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Power Ranking Top 10 NBA MVP Candidates Through Week 9 of 2015-16 Season

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Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Most NBA teams have made it through 30 games this season which is a perfect time to start monitoring the 2015-16 NBA MVP race. Last season’s winner, Stephen Curry, is having another tremendous start to the campaign, but there are certainly a number of worthy candidates. Here’s how the top 10 would look if I were voting today.

Jason Fletcher is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @JasonFletcher25, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google+.

10. PF Paul Millsap, Atlanta Hawks

PF Paul Millsap, Atlanta Hawks Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Although I'm not completely confident he can keep this up over a full season, Millsap is averaging career highs in points (18.2), rebounds (8.9) and assists (3.4) this season. With the Hawks holding the second-best record in the Eastern Conference, it's only fitting that their best player makes the list.

Although I'm not completely confident he can keep this up over a full season, Millsap is averaging career highs in points (18.2), rebounds (8.9) and assists (3.4) this season. With the Hawks holding the second-best record in the Eastern Conference, it's only fitting that their best player makes the list.

9. PG Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers

PG Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Paul's numbers are down from last season, but he's been the driving force behind the Clippers' 18-13 record. With Blake Griffin out the last two games, Paul's responded with 19 points and 11 assists in a win over the Utah Jazz and 23 points and seven assists in a win over the Wizards.

Paul's numbers are down from last season, but he's been the driving force behind the Clippers' 18-13 record. With Blake Griffin out the last two games, Paul's responded with 19 points and 11 assists in a win over the Utah Jazz and 23 points and seven assists in a win over the Wizards.

8. PG John Wall, Washington Wizards

PG John Wall, Washington Wizards Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
If the Wizards had a better record, I would have Wall much higher on this list. He's done everything for his team while every other starter has dealt with injuries. Wall is averaging 19.9 points, 9.7 assists and 4.1 rebounds through 29 games for the injury-riddled Wizards, often winning games on his own.

If the Wizards had a better record, I would have Wall much higher on this list. He's done everything for his team while every other starter has dealt with injuries. Wall is averaging 19.9 points, 9.7 assists and 4.1 rebounds through 29 games for the injury-riddled Wizards, often winning games on his own.

7. PG Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors

PG Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Lowry has been an animal this season, as he's averaging career highs in points (20.9), rebounds (4.9) and three-point percentage (38.8). Him and DeMar DeRozan have teamed together to keep the Raptors afloat while DeMarre Carroll and Jonas Valanciunas have been out with injuries.

Lowry has been an animal this season, as he's averaging career highs in points (20.9), rebounds (4.9) and three-point percentage (38.8). Him and DeMar DeRozan have teamed together to keep the Raptors afloat while DeMarre Carroll and Jonas Valanciunas have been out with injuries.

6. SF Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder

SF Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
Durant is doing a tremendous job of ignoring the noise about his impending free agency and has helped lead the Thunder to the fourth-best record in the NBA. "The Durantula" is currently averaging 26.6 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists while shooting a career-best 51.9 percent from the field.

Durant is doing a tremendous job of ignoring the noise about his impending free agency and has helped lead the Thunder to the fourth-best record in the NBA. "The Durantula" is currently averaging 26.6 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists while shooting a career-best 51.9 percent from the field.

5. SF LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers

SF LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
LeBron James is still one of the top players in the world, but it seems as if he's having a down year to this point. Then you take a look at the stats and he's averaging 25.7 points, 7.4 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game while shooting 48.8 percent from the field.

LeBron James is still one of the top players in the world, but it seems as if he's having a down year to this point. Then you take a look at the stats and he's averaging 25.7 points, 7.4 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game while shooting 48.8 percent from the field.

4. SF Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs

SF Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports
I don't know if Leonard will ever get the acknowledgement he deserves because of the team he plays for. With Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and LaMarcus Aldridge, Leonard often gets lost in the shuffle, but it's time for that to end. He's averaging 20.8 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game while shooting 50.7 percent from the field and 48 percent from three-point range.

I don't know if Leonard will ever get the acknowledgement he deserves because of the team he plays for. With Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and LaMarcus Aldridge, Leonard often gets lost in the shuffle, but it's time for that to end. He's averaging 20.8 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game while shooting 50.7 percent from the field and 48 percent from three-point range.

3. PF Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors

PF Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
As important as Curry is to the Warriors, an argument could be made that Green is just as essential to the team's success. After signing a five-year, $85 million deal in the offseason, Green has improved leaps-and-bounds compared to last year. He's averaging a career high in points (14.9), rebounds (9.0), assists (7.0), field goal percentage (46.2) and three-point percentage (40.7). Not to mention he's the team's best defender.

As important as Curry is to the Warriors, an argument could be made that Green is just as essential to the team's success. After signing a five-year, $85 million deal in the offseason, Green has improved leaps-and-bounds compared to last year. He's averaging a career high in points (14.9), rebounds (9.0), assists (7.0), field goal percentage (46.2) and three-point percentage (40.7). Not to mention he's the team's best defender.

2. PG Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder

PG Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Westbrook had the best season of his career in 2014-15, but most of it was without Kevin Durant by his side which forced him to shoulder more of the offensive responsibility. With Durant back this season, Westbrook's scoring is down roughly three points, but he's averaging 9.3 assists and shooting a career-best 46.7 percent from the field.

Westbrook had the best season of his career in 2014-15, but most of it was without Kevin Durant by his side which forced him to shoulder more of the offensive responsibility. With Durant back this season, Westbrook's scoring is down roughly three points, but he's averaging 9.3 assists and shooting a career-best 46.7 percent from the field.

1. PG Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

PG Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
As amazing as Curry was last season, he's been been even better this year. His scoring is up nearly seven points per game to 30.5 and his rebounds have jumped from 4.3 to 5.7. As crazy as those stats are, the most impressive is his 50.1 shooting percentage from the field and 44.6 three-point percentage. It's unfair for someone to be this talented, and Curry's clearly been the MVP to this point.

As amazing as Curry was last season, he's been been even better this year. His scoring is up nearly seven points per game to 30.5 and his rebounds have jumped from 4.3 to 5.7. As crazy as those stats are, the most impressive is his 50.1 shooting percentage from the field and 44.6 three-point percentage. It's unfair for someone to be this talented, and Curry's clearly been the MVP to this point.

Jason Fletcher is a writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter and like him on Facebook.
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