Top 5 NBA players: Harden, LeBron or Durant?

After coming second in last year's MVP race to Russell Westbrook, James Harden has taken it up a notch this season, becoming the clear MVP favourite by as early as the quarter mark of the season.

Harden is leading the Rockets to the number one seed in the West ahead of the Warriors. In doing so, he's leading the top-ranked offense in the history of the NBA, whilst also putting up career-best numbers.

At this stage of the season, Harden is averaging just over 31 points a game, up from 29 points last season. An offensive powerhouse, Harden's scoring and playmaking are huge reasons for the Rockets' success. A long-overdue MVP award awaits, but will he take his Rockets all the way?

LeBron James just continues to prove he's one of the all-time greats of the game. At the ripe old age of 33, LeBron has not wavered in the slightest, continuing to put up outstanding numbers and consistently making players around him better.

This season, James is averaging just under 27 points a game, whilst dishing out nine assists and over eight rebounds per contest. All at 33. That he's still putting up these numbers at this age is outstanding, hence why many still consider him the league's best.

And LeBron has been even more phenomenal after bringing in a younger nucleus to Cleveland during the trade period. LeBron has been averaging 29 points a game and just under ten rebounds and assists since then, so he is essentially almost averaging a triple-double. 

Giannis Antetokounmpo is the best two-way player in the league, surpassing the injured Kawhi Leonard. His claims to the MVP award this season may have cooled, but the Greek Freak's offensive dominance and defensive prowess position him amongst the league's best players. His over 27 points and ten rebounds a game this season prove that fact.

The two-time All-Star boasts a lengthy frame that is a handful for opposition teams, who struggle to find a suitable match-up. His explosiveness and ability to guard multiple positions is also why Giannis is undoubtedly the hottest young prospect in the league today. 

Anthony Davis has been hammering away for several seasons now, but in the past month has burst into some ridiculous form and taken over for the Pelicans following DeMarcus Cousins' injury. 

Throughout February, Davis averaged a whopping 35 points a game, whilst also grabbing 13 rebounds. Compare that to his season average of 28 points and 11 rebounds a match and you see what we mean. Davis' form has also thrust the Pelicans back into the playoff places and thrown him into the MVP conversation. 

Kevin Durant has been well known throughout his playing career as a good scorer. What sets his game apart this season, however, is the ability to lift his defensive game.

Consistently averaging over 25 points a game in every season except his first, Durant's offensive output has never been questioned. In fact, perhaps he's still the best scorer in today's game, as he has consistently shot at a field-goal percentage just under 60%.

But this season has seen Durant become more of a force on the defensive end of the floor as he is fourth in the league for blocks at just under two a game. He has proven to be a thorn in the side of teams looking to score against the Warriors and, combined with his elite offensive abilities, this warrants a place among the league's best. 

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