NBA: 30 reasons to be excited for 2019-20 season

5. An unpredictable MVP race

After the last few seasons have been no more than a two-man competition for the MVP award, the wide-open race to the championship has also coincided with the league’s highest individual honor being — almost — anyone’s for the taking.

Of the realistic candidates, how many won’t fall victim to some form of load management throughout the season? LeBron James is going on 35. Kawhi Leonard practically coined the term. Even James Harden, the bearer of an extraordinary burden in recent years, looks to be taking his foot off the gas to better the odds of a lengthy playoff run.

Stephen Curry will certainly have the numbers, but the inevitable drop-off from the Golden State Warriors could be too much to overcome. Giannis Antetokounmpo is likely to replicate the individual and team success that netted him the award last year, but voter fatigue has eliminated many worthy back-to-back winners and the Greek Freak is likely to be no different.

Damian Lillard, Joel Embiid or Nikola Jokic could make a run with some of their best work. Anthony Davis could take the reins of the Lakers franchise and catapult them up the standings.

The case is equally available for so many as much as it is closed. Which star rises above the crowded field will be a topic of discussion that dominates headlines big and small all season long.