NBA MVP candidate: Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets
With all eyes on him and spectators wondering will he be able to return to his elite level of play after suffering a devastating injury, Kevin Durant will be out to prove that he he is still one of the best (if not the best) player in the NBA.
He has all of the necessities in place for him to win the MVP. First off, he is on a Brooklyn Nets team that qualified for the postseason last year as they overachieved without Durant and Kyrie Irving for most of the season.
Secondly, Durant’s sidekick Irving is an elite talent himself and his presence alone will allow Durant to get open looks and should prevent him from being double-teamed often. The Nets also have Steve Nash as a head coach, a former 2-time MVP himself as he should employ a creative offensive scheme making Durant the focal point of the offense.
After missing an entire season, Durant should be hungry in pursuit of a third title and proving that he still is an MVP caliber player. If Durant can average around 26 to 30 points per game and secure the Nets a top-3 finish in the Eastern Conference, then a legitimate case should be made for Durant.