The recipient of a bachelor's degree in education from Lehman College, Melanie Salkin pursued a career in the fashion sector and worked as the head buyer of merchandise for a New York-based bridal store. However, Melanie Salkin used her degree in education to volunteer as a tutor. She called upon her love of basketball to make learning more fun for her students.
The 2017-18 National Basketball Association (NBA) season is nearing its halfway point, and several publications are already predicting the league's MVP. Here are three front-runners:
1. James Harden - A 6-foot-5-inch guard with the Houston Rockets, Harden is a five-time All-Star who is averaging a career-best and league-leading 32.3 points per game. He has also averaged 9.1 assists, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game.
2. LeBron James - Already a four-time MVP, James could win the award for the fifth time if he continues to play the way he's been playing. The 33-year-old is averaging his highest point total (27.6) since the 2009-10 season and is also averaging a career-high 9.1 assists.
3. Demar DeRozan - A three-time All-Star, DeRozan has helped guide the Toronto Raptors to a 27-10 record while averaging 25.0 points and a career-high 4.9 assists per game. His biggest area of improvement is his 3-point shooting as he boasts a career-best 37-percent success rate from beyond the 3-point line.
