2. James Harden, Houston Rockets
Season stats: 34.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 8.8 apg, 2.1 spg, 0.6 bpg, 43% fg, 38% 3 pt, 86% ft
Team record: 24-18 (6th in West)
Last year’s NBA MVP has taken his game to new heights this year, specifically in the last month or so. James Harden is changing the game of basketball right before our very eyes. Since Chris Paul went down with another hamstring injury, Harden has put up numbers of 40.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 9.8 assists per contest while leading the Houston Rockets to an 9-3 record in that time span.
The Rockets are right back in the playoff picture and are looking to hold on to this momentum, especially when CP3 returns at the end of January. And if James Harden can keep doing what he is currently doing, there may be no one able to stop him from becoming a back-to-back MVP.