LeBron Looks Like The MVP लीडर

Teams will be hitting the midpoint of the 82-game season this week। Let's see who's shaping up as the leading MVP candidate.

1. LeBron James, Cavaliers forward -- Everyone in the East knows it's going to be hard to top a Cavaliers team with an always-improving LeBron in a seven-game series। He's developing his killer instinct, which is not good for the rest of the NBA. The recent win over the Spurs was a good psychological boost.

James is averaging a league-leading 29।7 points per game, along with 7।8 rebounds and 7।5 assists. That's big-time production, approaching Oscar Robertson territory. His team is getting healthy, too, and coach Mike Brown's two-year extension has given the team stability.

2. Kevin Garnett, Celtics forward -- Takes a team that had been playing non-existent defense and helps put it at the top of the league in terms of limiting opponents' field goal percentage (41।5), while also helping it earn the top point differential (plus-11.5). A lot can be attributed to Garnett's ability to play multiple positions and help where he's most needed. His arrival in the East has dramatically shifted the power. Whether or not the Celtics get more help at point guard, he's getting it done, now averaging 19.7 points and 9.7 rebounds per game.

3. Kobe Bryant, Lakers guard -- Surprise, surprise. Kobe Bean has never won an MVP, and this year won't be any different, even though he generally is recognized as the game's best player at both ends of the floor. He has found a way to nurture and develop his teammates while still scoring 27.7 points per game, second in the NBA. His production figures to pick up with the loss of Andrew Bynum for at least seven more weeks.
Although he is third here, in terms of a trade, which guy would you choose over Bryant? Nobody, in my opinion। That's the truth when it comes to a guy who can score 35 or 40 points and have it not be headline news. Don't forget that no matter what happens in the months and years ahead, Bryant's no-trade deal means he would trade the Lakers, not the other way around.

4. Dwight Howard, Magic center -- Still only 22, a refreshingly traditional big man who averages a league-leading 15.2 rebounds per game. As tremendous a young man as he is a player. Without Howard, the Magic would be a perennial lottery team. As it now stands, he has established himself alongside Tim Duncan and Amare Stoudemire as the game's most powerful and effective big men.
Being the leader of a young team will bring growing pains, but ultimately, we will see Howard put the Magic in position to compete for an East championship every year।

5. Jason Kidd, Nets guard -- Yes, the Nets have been up and down this season, including Sunday's 116-92 loss in Phoenix for a fifth straight defeat, but his ability to produce triple-doubles has us talking about him in terms of Magic Johnson and Oscar Robertson on a nightly basis.
He's averaging 11।4 points, 10.7 assists and 8.6 rebounds per game, the kind of numbers most any point guard would take. Right now, he's the face of the franchise. There has been talk of trading him and beginning to rebuild, but I don't see the Nets going down that path and being non-competitive when they move to Brooklyn.

Others considered:
Blazers guard Brandon Roy showed he had a hot hand before the season began, pulling the No। 1 pick in the lottery draw। The Blazers have a built-in excuse to say, "Wait until next year," but he has been a great young leader.

Chris Paul (21.5 points per game, 10.5 assists per game) has stepped up his game; now, it's not a matter of if New Orleans can win a playoff series, it's a question of whether it can find its way through the second round.

Spurs forward Tim Duncan's greatness is something we just take for granted. Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker make up the best "Big Three" in the NBA.

By Jalen Rose
ESPN.com