When it comes to the 2015 NBA Most Valuable Player Award, there could be more than one right answer.
The NBA’s top two scorers, Oklahoma City guard Russell Westbrook and Houston Rockets guard James Harden, are in the race, but the front-runner for MVP is Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry, according to an informal poll of coaches and players by The Sports Xchange.
The opinion of veteran Los Angeles Lakers guard Jeremy Lin might sum up the case for Curry: “He’s the best player on the best team.”
Curry guided the Golden State Warriors to an NBA-best 67-15 mark while averaging 23.8 points (sixth in the league) and 7.7 assists (also sixth). He broke his own NBA single-season record with 286 3-pointers, and his accuracy from behind the arc (44.3 percent) ranked fourth in the NBA among qualifiers.
Westbrook clinched the league’s scoring title at 28.1 points per game thanks to a 37-point effort in the season finale, but his chances took a hit when the Thunder failed to secure a playoff spot. He also averaged 8.6 assists (fourth in the NBA) and 7.3 rebounds per game. Westbrook recorded 11 triple-doubles; the next-highest total in the league was four, by Harden.
Harden finished second in the scoring race at 27.4 points per game. He added seven assists per game (tied for eighth in the league) and 5.7 rebounds for the Rockets, who will be the second seed in the Western Conference playoffs.
Others are more neutral — or closed — when it comes to the MVP tally.
“James (Harden) and Steph (Curry) fighting it out. Both great. I don’t think about that stuff too much,” said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich.
Here is what the rest of the polled players and coaches had to say on the MVP matter:
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Sacramento Kings coach George Karl: “After dropping that 51 on us, I thought it was Harden. But then I saw that Stephen just went off the other night. They both deserve it. If I had a vote, I’d probably go Curry, just because he’s on a great team and he’s putting up big-time numbers. They weren’t a 67-win team last year, and somebody had to step forward in a big way. The coaching change probably helped but I think Steph has had an incredible season.”
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Kings veteran guard Andre Miller: “I’d vote for James Harden. He’s basically carried that team all year. He’s playing both ends of the court. I mean, without Dwight Howard down there in the post and the way they’ve been playing this year, he’s doing it all-around, with rebounds, assists, steals, scoring.
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New York Knicks coach Derek Fisher, who played with Westbrook at Oklahoma City, “Obviously it’s a tight race, but I think he (Westbrook) deserves it. He practically brought them into the playoffs down the stretch.”
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Detroit Pistons guard Reggie Jackson: “I’m glad I don’t have to vote. I think Curry is the best player on the best team. Westbrook played amazing and James (Harden) was great. You can’t be mad if they gave out a co-MVP, but that’s not something the league is going to do. It’s a tough year. You even have LeBron (James) who is considered having a down year. But he is still the face of the league. Every candidate is deserving, but I think it’s going to come down to those three in the west.”
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Atlanta Hawks point guard Jeff Teague: “Steph Curry. His team has got the best record in the NBA. He’s a top-end scorer, tops in assists, tops in steals. He’s having a tremendous year.”
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Orlando Magic interim coach James Borrego: “I think it’s going to be the closest vote in history. I think you have to look at Harden and Curry, neck and neck. I actually think you can flip a coin between those two.”
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Brooklyn Nets coach Lionel Hollins: “Are we talking Most Outstanding Player or Most Valuable Player? If you’re looking at the MVP, then you have to look at Russell Westbrook and all he’s done this year. But his team (didn’t) make the playoffs. In an award like that, you have to reward winning, so Curry then has to be the front-runner. LeBron James has to be considered, since where Cleveland was and where he’s taken them. So it’s hard to say.”
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Utah Jazz forward Jeremy Evans: “I’d probably go with Stephen Curry, just because the way they’re playing. I think he probably has the most wins out of those three.”
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Jazz coach Quin Snyder: “If it were obvious, I’d say what I think, but I don’t think it’s obvious at all. You’ve got guys who’ve not only had great years, but their teams have had great years. Same thing with coaches, I think it’s important to step back and just appreciate each one of those guys and the job that they’ve done. I wish we could recognize all of them in the same way.”
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Toronto Raptors center Greg Stiemsma: “I think I’d give it to Steph (Curry). His ability to score in some unique ways, always a threat, and for him to lead them to the best record. I mean, he’s had some help obviously. (Warriors guard Klay) Thompson has had a heck of a season, too, but I think you’ve got to give it to Steph.”
