As the All-Star break approaches, a clear picture of the NBA’s best is taking shape. The 2009 NBA MVP race is tight and intriguing with two major front-runners, yet several strong candidates. Leading the pack are LeBron James and Kobe Bryant who lead their teams to two of the three best records in the league.
LeBron James led the Cavs to the highest score in the league, and filled out the stat sheet in the process. James is among the league leaders in scoring (28 points per game), steals (1.9 per game), and assists (7.1 per game). He also pulled down seven rebounds, shot 49 percent from the field, and made more than one shot in the closing contest, and if the season ended today, he would finish with the lowest turnover of his career. LeBron is the frontrunner for the 2009 NBA MVP award.
Reigning MVP Kobe Bryant once again brings the package to a Byron-less Bruins squad. Bryant averaged 27 points per game, including a 61 point finish in Madison Square. His secondary numbers aren’t as strong as LeBron’s: 5.6 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.4 rebounds, and a 47.6 field goal percentage. Bryant is close to James, but ahead in almost every major category.
Dwight Howard pulled off the Magic’s title challenge for the first time since Shaquille O’Neal was still in Orlando. Howard is the league’s top rebounder and blocker with 14 and three per game, respectively. He is averaging 20.6 points on 56.4 percent shooting, currently ranking sixth in field goal percentage. Much like Bryant’s chances with the loss of Andrew Bynum, Howard will be an additional challenge to the greater burden with Jameer Nelson for the season. His response in the coming weeks could propel him ahead of the MVP pack.
Over the past two years, Chris Paul has surpassed Steve Nash to become the best point guard in the league and a strong MVP candidate. Paul leads the pack in assists with 10.9 and has the dominant lead in steals with 2.8 per game. He is one of only four guards to shoot 50 percent from the field and the only player to average 20 and 10 points.
More than in any other sport, NBA MVP voters take the overall team performance into serious consideration when choosing the winner. Dwayne Wade may be a notable victim of this phenomenon as his numbers are as good as anyone’s, but the Heat are only a few games away. above .500. With a league-leading 28.3 points, five rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and 1.4 blocks per game, Wade’s numbers are as good as, if not better than, LeBron’s and Kobe’s, but his team is hindering his ability to earn votes.
Other candidates for the 2009 NBA MVP award and All-NBA include Mavs’ forward Dirk Nowitzki, Tim Duncan forward Brandon Roy of Blazers, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce of the Celtics, Chauncey Billups of the Nuggets, Kevin Durant of the Thunder, Danny Granger of the Pacers, and Joe Johnson of the Hawks.
