Jason Jones' Top 10 NBA MVP candidates

LeBron James, Forward, Miami
James is the frontrunner to win his third MVP after one of the best seasons in recent years averaging 27.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 1.8 steals. James shot 53.1 percent and might be the best perimeter defender in the NBA.

Photo caption: Miami's LeBron James says he knew he had to shoulder more of the load Tuesday, April 3, 2012, against the 76ers as he broke his nine-game streak of scoring fewer than 30 points.

Robert Duyos | Sun Sentinel/MCT
Kobe Bryant, Guard, Los Angeles Lakers
Don’t tell Bryant he’s too old to be the best in the NBA. Even at 33 Bryant put together a stellar season, averaging 27.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists as the Lakers won the Pacific Division.

Photo caption: Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, left, puts up a shot as Denver Nuggets center JaVale McGee defends during the first half of an NBA first-round playoff basketball game, Sunday, April 29, 2012, in Los Angeles.

Mark J. Terrill | AP
Chris Paul, Guard, Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers are contenders? That's no typo and Paul is the reason. The best point guard in the NBA averaged 19.1 points, 9.1 assists and an NBA-best 2.5 steals in leading the Clippers to the playoffs.

Photo caption: Chris Paul scored nine of his 19 points in overtime and had a season-high 15 assists on Wednesday, March 18, 2012, against the Detroit Pistons as the Clippers continued to toil through a grueling stretch of nine games in 12 days.

Ringo H.W. Chiu | AP Photo
Tony Parker, Guard, San Antonio
In his 11th season, Parker averaged a career-high 7.7 assists and led the Spurs to the best record in the Western Conference. Parker also averaged 18.3 points this season because he is among the best at getting into the paint.

Photo caption: San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker (9) drives as teammate Tiago Splitter (22) sets a pick on Los Angeles Lakers' Ramon Sessions (7) during the first half of their NBA basketball game, Tuesday, April 17, 2012, in Los Angeles.

Jason Redmond | AP Photo
Kevin Love, Forward, Minnesota
If a player on a losing team could win the award, it would be Love. The two-time All-Star averaged 26 points and 13.3 rebounds as one of the most versatile big men in the NBA. Not many power forwards could win the NBA three-point contest.

Photo caption: Minnesota center Kevin Love, right, drives while Oklahoma City's Nick Collison defends Friday night, March 23, 2012. Love surpassed 50 points for the first time in his career.

Alonzo Adams | AP Photo
Boston's Rajon Rondo, left, presses the ball Thursday, March 22, 2012, against the Bucks' Beno Udrih. Rondo had 10 points and 14 assists as Boston defeated Milwaukee.

Jeffrey Phelps | AP Photo
Dwight Howard, Center, Orlando
He might have kept the drama going with his trade request, but Howard is still the best center in the NBA. Howard averaged 20.6 points and had a league-leading 14.5 rebounds. He’s still an impact player on defense, too.

Photo caption: Dwight Howard takes the floor for what could have been his final home game with the Magic. After getting 24 points and 25 rebounds, he said he wants to stay in Orlando for the rest of the season.

Gary W. Green | Orlando Sentinel/MCT
The Magic's Dwight Howard goes for a basket against Lakers center Andrew Bynum on his way to 21 points and 23 rebounds Friday, January 20, 2012, in Orlando.

John Raoux | AP Photo
Carmelo Anthony, Forward, New York
He's an elite scorer (22.2 points per game) that can take over a game with his shooting. When Amar'e Stoudemire was injured, Anthony looked like he was the best scorer in the NBA when he had the freedom to operate.

Photo caption: The New York Knicks' Carmelo Anthony finds himself all alone in the back court during the first half against the Miami Heat in Game 2 of the NBA Eastern Conference Quarterfinals at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida, Monday, April 30, 2012.

Robert Duyos | MCT
Josh Smith, Forward, Atlanta
No way he'll win the MVP, but his play this season deserves recognition. With All-Star center Al Horford out most of the season with a pectoral injury, Smith posted career highs of 18.8 points and 9.6 rebounds. He's a big reason the Hawks have homecourt advantage in their first-round playoff series.

Photo caption: The Atlanta Hawks' Josh Smith reacts as time runs out in a 83-74 victory over the Celtics in Game 1 of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, Sunday, April 29, 2012.

Curtis Compton | MCT

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