1. Kawhi Leonard, Toronto Raptors
Season stats: 27.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.9 spg, 0.5 bpg, 50% fg, 37% 3 pt, 85% ft
Team record: 33-12 (1st in East)
While James Harden has made one heck of a case over the last few weeks to take the number one spot, Kawhi Leonard holds on for now because he has been dominating all season long, right from the tip.
I know it can be boring to just pick the best player on the best team as MVP but when you look at how Kawhi and the Raptors have played this year, how can you not pick him?
The Klaw is back to being his usual self, defensively as he is locking up the perimeter and add to that, that he is having the best offensive season of his career and you can see why he is not only the front-runner for the MVP award at this stage of the season but why he has to be in the conversation for second best player in the league behind LeBron.
Right now, I feel like the award is going to go to either Kawhi, Harden or the Greek Freak but we still have half a season to go and if history is any indication, a whole lot can change in half a season.
Each player on this list has the potential to go on a run that vaults them up the standings. So get ready to sit back and witness one of the tightest, most unpredictable MVP races in recent memory go right down to the wire.