Week 6 of the NBA season has just closed and what has come out of it? Nothing but superhuman statistics from great players, of course.  This season has shown both great teams and even greater players, most of them neck and neck competitors for the MVP spot.

The top 5 players are listed as followed. At spot number 5 is Kawhi Leonard of the San Antonio Spurs. The San Antonio Spurs are second in the Western Conference with a record of 17 wins and 4 losses.  Kawhi Leonard has put on an impressive show on both offense and defense, as he has been averaging 23.5 points per game and 3 assists while averaging 5  defensive and offensive rebounds per game. He has also been providing stellar defense as the reigning defensive player of the year. After winning their home game Friday they will have to play 3 away games before returning to their home arena.

At spot number 4 is Lebron James aka “King James.”  The former  NBA Finals champion, along with his team the Cleveland Cavaliers, have gotten off to a blistering start. The Cavaliers are first in the Eastern Conference with a record of 14 wins and 5 losses.  Although the Cavs have had a great start to the season, their last couple of games have been shaky with 3 consecutive losses, resulting in James moving to a lower place, from second to fourth in this MVP race. Lebron said in an interview, “The honeymoon stage is over.” meaning it’ll only get harder from here on out.  Lebron  still puts on a good show averaging 23.9 points per game, 9.2 rebounds, and 7.7 rebounds.

Spot number 3 is claimed by the newest member of the Golden State Warriors “splash family”, Kevin Durant. Durant is spending his first season with the Warriors after becoming a free agent at the end of last season.  After a rocky pre-season, the Warriors have shown more than needed to prove that they are still the most dominant team in the Western Conference.  Their record of 18-3 more than proves that. Durant has been a big contributor to this regular season turnaround, averaging 29.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 2.8 blocks per game. No one expects this kind of show coming from Durant’s first month with the team but now that he has shown what he can do on this team, he’ll have a lot of fans expecting great things to come.

Spot number 2 goes to the man, the myth, the “Beard,” James Harden of the Houston Rockets. The Rockets have had a great week, getting 3 consecutive wins. With a record of 14-7,  the Rockets have been doing far better than last season, which they held a record of 10-11 at this point. James Harden has been a big part of this along Eric Gordon, who was a new player to the Rockets. They have been putting up points like no tomorrow, with Harden taking to his new Point Guard position under Coach Mike D’Antoni dishing out buckets and assists.  Harden himself has been averaging 28.7 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 11.6 assists per game. It’s no easy feat to get those numbers, which makes Harden’s case for MVP very convincing.

Finally, spot number 1 goes to the Oklahoma City Thunder’s superstar Russell Westbrook. Russell Westbrook has been on a nonstop rampage averaging triple doubles for 4 games and counting. The team’s current performance was not expected this season due to Kevin Durant leaving the Thunder. Thunder fans were left speechless with his actions and said that one player needed the other to succeed. While Durant himself has put on a great show, Westbrook has shown a far better solo game. Averaging 31 points per game,  11.3 assists, and 10.9 rebounds per game he has surely made the statement that he is the number 1 contender for the MVP spot of the 2016-2017 season. He as been putting up historic individual stats that rival those of Michael Jordan and Oscar Robertson. Westbrook has been a one man show this season, putting his team on his back. He as truly personified the meaning of most valuable player, as this Thunder team relies on Westbrook’s excellence.