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After 30 years as the Commissioner of the NBA, David Stern stepped down and announced David Silver as his successor. The NBA Finals format changed from the 2-3-2 to 2-2-1-1-1. For the All-Star starters, fans were asked to vote for 2 guards and 3 forwards for the first time replacing the earlier format of voting for 2 guards, 2 forwards and a center.The two time defending champions Miami Heat became the first team since the Boston Celtics of the 1980’s to make four consecutive NBA Finals appearances but were dethroned in convincing fashion by the well-coached San Antonio Spurs.Kevin Durant ended his spell of finishing second by beating LeBron James to the MVP title last season. He became the first player since Allen Iverson in 2001 to be named the MVP and win the scoring title.As seen above, 2014 was a year of lot of changes in the league however Durant and James remain among top 5 players list. Who are the rest in list of top 5 players of the calendar year?
#5 Kawhi Leonard - San Antonio Spurs
A man of very few words, Kawhi Leonard lets his game do the talking for him on the court. In what was his breakthrough year, he displayed the fruit of the hard work he had put in with the San Antonio Spurs’ player development staff.
Given the job of guarding the best player on the planet in James at the biggest stages of them all, Leonard had a disappointing first two games in the NBA Finals. Backed by his Head Coach Greg Popovich, he stepped up his play in the next three games to a level that forced the hand of the panel of members responsible to name him as the NBA Finals MVP. His defense all through last season earned him his All-NBA Defensive team selection (All-NBA Defensive Second Team).
If it wasn’t for his post-season performance and play in the NBA Finals, Leonard would not have been on this list given the level of talent in the league. With Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili playing their last season and Tony Parker well past his prime, he is the frontrunner to be the next player to carry this prestigious franchise ahead into the future.
#4 Stephen Curry - Golden State Warriors
Last season Stephen Curry made the jump from an average point guard in the league to one that always has the spotlight on him. With slick handles, superb court vision and arguably the best shooting quick release follow through ever, he has all the qualities of a point guard that could get the crowd on its feet.
Losing center Andrew Bogut during the final few games of the regular season left a hole in the Warrior’s defense resulting in the team losing to the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round. Golden State might not have been able to push the Clippers to seven games if it wasn’t for Curry and his play.
Curry made his first All-Star start in his first selection last year. By the end of team’s campaign, he received his first All-NBA team selection (All-NBA Second Team).
In the ongoing season, he is averaging career highs in points, rebounds, assists and also has the 4th best PER (Player Efficiency Rating) in the League. Durant missed six weeks of action due to a Jones fracture before returning to the floor and James has been inconsistent in his production so far, making the Curry the frontrunner for the MVP award this season.
#3 Anthony Davis - New Orleans Pelicans
Drafted 1st overall in the 2012 NBA Draft, Anthony Davis has made huge progress through every season of his NBA career. This year has been extra special for the 22-year-old as he was named an All-Star for the first time as a replacement for the injured Kobe Bryant and was also the member of the USA Basketball National Team that defended its FIBA World Cup crown.
Davis has unique athletic and jumping ability for a forward of his size at 6 foot 10 inches. In Davis, the Pelicans have a potential franchise player who they can build a team around in order to be competitive and contend for a title.
Although he might lose out on the MVP this season due to his team’s record so far, but when it comes to talent of individual players he is without doubt the best player after Durant and James. He has had a wonderful 2013 but his talent and work ethic is such that he is bound to have many great years in his career ahead.
#2 LeBron James - Cleveland Cavaliers
LeBron James dominated the league in 2012 and 2013 performance wise. There wasn’t a single player in the NBA who was playing at a level that was close to him. James could only do enough to get to No. 2 on the list this year.
Although he shouldered more load the previous season, with Dwyane Wade sitting many games to rest his knees, James delivered under immense amount of pressure. The off-season this year was one that saw another transition phase for the King to go through, as he returned to his former and home state team of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The first quarter of the ongoing season has been up and down for the King and his Cavaliers. The team is guaranteed of a win only when James goes into facilitator mode for majority of the game. By deciding to hold back and allow the team to stand on its own feet, James might have taken a hit in the MVP race but he is still by a large margin the best basketball player on the planet.
#1 Kevin Durant - Oklahoma City Thunder
And finally the 2014 NBA Player of the Year is the reigning league MVP Kevin Durant.
With Russell Westbrook recovering from knee injuries for a major part of last season, Durant took it upon himself to lead the team and guide it for a good seed in the Playoffs. As mentioned earlier he was the first player since Iverson to win the scoring title and be named the league MVP in the same season.
He also unseated LeBron by winning the Best NBA player award and Best male athlete at the 2014 ESPY’s (Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly awards). He came together with HBO network to release a documentary that gives an insight into the MVP’s off-season. The high stakes battle between Under Armour and Nike to sign Durant was a testament to his high brand value.
He had ended his spell of always coming second by beating James in votes for MVP honors. Despite his stellar year individually, he would have been disappointed to not be able to carry his team over the hump as they lost in the Western Conference Finals to the San Antonio Spurs.
