NBA MVP 2013: LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant - Who Will Be Named MVP?

If there's one additional thing we are looking forward to in the next round of the Playoffs, it will definitely be the MVP award. As accustomed, the coveted individual award is expected to be given out in the second round of the postseason to the best player of the season. This year, three superstar players with superstar skills are battling out for the right to be called this season's Most Valuable Player.

Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony and last year's MVP, LeBron James, are all leading the pack in the category. But at the end of the day and after thousands of ballots casted, only one man will remain standing. So who is it going to be? We weigh in the chances of these three players to find out.

Carmelo Anthony

Already on his ninth year in the NBA, Carmelo is looking to win his first ever Championship in the league this season-and it's not far out. The player's notable performance this year can go down in his career history as his best yet. Averaging 28.7 points per game, Melo led the season in PPG this year. Also leading the New York Knicks, his team landed second in the Eastern Conference at the end of the season. If anything, this season proves how hungry the NYK forward is for a Championship ring.

Standing 3-1 against the Boston Celtics, the team is a win away from entering the second round of Playoffs-all with the help of his scoring prowess.

Anthony was also named NBA All-Rookie first team in 2004, All-NBA second team in 2010 and All-NBA third team in 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2012.

Kevin Durant

KD also led the league in scoring for a good part of this season. Averaging 28.1 points and 8.9 boards per game, Durant has proven to be a threat not only on offense but on defense as well. Notably, since starting this Playoff season against the Houston Rockets, Durantula has averaged 33 points in four games. In their first loss to the Rockets in the series last Monday, the forward scored 38 points in 12 of 16 shooting for an impressive 75% FG.

If KD has proven anything, it is this: his team can depend on him when it counts. Notably, in his five years in the league, he has received considerable awards, including Rookie of the Year and All-Rookie first team in 2008, All-NBA first team in 2010, 2011 and 2012, he was also All-Star MVP last season.

LeBron James

What's there to say that hasn't been said about this three-time MVP?

LeBron is the most decorated player among these three and is actually tied for fourth in most MVP awards won in the NBA, ever. Will he make it to top 3 after this season? That's still yet to be seen. However, it seems that all roads are pointing = to that direction.

LeBron has led his team into securing a Playoff spot early on in the season, landing first seed in the East. Miami Heat only lost 16 of its 82 games this season, and almost beat an NBA record by winning 27 consecutive games. King James also leads his team in points and assists per game, as well as having the league's fifth highest PPG and the highest field goal percentage at 62.7%.

Aside from scoring, he has also been a great leader on court-even playing in the one spot when needed. This season, LeBron has established that he really is an all-around player.

With all this-and considering all these players achievement throughout the season and in their careers-it seems that the pendulum is swinging on LeBron James' side. Even ESPN's team of professionals have all voted for James to bring home this year's MVP. However, it will be too early to say for certain that he'll bring home the bacon. We'll have to wait a few more days to find out.