For what may be the first time in NBA history, the MVP hasn’t already been decided.
In other seasons, any regular NBA fan can pick out who is going to win the MVP, or narrow it down to two players, and then vote depending on whose team finishes with a better record. 
Not this year.
In the words of one of the remaining contenders, the NBA has “not two, not three, not four,” but five top-notch candidates.
The quote comes from LeBron James, who’s sitting pretty to be in the MVP discussion at season’s end for the millionth year in a row. And rightfully so. He is the best player in the league, and if you disagree, I recommend watching more basketball.
At the All-Star break, James was an afterthought for the award after missing eight games in late December and early January. But he has flipped a switch and put up some of his best games against some of his biggest competition, including 42 points against the Warriors on Feb. 26 and 37 against the Rockets on March 1.
Anyone who watched the game against Houston will probably only remember his 3-for-11 performance at the free-throw line, not the 37 points he put on the board. This “choke” will undoubtedly injure James’ attempt to reclaim the MVP trophy and his throne as best player in the league.
The guy who didn’t choke was Houston’s own “King James,” guard James Harden, as he was so ridiculously called following the Rockets’ victory against the Cavs.
While one game wasn’t enough to push Harden to the top of the NBA hierarchy, it moved him closer to his first MVP title. 
He leads the league in points, which helped Kevin Durant win the trophy last season, but he also leads the league in trips to the free throw line by almost 150 attempts. Going to the line that often puts an asterisk on the point total and his case to win the award.
The second-highest point total in the league belongs to another top contender, Golden State’s Stephen Curry.
Curry was the leader at the All-Star break, but he hasn’t done anything to wow the voters since. Well, that’s not entirely true. He did shoot a three, turn around and stare down the player who tried to block it all before the ball even went in. That’s some style.
Speaking of style, nobody has worse style in the NBA than the Thunder’s Russell Westbrook.
The UCLA product comes to his postgame press conferences dressed like a mix of Pee-wee Herman and Steve Urkel. But his basketball skills are like a mix of LeBron and Harden. He’s a shooter, a dunker and a nuisance on defense. He possess unique skill set and it showed during his run of five triple-doubles in six games, including four straight, without Durant.
The last person to reel off a run like that was Michael Jordan, who put up seven straight  triple-doubles in 1989. Jordan finished second that season in the MVP voting to Magic Johnson, so Westbrook’s streak doesn’t make him a guarantee.
The biggest deciding factor for him is if his team gets into the playoffs, which he might not get to decide. That might be Anthony Davis’ decision.
Similar to LeBron, Davis missed 12 games this season, but the rest of the Pelicans have managed to stay within striking distance of Oklahoma City for the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference. He returned from his most recent injury on March 4 poised to toss his hat in the ring, averaging 33.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 4.5 blocks per game entering Tuesday.
If the Pelicans eventually pass the Thunder, it’ll be on the shoulders of Davis’ incredible play, and it could be enough to get him the trophy.
Regardless of who wins, the NBA needs diversity. The league needs multiple teams with this level of talent to increase viewership.
When the Heat was a superpower, the league was fun but wasn’t diverse. There was little reason to watch other teams. After the first few weeks of amazement that the Globetrotters had joined the NBA, every game meant nothing because no one else compared to their greatness.
But now as the talent pool begins thinning out across the league again, the NBA has become better to watch, and this last month will be even more enjoyable with these five players battling for the MVP.
Brian Pellerin is a 21-year-old mass communication junior from Kenner, Louisiana. You can reach him on Twitter @Pellerin_TDR.