There’s no greater legitimiser of NBA superstardom than winning an MVP award. Only the very best can say they’ve claimed one, and even then there are some legends forced to go without. Call it bad timing.

This year, however, the race was wide open from the start. Only seven current players have won one. One of those players was Kobe Bryant, shut down a few months into the season. Kevin Durant missed the first 17 games of the season and has been in and out of the OKC side ever since with little niggles. Derrick Rose, the youngest man to ever win the MVP, was coming back from years of injury struggles and once more he’s found himself under the surgeon’s knife for an extended absence. Steve Nash too, he just retired. Meanwhile Kevin Garnett, Dirk Nowitzki and Tim Duncan have a combined ago of 112.

That just leaves LeBron. King James. His prodigal return to Cleveland was the story of the offseason. But despite hand-picking a team with the distinct goal of winning a title, things got off to a rough start. LeBron took a two week break, they made some trades. Questions were asked. Was he finally past his prime? On the way down? Four MVPs in the last six years… is his reign over? Not so fast there, Harry Hot Take.

If not one of these guys, then who? The throne is vacant and one brilliant player will join the pantheon of men considered the Most Valuable in a given season.

The Main Contenders

Steph Curry (Golden State Warriors) – The idea seems to be that if Golden state wins 65+ games, which they’re on track to do, then there’s no way that Curry doesn’t win this thing. That’s up for debate, but for now he’s the slight favourite. There is no player that catches fire like Steph Curry, heat check extraordinaire. He crushes the competition in three point volume and is hitting them at over 42% to boot. He’d be averaging career highs across the board if it weren’t for the fact that the Warriors are blasting teams out of the water within three quarters and he’s usually got his feet up long before the final buzzer – Curry’s playing nearly four minutes less per game than last year. GSW leads the league in both offensive and defensive efficiency, something only Jordan’s 72-win Bulls have managed in the last 30 years of the NBA, and Steph Curry is their undoubted leader.

James Harden (Houston Rockets) – However if you define the MVP as the player most crucial to their team’s success, then there’s possibly a greater argument for James Harden. He epitomises the Rockets’ mentality of layups, free throws and three pointers, offering a clinic every single night on how to get to the line. Call it predictable, call it boring, but there’s no stopping the Harden onslaught. His penetration never fails to draw attention, he shoots over 10 free throws a game and he hits 87% of them. That’s money. Not to mention the shots he creates for their vast array of three point shooters. Top ten in assists per game, top two in scoring. The Beard means everything to the Rockets and he rarely disappoints. Plus he leads the NBA in minutes played this season.

The Making Up For Lost Timer-ers

Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder) – Surging back into contention after an injury-plagued start to the campaign, Westbrook has to be up there after putting together one of the great statistical months in NBA history. His February reads: 31.2 points, 10.3 assists & 9.1 rebounds, joining Oscar Robertson as the only other player to average 30-10-9 in a calendar month. There was an ASG MVP in there too, and guess what? He hasn’t slowed down a step since. His face was fractured, there was a damn hole in the side of it (!) and he returned a couple days later to keep logging triple-doubles. He’s doing Jordan-esque things with his stat lines. Rapid, ferocious and indomitable. There’s no stopping him. Maybe his 17 missed games will count against him, traditionally that’s been the case. Bill Walton is the only MVP to miss that many games (24 with a broken foot in 1977-78).

LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) – Yeah, don’t count him out just yet either. He’s missed 11 games, and he was definitely off his usual pace at the start. But no sooner than people started to speculate that his peak was in the rear-view mirror did he come roaring back with a vengeance. The Cavaliers are getting to the levels people predicted before the season. When LeBron is on the court, it’s like a force-field. He draws attention, you cannot look away. That’s the magnetism of The Best Player in the World. LeBron is at his best against the best and he’s learned how to bring out the best in those around him (case and point: Kyrie). He can dictate a game for three quarters then still find another gear to go to in the fourth. He’s already won four of these, but who’s gonna argue that he’s not still one of the best in the NBA?

The Maybe If Those Other Guys All Get Injured-ers

Anthony Davis (New Orleans Pelicans) – It’s hard to argue with a guy that averages 24.6 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, the only thing holding him back is his age and his mediocre team (and maybe his persistent injury niggles). The Brow can do nearly everything. Attack him at the rim at your own peril, those long arms will reel you in before you even realise it. He has a prescience for rebounds and his put-back dunks will crush you and the hoop both. All of that magnificence was on display last season, but this time he’s added the weapon to smooth all that talent into a finely sculpted NBA marvel. He has a jump shot that has gone from below average to elite in the space of 12 months. That’s unheard of. Davis won’t win the MVP this season, but he’ll be in this conversation without exception for the next decade. His turn is coming sooner than we all know.

Chris Paul (LA Clippers) – CP3 really isn’t getting the credit he deserves. He doesn’t play with the same dynamism and intensity as RussBrook but Paul dominates just as much with his calculated formulas. He knows where the pass will be. He knows how to work just enough space to unleash his killer mid-rangers. Chris Paul is a near perfect point guard, he creates, he scores and he defends as well as anybody else in his position. If you need any evidence of that latter claim, watch the highlights of him guarding Westbrook the other week (Westbrook had 10 turnovers). Blake Griffin went down and CP3 didn’t lose a stride. Don’t let your hate for the Clippers cloud a brilliant 2014/15 season from Chris Paul.

The Not Gonna Win But Deserve A Mention-ers

Marc Gasol (Memphis Grizzlies) – Having his best ever season, Marc is still sneaking under the radar. He’s been outshone by his brother in the past and he’s suffering now from playing for an unflashy Grizzlies team. Defensive minded, full of post ups and high percentage stuff, not to mention Memphis isn’t exactly LA or NY. But these Grizzlies are second in the West, on the verge of a fifth straight playoff appearance and maybe even a run at the title. That ain’t happening without Gasol’s 18 point and 8 rebounds a week.

LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland Trailblazers) – Aldridge is almost like a player from a lost era. A stretch-4 without 3pt range. This season he’s continued right on where he was headed last, hitting mid-range jumpers with colossal precision. One of the most reliable fellas in the NBA and a man for the occasion too. Ever since Damian Lillard came to town with his pick and roll game and three point shooting, LA’s hit a new level. He’s a perfect guy for the pick and pop. Top eight in both scoring and double-doubles, oh and he’s doing it all with a busted hand.

The If Only Things Had Worked Out Different-ers

DeMarcus ‘Boogie’ Cousins (Sacramento Kings) – Ah, Boogie. Where did it all go wrong? Was it the revolving door of head coaches you’ve had to play for? Three of them all this season. Or how about the revolving door of point guards they’ve given you? Regardless of the mess of a season that Sacramento has had, Boogie remains a beastly fellow. The techs are down, thankfully, while the points and boards are up. He’s never made it easy for himself but Boogie’s a guy that deserves a break.

John Wall (Washington Wizards) – Few players have walked the tightrope of expectation like John Wall has. From number one pick, to a slightly controversial max extension that some people felt he didn’t deserve, well he deserves it now. Wall is fast becoming the definition of a team-first dominant point guard. He’ll get his buddies their shots for three quarters then take over himself. He’s a straight-up magician when it comes to spotting a pass and he duly ranks second in the NBA in assists. But there’s no hope for the lad in voting after the Wizards slumped their way through the middle of the season and have never quite managed to distance themselves from the Eastern pack the way Atlanta and Cleveland have. (Atlanta may not have an MVP candidate, but they damn well have a coach of the year candidate in Coach Bud).