After finishing second in last year's MVP race to Oklahoma City Russell Westbrook, it looks as though 2017-18 could finally be the season where James Harden is recognized as the league's best player.

If it were down to his coach and his Houston Rockets teammates, he would be winning the award this year, as Eric Gordon has said Harden is 'clear cut' choice to win the accolade this year.

Gordon believes the guard is 'clear cut' to win the MVP award this season because he has been efficient all season long and he's always been clutch for the Rockets when they have needed him the most. 

Gordon said to Sam Amick of USA TODAY Sports: “I mean to me it’s just clear cut he should be the MVP. He’s scoring. He’s passing. And to me, the efficiency is just there. You know, whenever there’s a tight game, he’s just hitting the tough shots. I just don’t know what else you want from a guy like that.”

The current Sixth Man of the Year also added: “I just think he needed teammates around him like he has now, where we can play both sides of the ball where it takes a lot of pressure of him, and he can just focus on one thing – that’s really scoring, and he’s defending better.”

Harden is leading the way in the MVP race at the moment, ahead of the likes of teammate Chris Paul, Steph Curry, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Anthony Davis with only a couple of games left to play in the season. 

One of the main reasons why the 28-year-old is ahead in the race for the award is because he currently leads the league in average points per game with 31.2 and he also has the highest average player efficiency rating with 30.6.

The Rockets also boast the best record in the NBA this season so far under his leadership with a 57-14 record, and they are four games ahead of the Golden State Warriors at the top of the Western Conference with a current win streak of six games.

Harden will have a chance to continue his MVP-worthy form when the Rockets play later this evening against the Detroit Pistons at the Toyota Center in Houston.

Listen HERE to the first episode of the new GiveMeSport NBA podcast, featuring former Cleveland Cavaliers General Manager David Griffin.

Enjoy, and please subscribe for all future episodes.