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Boston Celtics assistant coach Walter McCarty: “I’m going to say James Harden. … He’s just been playing at a high level where he has to show up every night. All MVPs do, but I think he does a lot for that team. Just watching him, just to see where he’s progressed defensively where he’s giving the effort and he’s taking charges, and he’s just doing things that an MVP would do that he hadn’t done in years before. He’s quickly becoming one of my favorite players.”
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Washington Wizards coach Randy Wittman: “There have been some really great performances this year, but obviously what Golden State has done with Seth Curry and what they have done overall is special. Whoever wins it is going to be worthy.”
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Denver Nuggets interim coach Melvin Hunt: “I wish the league had a Most Outstanding Player and a Most Valuable Player. Most Outstanding in Stephen Curry. What he’s done is incredible. But if he’s not on this (Golden State) team, they’re not in the lottery. That being said, you could go to Cleveland every year and cut the trophy in half and give half to LeBron James. James Harden gets the Most Valuable. If you take him off that team … he’s shown he’s the Most Valuable.”
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Los Angeles Lakers coach Byron Scott, making a case for both Harden and Curry: “Harden, because of you take him off that team, there’s no way they are where they are. He’s raised that team up as much as any player can. … I’d vote for Steph, because he’s Steph. He’s done everything, and he’s done it with a flair. He’s had one of those special seasons.”
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Sacramento Kings guard Ben McLemore: “(Curry), just because of everything he’s done overall. He’s in such a competitive conference, his team has the best record, and they’re one of the favorites (in the playoffs). That says it all. He’s a great player on a great team.”
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New Orleans Pelicans coach Monty Williams: “My league MVP is (Pelicans forward) Anthony Davis, if you want to quote me on it. I think he’s had a phenomenal year. Maybe not as good as some of the candidates, but for me, I don’t know of anybody who does what he does on both ends of the floor every night. That’s why he’s an MVP for me.”
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Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson: “I’d vote Stephen Curry because of his consistency, and this is not the same team without him. We’re talking about a team that could win 67 games. I got to give it to him. a pretty remarkable season, and we wouldn’t be the same without him.”
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Miami Heat small forward Henry Walker: “Westbrook, Harden and Curry are all deserving in their own rights. It’s tough to decide who. Harden has been playing for most of the year without Dwight (Howard), Westbrook has been doing what’s he’s been doing without (Kevin) Durant, and Curry’s been unbelievable. To see that team (Golden State) rise to the top of the Western Conference … Each player has a strong case. I’m glad I don’t have to choose.”
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Minnesota Timberwolves swingman Shabazz Muhammad: “James Harden. Their record is really good and Dwight (Howard) wasn’t playing for a lot of the season. You could say Steph Curry, too, but I think without James Harden that Houston team wouldn’t be in a playoff spot, so for me it’s James Harden.”
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Atlanta Hawks guard Kent Bazemore: “Stephen Curry is the best player on the best team; he would get my vote. He’s had an amazing season. You can’t discredit the other two guys, James Harden and Russell Westbrook, for what they’ve done with less talent, but Steph has been lights out with his points and assists. It’s his time (to be MVP).”
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Philadelphia 76ers guard Ish Smith: “Steph has done it consistently all year, and I know you people are looking at me like well, James (Harden), he’s missed a lot of players (because of injury). … And you can argue that, too. But Steph has done it consistently, I think, the whole year. … They’re the No. 1 seed. It’s pretty easy for me, because he’s been doing it so consistently. He doesn’t have to score 30 to beat you. He can get off the ball and score 11, 12 points and have 12 assists. He just has that ability.”
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Oklahoma City Thunder coach Scott Brooks: “It’s not my decision, but I know Russell is doing things we haven’t seen in a lot of years. Scoring, rebounding and passing. There are five guys that are well deserving of it. So many great individual players in this league. Russell is right there with them, and he is going to be for a long time.”
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Chicago Bulls forward Pau Gasol: “I think there’s a couple of candidates that deserve it for me. I think James Harden and Curry are the two guys that are obviously competing for it and deserve to get it. Obviously, only one of them will, but to me, I think what the Warriors are doing and have done this season. I think Stephen Curry leading that team and being an incredible player, I would reward him with that MVP, but they’re both well deserving of the trophy this year. James has carried that team incredibly and has played at a very, very high level.”
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Charlotte Hornets coach Steve Clifford: “I think you’ve got to go with Steph Curry simply because they have the best record. I think all three of those guys have just been incredible, but I think when it’s that close I would go with him simply because his team has played the best also.”
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Memphis Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger: “I’m not touching that one. Might be seeing some of those jokers in the next couple of weeks.”