LeBron James didn't start this season playing like an MVP, but that's changed in a hurry since his return from an 8-game injury absence last month.
In the 16 games since his return, the Cavs are 14-3. They still have a way to go to catch the premier teams in the East, but Cleveland finally looks like the team it was supposed to be...and James' resurgence is the biggest reason why.
Now that James is back in the MVP hunt, he spoke about his competition at an All-Star weekend media event on Friday.
According to James, he still has a bit of catching up to do in the MVP race, with Golden State's Stephen Curry and Houston's James Harden leading the way as we hit the All-Star Break. Curry is averaging 23.6 points, 8 assists and 5 rebounds per game for the 42-9 Warriors, while Harden has single-handedly kept the Rockets afloat with Dwight Howard out injured. Harden is the NBA's leading scorer with 27.4 points per game, and James is trailing him in second place with 25.9.
Ultimately, James will need to continue this pace if he wants to take home his fifth MVP award - every winner since Karl Malone in the injury-shortened 98-99 season has come from a team that finished first or second in its respective conference. The Cavs are currently fifth, trailing the 2nd-place Toronto Raptors by four games.
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