National Basketball Association

Why the Golden State Warriors should have the MVP favorite

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The Golden State Warriors have two MVP’s in Steph Curry and Kevin Durant. Russell Westbrook is the favorite to win it this year, but it should be a Warrior.

The Golden State Warriors have the last three NBA MVPs on their roster. Kevin Durant, as a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder, won the award in 2014 and Stephen Curry followed it up by winning the next two in a row. But neither player is the favorite to bring home the Maurice Podoloff trophy next season.

Durant’s former running mate, Russell Westbrook is expected to win his first MVP award. This is clearly a reaction to Durant’s departure. The explosive point guard has been given the keys to the car and he can do whatever he wants in OKC.

Westbrook can record a triple-double pretty much whenever he wants. Now, without Durant, he’ll probably put up even bigger stat lines. He has full control of the offense. To a ball dominant guard like Westbrook, who can do no wrong in the fans’ eyes, this is a perfect opportunity. But should he really be the favorite to win the award?

Nope. In fact, a Golden State Warriors player should be the favorite to win it. While Durant has yet to actually suit up for his new team, both he and Curry are in excellent positions to have incredible seasons. The team is going to be fantastic, but their individual campaigns could win them another trophy.

The Most Valuable Player is an individual award, but it’s so much more than that.

Last MVP from a non-top 2 seed: 1999 (Karl Malone, 3rd seed). Outside top 3 seed: 1982 (Moses Malone, 6th seed) https://t.co/O8GOHsn7x5

— Ryan Viera (@ryan_viera) August 15, 2016

MVP’s aren’t on losing teams. Historically speaking, they go to a top team. It has been seventeen years since a player on a team that wasn’t a top-2 seed won the award. It’s been even longer for a team outside of the top-3.

The Thunder have some talent. Steven Adams is an incredible player. Enes Kanter can score the basketball. Victor Oladipo is a very interesting piece. That isn’t enough for Westbrook to lead to a top seed in the Western Conference.

The Warriors, barring a lot of catastrophic injuries, will be the first seed in the West once again. There should be a huge gap between them and the team behind them. Curry and Durant will not be the undisputed alphas on their team anymore; they’ll be side-by-side. But even if their scoring goes down, their efficiency should increase from different spots on the floor. Both of them will see an increase in their assists that should more than make up for any decrease in scoring.

It’s not hard to see why people like Westbrook as the next MVP. The NBA is all about the great storylines. And a fiery athlete, spurned by his former basketball brother, getting full control and a chance to show he doesn’t need Durant is definitely a great one.

But Westbrook has struggled without Durant and Serge Ibaka (who was part of the Oladipo trade). With limited talent around him and the freedom to be as reckless as he wants, Westbrook will not lead the Thunder to a top seed. They might not even be a playoff team.

Even if he averages a triple-double, a trip to the lottery would lock the award in for someone in a top seed. Look for Durant, Curry, or LeBron James to take home the award this year–guys that will have fantastic individual seasons on title contending teams.