Top 5 Candidates For NBA MVP: Is LeBron James Still The Favorite?

May 5, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James smiles before receiving his fourth MVP award at the American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

If LeBron James were to win the Most Valuable Player award this season, that would give him five MVP’s in six seasons and put him on par with Michael Jordan and Bill Russell. However LeBron, who is unquestionably the best player in the NBA, does face some tough competition.

He should already have five, but Derrick Rose somehow won it over him in 2011. That said, the NBA is as deep as it has ever been in regards to talent, making winning three-straight MVP’s even more difficult.

The following are the top five MVP candidates, in order, through the early slate of NBA games. Is James number one? Only one way to find out.