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Power Ranking Top 10 NBA MVP Candidates Through Week 13 of 2015-16 Season

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These 10 NBA players have shone above the rest thus far, and must be in every conversation regarding the league’s coveted MVP award through Week 13 of the 2015-16 season.

10. Paul Millsap - PF - Atlanta Hawks

Paul Millsap - PF - Atlanta Hawks Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Paul Millsap doesn't receive a ton of attention nationally, but has played at an elite level this season, and undoubtedly deserves to be mentioned in the MVP conversation.

Other than Millsap and perhaps Al Horford, every player on the Atlanta Hawks has been woefully inconsistent thus far, yet the Hawks are 27-19 with sole possession of the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference thanks to Millsap's brilliant campaign.

Through 46 games, Millsap's averaging 18.4 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game, which is a stat line that clearly proves he was correctly named an All-Star.

Paul Millsap doesn't receive a ton of attention nationally, but has played at an elite level this season, and undoubtedly deserves to be mentioned in the MVP conversation.

Other than Millsap and perhaps Al Horford, every player on the Atlanta Hawks has been woefully inconsistent thus far, yet the Hawks are 27-19 with sole possession of the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference thanks to Millsap's brilliant campaign.

Through 46 games, Millsap's averaging 18.4 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game, which is a stat line that clearly proves he was correctly named an All-Star.

9. James Harden - SG - Houston Rockets

James Harden - SG - Houston Rockets Getty Images
James Harden hasn't made this list over the past few weeks due to the fact that the Houston Rockets were floundering under .500. However, Houston's gone 7-3 in its last 10 games, and has righted the ship (for now) at 25-22.

From a purely statistical standpoint, Harden's been sensational thus far. He's averaging 27.7 points, 7.0 assists and 6.3 rebounds per game, and has carried his team for much of the season.

Put simply, Dwight Howard just can't figure out how to stay healthy, and hasn't been reliable. The Rockets might not be where they expected to be this season, but they'd be nowhere without Harden.

James Harden hasn't made this list over the past few weeks due to the fact that the Houston Rockets were floundering under .500. However, Houston's gone 7-3 in its last 10 games, and has righted the ship (for now) at 25-22.

From a purely statistical standpoint, Harden's been sensational thus far. He's averaging 27.7 points, 7.0 assists and 6.3 rebounds per game, and has carried his team for much of the season.

Put simply, Dwight Howard just can't figure out how to stay healthy, and hasn't been reliable. The Rockets might not be where they expected to be this season, but they'd be nowhere without Harden.

8. Kyle Lowry - PG - Toronto Raptors

Kyle Lowry - PG - Toronto Raptors Getty Images
Kyle Lowry has been nothing short of fantastic this season, especially considering he wasn't getting much help from DeMar DeRozan early on, and DeMarre Carroll and Jonas Valanciunas have both missed lengthy periods of time to injury.

Despite a fair amount of adversity, Lowry has led the Toronto Raptors to a 30-15 record, which puts them just two games back of the Cleveland Cavaliers for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Lowry's averaging 20.9 points, 6.4 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game, and defends as well as any point guard in the NBA. He belongs in every MVP discussion.

Kyle Lowry has been nothing short of fantastic this season, especially considering he wasn't getting much help from DeMar DeRozan early on, and DeMarre Carroll and Jonas Valanciunas have both missed lengthy periods of time to injury.

Despite a fair amount of adversity, Lowry has led the Toronto Raptors to a 30-15 record, which puts them just two games back of the Cleveland Cavaliers for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Lowry's averaging 20.9 points, 6.4 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game, and defends as well as any point guard in the NBA. He belongs in every MVP discussion.

7. Chris Paul - PG - Los Angeles Clippers

Chris Paul - PG - Los Angeles Clippers Getty Images
Despite Blake Griffin's injury and insanity issues this season, Chris Paul has led the Los Angeles Clippers to a 29-16 record, and has played particularly well in Griffin's absence of late.

Paul is averaging 18.8 points, 9.6 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game, and is playing adequate defense against the association's elite point guards.

Paul has only a 0.5 percent chance of being named MVP according to Basketball-Reference, but that's a testament to how amazing the league's top-five superstars have been rather than an indictment of his play.

Despite Blake Griffin's injury and insanity issues this season, Chris Paul has led the Los Angeles Clippers to a 29-16 record, and has played particularly well in Griffin's absence of late.

Paul is averaging 18.8 points, 9.6 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game, and is playing adequate defense against the association's elite point guards.

Paul has only a 0.5 percent chance of being named MVP according to Basketball-Reference, but that's a testament to how amazing the league's top-five superstars have been rather than an indictment of his play.

6. LeBron James - SF - Cleveland Cavaliers

LeBron James - SF - Cleveland Cavaliers Getty Images
The firing of David Blatt doesn't make LeBron James look good whatsoever. However, there's no way to deny what he's accomplished this season.

Despite playing without Kyrie Irving for a large chunk of the first half, James has led his team to a 31-12 record, and Cleveland hasn't even hit full stride yet.

James is averaging 25.0 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game, and is still playing defense at an elite level. Writing off James, like many NBA fans and media alike have, as someone who is "irrelevant" is simply foolish, as he's having an excellent campaign.

The firing of David Blatt doesn't make LeBron James look good whatsoever. However, there's no way to deny what he's accomplished this season.

