James Harden – Brooklyn Nets
Since being traded to the Brooklyn Nets, not only has James Harden been sensational, but he has played himself into strong consideration for being this season’s league MVP. In 31 games with Brooklyn, Harden is averaging 26.0 points, 8.9 rebounds, 11.4 assists and is shooting 46.8% from the floor, 36.2% from three-point range.
The former league MVP currently leads the league in assists per game and since Kevin Durant has been out with a hamstring injury, the Nets are 15-3 in-large part thanks to what James Harden has done. Harden has 11 triple-doubles this year and trails the league leader and former teammates, Russell Westbrook by four triple-doubles.
He has literally done everything he can to solidify the Nets as the best team in the league and honestly, he may be the best player in the NBA right now. No team has been able to get James Harden out of the groove he has been in with the Nets and even he feels like he is the league MVP right now, telling media members the other night: “ I feel like I am the MVP… I mean, it’s just that simple.”
While he has drawn a ton of criticism over the years because of his style of play and not being able to “fit in” with teammates, James Harden has done everything right since joining Brooklyn and has quickly become their focal point on the offensive-end of the court.
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Not only is James Harden a player to watch in the MVP race down the stretch of the season, but the Nets are a team to watch because they could end up with the best record in the NBA and have home court advantage throughout the playoffs. They are currently 3.5 games back from the Jazz for the best record in the league and just a game back from the 76ers for the best record in the East.
When Durant returns from his hamstring injury and with Kyrie Irving back and healthy, the Brooklyn Nets could easily wind up having the best record in the league, thus cementing the idea that they are the team to beat this season.
