NBA MVP Links: Stephen Curry & Anthony Davis

This week, I've been keeping late nights reading and writing and grading. Okay, mostly I've just been grading. Anyway, here are some links to some recent pieces I've done over at ESPN TrueHoop's BallerBall on the MVP debate:

In hindsight, the 2009 NBA Draft is full of what if moments. Going into the night, everyone knew Blake Griffin would be selected number one overall by the Clippers. The number two pick was Hasheem Thabeet, chosen by the Memphis Grizz. Then the Thunder chose James Harden. The King picked Tyreke Evans. For the most part, all of these picks made sense at the time, although Memphis whiffed terribly on the Thabeet pick. (Imagine what a Grizz triumvirate of Z-Bo, Marc Gasol, and Harden could have accomplished.) And then there's what Minnesota did, which was inexplicable at the time and has become even more so. The Timberwolves front office, led by David Khan, selected not one but two point guards ahead of Stephen Curry. First, the team took Ricky Rubio. Second, the team selected Jonny Flynn. Golden State then snatched up Stephen Curry. And, if not for Harden, then the best player of the 2009 Draft class would undeniably be the little guard that could from Davidson.

Moreover, Stephen Curry is not only a legitimate MVP candidate but a contender for best player of his generation. After all, the 2009 class is arguably the best NBA Draft class since 2003, which featured LeBron, Melo, and Wade. Drafts that feature three MVP candidates in the top seven are rare. However, the draft also included DeMar DeRozan, Ty Lawson, Jeff Teague, Darren Collison, Taj Gibson, DeMarre Carroll, and Tyler Hansbrough. All of these guys have led or contributed to Playoff teams. All of these guys, except for maybe Psycho T, would have been better picks for the T-Wolves. This draft resurrected franchises. And yet, of the top seven picks from 2009 only three remain with the teams that drafted them: Griffin, Rubio, and Curry.

What's so awesome about the continued ascension of Stephen Curry is that, while everyone knew he could shoot, no one expected him to be this apt at not only handling the basketball but the reins of a monster like this year's Warriors. His draft selection says as much. At BallerBall, other MVP candidates and Jamie Fox discuss just who is this Shakespearean half of the Splash Brothers.

And, if Curry's not your horse in this race, check out the other MVP candidates and John Calipari in discussion over Anthony Davis' merits. Or, read this poem about Kyrie Irving

What's interesting about Anthony Davis compared with Stephen Curry is how nothing about Davis has really ever surprised. He was never a Cinderella. Even as a freshman at Kentucky, he was Goliath. He was born to gnash his teeth on glass slippers. This battle--the little guy from Davidson and the giant from the Blue Grass--is the future of the Western Conference. Oh, and that Harden guy, but we'll save that conversation for some other time.

I'm back off to grading and writing and reading. But mostly grading.

Bryan Harvey can be followed @LawnChairBoys.