Despite playing without Kyrie Irving for a large chunk of the first half, James has led his team to a 31-12 record, and Cleveland hasn't even hit full stride yet.

James is averaging 25.0 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game, and is still playing defense at an elite level. Writing off James, like many NBA fans and media alike have, as someone who is "irrelevant" is simply foolish, as he's having an excellent campaign.

5. Kawhi Leonard - SF - San Antonio Spurs

Kawhi Leonard - SF - San Antonio Spurs Getty Images
I implore you not to let the whooping the San Antonio Spurs received at the hands of the Golden State Warriors on Monday night change your opinion on Kawhi Leonard, as he's having a remarkable campaign.

Leonard's averaging 20.0 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game, and is perhaps the NBA's premier defender.

Despite the embarrassing loss to the Warriors, the Spurs are 38-7 and are likely the only team with even a remote chance of taking Golden State out in the playoffs. Leonard deserves a ton of credit for leading his team to this point.

I implore you not to let the whooping the San Antonio Spurs received at the hands of the Golden State Warriors on Monday night change your opinion on Kawhi Leonard, as he's having a remarkable campaign.

Leonard's averaging 20.0 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game, and is perhaps the NBA's premier defender.

Despite the embarrassing loss to the Warriors, the Spurs are 38-7 and are likely the only team with even a remote chance of taking Golden State out in the playoffs. Leonard deserves a ton of credit for leading his team to this point.

4. Kevin Durant - SF - Oklahoma City Thunder

Kevin Durant - SF - Oklahoma City Thunder Getty Images
Kevin Durant has put forth an otherworldly effort this season, but no matter what the Oklahoma City Thunder are able to accomplish, they are overshadowed by Golden State and San Antonio.

However, an 8-2 run over their last 10 games has put the Thunder within five games of the Spurs at 34-13, and there's reason to believe they will have plenty to say about how the Western Conference playoff picture develops.

Durant is averaging 27.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game, which is undoubtedly an MVP-worthy stat line.

Kevin Durant has put forth an otherworldly effort this season, but no matter what the Oklahoma City Thunder are able to accomplish, they are overshadowed by Golden State and San Antonio.

However, an 8-2 run over their last 10 games has put the Thunder within five games of the Spurs at 34-13, and there's reason to believe they will have plenty to say about how the Western Conference playoff picture develops.

Durant is averaging 27.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game, which is undoubtedly an MVP-worthy stat line.

3. Draymond Green - PF - Golden State Warriors

Draymond Green - PF - Golden State Warriors Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Draymond Green's been sensational this season, but since he plays second fiddle to Stephen Curry, he rarely receives proper respect.

Green's averaging 14.6 points, 9.5 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game, and is remarkably leading the NBA in triple-doubles with eight.

Green's offensive output aside, he's one of the best two-way players in the NBA, and on a team that doesn't play incredibly solid defense in the backcourt, his presence in the paint and ability to defend stretch fours is simply invaluable.

Draymond Green's been sensational this season, but since he plays second fiddle to Stephen Curry, he rarely receives proper respect.

Green's averaging 14.6 points, 9.5 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game, and is remarkably leading the NBA in triple-doubles with eight.

Green's offensive output aside, he's one of the best two-way players in the NBA, and on a team that doesn't play incredibly solid defense in the backcourt, his presence in the paint and ability to defend stretch fours is simply invaluable.

2. Russell Westbrook - PG - Oklahoma City Thunder

Russell Westbrook - PG - Oklahoma City Thunder Getty Images
If anyone is going to supplant the current favorite (which is admittedly unlikely to happen barring an injury, but still possible) it will be Russell Westbrook.

Through 47 contests, Westbrook's averaging 24.1 points, 9.7 assists and 7.2 rebounds per game, which is undoubtedly one of the top-three stat lines of the season.

In the end, Westbrook will likely split a ton of votes with teammate Kevin Durant, and finish No. 2 in MVP voting.

If anyone is going to supplant the current favorite (which is admittedly unlikely to happen barring an injury, but still possible) it will be Russell Westbrook.

Through 47 contests, Westbrook's averaging 24.1 points, 9.7 assists and 7.2 rebounds per game, which is undoubtedly one of the top-three stat lines of the season.

In the end, Westbrook will likely split a ton of votes with teammate Kevin Durant, and finish No. 2 in MVP voting.

1. Stephen Curry - PG - Golden State Warriors

Stephen Curry - PG - Golden State Warriors Getty Images
After a while, words alone fall short of adequately describing what Stephen Curry is doing on the hardwood this season.

Over the past two weeks, the Golden State Warriors have pummeled three of the NBA's premier teams (Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs and Chicago Bulls) by 30 points, which is unfathomable.

Curry's averaging 30.3 points, 6.5 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game, and has essentially proven himself to be unstoppable. The only thing that will prevent Curry from repeating as MVP and NBA champion is an injury.

After a while, words alone fall short of adequately describing what Stephen Curry is doing on the hardwood this season.

Over the past two weeks, the Golden State Warriors have pummeled three of the NBA's premier teams (Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs and Chicago Bulls) by 30 points, which is unfathomable.

Curry's averaging 30.3 points, 6.5 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game, and has essentially proven himself to be unstoppable. The only thing that will prevent Curry from repeating as MVP and NBA champion is an injury.

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