There is just over a month remaining in the NBA regular season, and before the drama of the playoffs begins the Most Valuable Player will be named.
In five weeks the picture can change very quickly. Injuries, loss of form and a number of issues could creep in to hand one player the edge, but at this stage of the campaign it looks like four players are in contention to be named the league's best performer.
Below, Sports Mole rates the chances of the four big MVP candidates.
1. Stephen Curry
When the Golden State Warriors point guard decides to step away from the game at the end of his career, he might be considered one of the greatest shooters to have played in the NBA. Looking back on the highlights of the season so far leaves you watching clip after clip of Stephen Curry fooling rivals with his superb handling and killing off teams with one of the purest shooting strokes around.
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If Curry wins the award, it won't be down to statistics. Make no mistake, Curry's numbers are very impressive. He's averaged 23.8 points, 7.8 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game this season, and there are not many point guards around who can boast those stats. However, it's the way the 26-year-old has matured in his role as team leader and face of the franchise this season which makes him a contender. Some of his performances have been superb, but he is now bringing out the best in his teammates and it's that quality which looks set to see the Warriors finish with the best record in the Western Conference. Curry's legacy will be defined by what he can do with this side in the post-season, but taking his game to the next level in this campaign means that he could be recognised before then.
2. James Harden
Since leaving the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2012, James Harden's stock refuses to stop rising. Leaving a contender to become the key man elsewhere is not a decision which has suited every player, but Harden has thrived under the pressure of being the leader for the Houston Rockets. If his first two seasons in Texas were impressive, this campaign has been simply magnificent.
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Harden is scoring 26.9 points a night for the Rockets. The MVP field is growing, but Harden has been leading the way since the opening night of the season and he continues to deliver the goods on a nightly basis. It might be his best chance to win the award, but at just 25, it's a safe bet to assume that there is even more to come from the guard. That's a scary thought for his rivals but a promising one for fans of the Rockets.
It's not just scoring from all areas of the court which has caught the eye. Harden gets to the free-throw line more than anyone else due to his aggressive approach, he's managed to improve on the defensive end following criticism last year, and his ability as a playmaker is improving every night. There were concerns that Dwight Howard's injury would see the Rockets slip down the standings in the Western Conference, but Harden has responded impressively to losing his All-Star teammate. With Howard back for the playoffs, the Rockets are contenders for the championship. It could be a double success for Harden.
3. Russell Westbrook
What can you say about Russell Westbrook? In the last month he's managed to produce some of the most incredible performances in recent memory. His talent has never been in question, but the 26-year-old is finding a new level as he looks to secure a playoff spot for the Thunder. In his last 10 games the point guard is averaging 31.8 points per game, and earlier this week he became the first player to record three successive triple-doubles since Michael Jordan. If you're mentioned in the same sentence as one the sport's all-time greats, it's safe to say you're doing a pretty good job.
Injuries robbed Westbrook of the opportunity to play every game this season, but that shouldn't have an impact on his MVP chances. He's not just performing well over a short spell, but hitting the same heights every night, and the form has dragged the Thunder back into the post-season picture while Kevin Durant deals with another injury problem of his own.
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Quite simply, there's not a more explosive player in the league. Westbrook thrills supporters every night with his unorthodox style and he's arguably more important to the side than Durant, but if both are 100% fit in the playoffs, the Thunder will be a match for anyone. On numbers alone, Westbrook deserves to be in this conversation, and his late rally could be enough to take the award from his rivals.
4. LeBron James
You just can't leave LeBron James out of the debate. In the early stages of the season, the four-time MVP was nothing more than an afterthought in the conversation. There wasn't much wrong with his performances, but the struggles for the Cleveland Cavaliers were clear and the 30-year-old didn't look like the same player who led the Miami Heat to four straight NBA finals appearances.
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However, Cleveland's improvement was inevitable. David Blatt's team were not going to struggle all season. A team including James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love was always going to find their rhythm, and their form since Christmas has been excellent. James has been the key man since taking a break to recover from a number of injury problems, and he's performing at an MVP level once again. His decision to leave the Heat was questioned by some, but he's back to his best and the Cavaliers look like title contenders. Can James surprise the three leading candidates by picking up a fifth win? Performances over the last month of the season could make the difference.
