Kawhi to his team is right up there, he just didnt have the stats to win it. I think Westbrook will win it but wouldnt have a problem with Harden winning it
Harden took a team that lots of people before the year had no idea where they would end up and got them to a 3 seed. Harden completely transformed as a player. Watch the Rockets play and he's the engine that makes them all go. He's gone from a Shooting Guard to a Point Guard and averaged the most assists in the NBA per game. And on top of that he upped his PPG a smidge. That's insane. He makes each of his teammates better when he's on the court.
The guy literally changed his position and the way he plays, and improved from him being in the MVP conversation last year.
The reason I have Russ at #2, because I don't think he improved at all as a player. What he did was basically have just the most opportunity out of everyone. What he did was amazing, historic and unfathomable when you think of it from a stats position. But that alone doesn't get it done. Players before him have had amazing stats, but were passed up because their team wasn't as successful as another team.