Week 5 NBA MVP race: Russell Westbrook rewriting record books
USA TODAY Sports' top five candidates for the 2016-17 NBA MVP award (through Dec. 3).
Also receiving votes: Jimmy Butler, Chris Paul, Anthony Davis, Stephen Curry.
► Week 5 power rankings: Spurs creeping up quietly
► Week 5 Rookie of the Year: Joel Embiid leading one-man race
5. Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs
The two-time Defensive Player of the Year has led the Spurs to a 16-4 record behind a career-high 24.3 points per game, in addition to 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.2 steals. The highlight of his week was Friday night's game-winning jumper against the Washington Wizards.
4. LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
James said his Cavs — who lost three straight games to the Bucks, Clippers and Bulls — need to "get out of the honeymoon stage." They still sit atop the East standings, though, and James is averaging a career-high 9.4 assists to go along with 23.3 points and 7.7 rebounds.
3. James Harden, Houston Rockets
Thriving in coach Mike D'Antoni's system, Harden is doing it all for the Rockets — the West's fourth-place team. He ranks fourth in the NBA in scoring (28.3 points per game), first in assists (11.8) and his four triple-doubles are second in the league behind Russell Westbrook.
Gallery: Week 5 NBA MVP race
2. Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors
Sandwiched between his two former Thunder teammates in this week's MVP rankings, Durant is shooting a career-high 56.2% from the field and 42.9% from beyond the arc for the league-leading 17-3 Warriors. He's also averaging 27.3 points, 8.4 assists and 4.8 rebounds — good enough for our No. 2 spot for the second consecutive week.
1. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
Westbrook — better known as Mr. Triple-Double — is averaging a superhuman stat line of 31.2 points, 11.3 assists and 10.5 rebounds, and until something suggests differently, we don't expect him to slow down one bit. This week, he became the first player since Oscar Robertson to enter the month of December averaging a triple-double.
List of voters: USA TODAY Sports' Jeff Zillgitt, Sam Amick, Kevin Spain, AJ Neuharth-Keusch and Michael Singer; Arizona Republic's Paul Coro; The (Memphis) Commercial Appeal's Ronald Tillery; Detroit Free Press' Vince Ellis; Indianapolis Star's Nate Taylor; Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Charles Gardner; The (Bergen) Record's Steve Popper; HoopsHype.com's Jorge Sierra and Raul Barrigon; USA TODAY Sports Weekly's Howard Megdal.