A tradition like no other, the annual NBA “Most Valuable Player” discussion is heating up—and at the perfect time thanks to Stephen Curry and Nikola Jokic. Spicy takes. Statistical breakdowns. Eye tests. Big wins. Gutting losses. Recency bias. You know the drill.

After Monday night's 47-point, 15-rebound, eight-assist performance in a 137-134 double-overtime win against the Memphis Grizzlies, Jokic only solidified his argument for the 2021 trophy. The 26-year-old, 6-foot-11 Denver Nuggets star is now averaging 26.4 points, 11.1 rebounds and 8.8 in 57 games this year so far.

Not bad for the 41st selection in the 2014 NBA Draft, eh?

Still, the race isn't over, with guys like Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, Dallas Mavericks point-forward Luka Doncic, Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard firmly entrenched in the fight. Phoenix Suns point guard Chris Paul deserves some notice, while Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard and Brooklyn Nets point guard James Harden can shake up some things.

But if Curry continues this torrid pace? Yeah, he's not only in the fight, but he's also fully capable of winning it.

Without Curry's services in 2019-20, the Golden State Warriors were a woeful 15-50—the worst franchise finish in nearly 20 years. Andrew Wiggins finished last season as Golden State's best scorer with 19.4 points among active players, while center Marquess Chriss became the first person not named Curry, Kevin Durant or David Lee over the past decade to lead the team in win shares (3.4).

Fast-forward to no and Curry is averaging a career-best 31.4 points on 49.1 percent from the floor, 43.1 percent from the arc and 92.2 percent from the stripe through 50 of a possible 58 games. He's averaging a career-best in rebounding (5.5) and a career-low in fouls (1.8). He's done nothing but bring showers in April, too, during which through 10 games he's averaging 40.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.4 assists while making 10-plus 3-pointers in four of the past five games.

According to Stat Muse, Curry is mercurially close to his unanimous MVP campaign in 2015-16, when he posted 30.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 6.7 assists on 66.9 percent true shooting.

Golden State is 28-22 this year when Curry takes the court, with wins over the Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Lakers, Bucks, Clippers Blazers, Mavericks, Nuggets and Sixers. It's a 13-game improvement from a year ago with 14 games remaining, and playoff hopes well intact.

If this isn't “most valuable,” it's awfully, awfully close. What can Curry do to make it closer?

1. Warriors must go 10-4 to finish season, avoid play-in tournament

At 29-29, the Warriors only have four weeks left before the 2021 NBA Playoffs begin. Among the top 10 teams in the Western Conference, only the Clippers (currently the No. 3 seed at 40-19) have fewer games left on the schedule (13). It's not a lot of time to make up some considerable ground.

But in these final 14 games, the Warriors have five games on the road and nine at home—including six-straight games in Oracle Arena to close the season (Oklahoma City twice, Utah, Phoenix, New Orleans and Memphis). Golden State is 17-10 on its home court this season: sixth-best in the Western Conference. And in those final 14 games, Warriors opponents have a combined .464 winning percentage

If Stephen Curry can somehow lead his club to a 10-4 stretch in this final month—say, 3-2 on the road and 7-2 at home—the Warriors would finish at 39-33 and likely right on the line for the No. 6 seed, thus avoiding the 2021 NBA play-in tournament for seeds No. 7-10. While Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Eric Paschall aren't exactly professional slouches, this team clearly misses the potential production of rookie center James Wiseman and the shooting touch of fellow “Splash Brother” Klay Thompson.

Chef Curry has been the short-order cook with those guys down and out, and his body of work can't be dismissed. If he puts up nuclear numbers in wins against Denver (April 23), Dallas (April 27), Utah (May 10) and Phoenix (May 11)—mathematically the best teams remaining on the Warriors schedule—the MVP race could be a photo finish.

Here are some potential 2021 Western Conference outcomes

  1. Phoenix Suns. Currently: 41-16. Last 10: 8-2. Games remaining: 15. Projected finish: 53-19.
  2. Utah Jazz. Currently: 43-15. Last 10: 6-4. Games remaining: 14. Projected finish: 51-21.
  3. LA Clippers. Currently: 40-19. Last 10: 8-2. Games remaining: 13. Projected finish: 50-22.
  4. Denver Nuggets. Currently: 37-20. Last 10: 8-2. Games remaining: 15. Projected finish: 49-23.
  5. Los Angeles Lakers. Currently: 35-23. Last 10: 5-5. Games remaining: 14. Projected finish: 42-30.
  6. Memphis Grizzlies. Currently: 29-27. Last 10: 6-4. Games remaining: 16. Projected finish: 39-33.
    (Play-in line)
  7. Portland Trail Blazers. Currently: 32-24. Last 10: 4-6. Games remaining: 16. Projected finish: 38-34.
  8. Dallas Mavericks. Currently: 30-26. Last 10: 5-5. Games remaining: 16. Projected finish: 38-34.
  9. Golden State Warriors. Currently: 29-29. Last 10: 6-4. Games remaining: 14. Projected finish: 37-35.
  10. San Antonio Spurs. Currently: 28-28. Last 10: 4-6. Games remaining: 16. Projected finish: 34-38.

2. Stephen Curry must Continue to average 30-plus points per game

Golden State has experienced some tough losses so far in the month of April: seven points to the Miami Heat, six points to the Atlanta Hawks, three points to the Washington Wizards and five points to the Boston Celtics. But it has not really been the fault of Curry, who has joined some elite company with his recent outburst in shooting:

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That's Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain, for the uninitiated, and lofty, lofty company. He currently leads the NBA in scoring (31.4 points), just ahead of Washington's Bradley Beal (conveniently Golden State's next opponent).

In Tuesday's 49-point outburst and win against Philadelphia, Curry became the oldest player in NBA history to post five or more 40-point games in the same month, surpassing Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan in the process.

Golden State is 18-10 when Stephen Curry scores 30 or more points this season (a .643 winning percentage), and if he were to continue his 30-points-per-game streak to the end of the regular slate, it would be tied for the fourth-longest stretch (25 games) in NBA history with Chamberlain (who did such for the Philadelphia Warriors in 1962).

Jokic is still -400 to bring in the hardware, according to draftkings.com, but Curry has precipitously moved up to 30/1 odds after this run.

So the ball is in his hands. And that's not a bad place for it to be right now.