NBA MVP Ladder 2014: Will Lebron Capture his 5th Trophy?

As the 2013-2014 NBA regular season draws to a close on April 16, 2014, a number of stars are being considered to take home the Maurice Podoloff Trophy. 

According to Bleacher Report, Lebron James and Kevin Durant are the two most favored to bring home the MVP award, as they continue to exchange 30-point performances. Many experts speculate that the more mature role of James puts him in a very preferred spot to win his fifth MVP trophy. There are also other all-star considerations such as Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers, Joakim Noah of the Chicago Bulls, and Paul George of the Indiana Pacers. 

Lebron, however, continues to improve. In the 2012-2013 season, he averaged 26.8 points, 8.0 rebounds and 7.3 assists. He also had career highs by shooting 56% from the field and 41% from the three-point range. For the 2013-2014 season, he is shooting 62% from the field and over 51% from the three-point arc. He scored 30 or more points in three straight games, shooting 71% from the field and over 60% from the three-point arc, according to a report by The League News. 

At 29 years old, James is constantly improving and takes on bigger leadership roles for the Miami Heat, despite the presence of other stars like Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade. Wade has been on and off games due to nagging injuries, but James showed that he is more aggressive than ever and gets other teammates involved to easily garner a playoff berth. Since Ray Allen is having a bad year from beyond the arc, James is taking on the role and boosting his long range game. 

In a report by iSportsWeb, Durant is the closest contender for the MVP title, who is also carrying the Oklahoma Thunders as sidekick Russell Westbrook heals from a knee injury. Durant has been the leading scorer in the NBA three times in four years, averaging 32.2 points in the 2013-2014 season.