NBA MVP Mountain Week 3: Stephen Curry leads the rankings

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Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after making a three-point shot against the Atlanta Hawks (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

NBA MVP Mountain: No. 1 – Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

Statline: 27.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 1.6 steals, 5.2 3-pointers, 61.5 percent true-shooting

The case: Stephen Curry is a transcendent offensive player. He’s one of the two or three best in the league, and perhaps among the ten-best of all-time. His offensive start to the season has been somewhat muted compared to his normal high standards; he leads the league in three-pointers but on a ho-hum (for him) 38.8 percent shooting from long-range.

The reality is that the Warriors haven’t needed him to be unstoppable, as they have a real team around him with players who can pass and shoot. Curry is making the right read against double teams, he is locked in on the defensive end (career-highs in rebound and block percentages), and for the cherry on top, is leading the league in free-throw percentage for the sixth time in his career.

Curry holds the marquee performance of the season as well, the league’s first (and only thus far) 50-point game. It occurred when he eviscerated the Atlanta Hawks this past Monday night.

That win also brought the Warriors to 9-1, two losses fewer than any other team. Their net rating of +13.3 is 3.8 points higher than the second-place Utah Jazz. The Warriors are the best defense in the league by a mile and the fifth-ranked offense.

Simply put, Curry is currently leading the best team in the league. That may not stay the case, but his numbers are strong, he has the big games already in his ledger, and his team is winning. That’s the complete package for an MVP bid, and it places him closest to the peak of our MVP Mountain.