3. Kevin Durant, forward, Golden State Warriors
Durant’s transition to the Warriors has been about as seamless as it comes. Sure there were initial issues, just look at the season-opening blowout loss to San Antonio. But more often than not, Durant has fit in extremely well on a team that won 73 games last year.
What is so amazing about Durant’s performance thus far this season is the level of efficiency in which he is playing. The former MVP has seen his points per game average drop about 2.5 from a season ago. Though, he’s shooting at a remarkable 54 percent from the field and boasts an absurd 59 percent effective field goal mark.
In addition to this, Durant is averaging a career-best 8.4 rebounds to go with 4.8 assists and 1.7 blocks per outing. To magnify Durant’s efficiency, he’s averaging an otherworldly 1.5 points per shot.
Able to focus more on the defensive end of the court, Durant has also proven himself to be an elite defender. He can guard anyone from the wing to the center position, and has done so remarkably well this season.
This has led to the Warriors boasting the Association’s top defensive rating despite losing the likes of Harrison Barnes and Andrew Bogut this past summer.
With a team as talented as Golden State, we fully expect Durant and two-time reigning NBA MVP Stephen Curry to split votes in that category this season. Add in the fact that Durant joined a 73-win team, and it’s unlikely he will win the game’s top individual honor. Still, he should be mentioned among the most valuable heading into the season’s second half.