP looks as dominant in Mike D’Antoni‘s system as the great Steve Nash once did. The problem here is both Harden and the Rockets are due for some regression with their gaze shifting to the playoffs.
With Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute being replaced by Carmelo Anthony and a bunch of similarly dreadful defenders (except James Ennis), the Rockets probably aren’t going to be a 65-win team. Maybe he and Houston will prove everyone wrong yet again, but after being a regular MVP frontrunner over the last four years, the voters might be ready for some fresh blood — even if he only actually won the award once.