Harden is a really polarizing player because he rarely looks good doing it, but he's pretty much an efficiency machine.
He doesnt look like Curry or Kyrie with the ball, but his ballhandling is incredibly effective. He looks like the refs give him every call, but when you watch close, he deserves most calls he gets.
Lebron and Harden both elevate everyone. Take either off the floor and its a long night. I didn't think the Rockets could be this good without Howard. The Cavs should be okay without LBJ, but they aren't.
Lebron and him have similar effects on their team this year. I could make an argument for Lebron doing it all while also having to be a player/coach and manage all the egos and try and make things mesh with a bunch of talented parts, but Harden is probably the MVP going by the criteria of how we pick MVP's since the Jordon era, and I'm sure he'd like to have a Kyrie and Love to try and mesh with rather than go it alone every night.
Before MJ, it was generally the best player. I think Lebron is the best player, and if he isn't, it's Davis, not Curry or Harden imo, but Harden I think should win by modern standards. I think Curry will win. The media like him more and he's the best player on the best team, and he looks good doing it.