Kevon Stewart explains why LeBron James should not be the 2020 NBA MVP and looks at the more deserving candidates for the King’s Crown.
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If youβve tuned into any basketball program on ESPN or on any other lovely, unbiased, sports outlets. You may have noticed the constant incessant petitioning for LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers to win the MVP award for the 2020 NBA season. This narrative has been pushed throughout sports media and amongst so many basketball writers. Personally, I believe this stance is utterly ridiculous and indicative of the blatant favoritism that has been ubiquitous ever since LeBron entered the league. Iβm certain I will receive a great deal of grief and βYouβre a LeBron haterβ comments on my social media after this, but I couldnβt care less about that. Because men lie, women lie, but the numbers donβt lie. In this article I will provide my contention for the βLeBron for MVPβ narrative and provide multiple alternative selections that are just as if not more deserving.
Letβs first start with the argument often made by the LeBron fanboys found all over televised sports media. Such as Shannon Sharpe, Kendrick Perkins, Nick Wright, or Stephen A. Smith. Their rationalization goes something like this.
βLeBron is in his 17th NBA season and heβs leading the league in assists with 10.5 per game. Heβs also putting up a respectable 25.5 points per game and not to mention heβs pulling down 8 rebounds per game as well. Thereβs no question that at his age and with the Lakers currently having the best record in the Western Conference heβs undoubtedly the leagueβs MVP.β
This is the most common debate Iβve seen. Without a doubt these numbers are incredibly impressive. It is truly an enormous feat to have this type of production at LeBronβs age. No doubt, these statistics would be MVP worthy in any other era, but in 2020, they wouldnβt even qualify him for 3rd place in this yearβs MVP race.
The easiest way to annihilate LeBronβs case is to simply point out that LeBron isnβt even the MVP of his own team. Anthony Davis, the superstar forward playing his first season for the Lakers currently leads the team in 16 different statistical categories. Averaging 26.6 points per game, 9.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2.4 blocks per game.
So letβs dive a little deeper shall we? Anthony Davis is beating LeBron in points, rebounds, steals, blocks, free throw percentage, field goal percentage, defensive and offensive win shares, true shooting percentage, and heβs just been a better player than him all season. The most damning fact of all is that the previous year without AD, the Lakers didnβt even win enough games to make the playoffs. Then subsequently after obtaining Anthony Davis the Lakers went from a team that couldnβt make the playoffs to a team that won the most games in the western conference. That sounds pretty valuable to me.
I would be remised if I didnβt mention that in the 2019 season, LeBron missed a grand total of 27 games due to injury and load management. In fact before his injury the Lakers were on pace to make the playoffs. However Iβm less indulgent of this defense *cough* excuse *cough* than others are. This is due to the fact that while they were five games behind the 8th seed, LeBron arrogantly got on social media and defiantly bragged about activating βPLAYOFF MODEβ. The Lakers had numerous opportunities to make the cut. Believe it or not, the Lakersβ remaining schedule was the easiest in the division. I watched as the media hopped on the bandwagon and sung his praises as if the Lakers had already clinched their spot in the playoffs thus securing his inevitable MVP trophy that year. Unfortunately, to the LakerNationβs dismay they went on a losing streak and missed out on the playoffs. Thus leading to his young teammates being blamed for the losses and traded.
This ultimately led to the Lakers acquiring Anthony Davis and the rest is history. So regardless if Anthony Davis is leading the team in a bulk of prominent statistical categories, led the team to a far better record than the previous year, and also making a case to be the defensive player of the year as well. A large portion of the NBA media would have you believe LeBron is far more deserving. Letβs set his teammates aside for a moment and look at other players in the league who are having legendary seasons in their own rights.
Iβll now go over 3 other potential MVP candidates who have more of a claim for MVP than the βKingβ does. Each of these players have all accomplished miraculous feats over the course of this NBA season that may never be seen or done again.
#1. Giannis Antetokounmpo
He has not simply just led his team to the best record in the entire NBA, but the Greek Freak is also the defending league MVP from last year. Heβs currently averaging legendary statistics getting it done on both ends of the court. Heβs averaging 29.9 points, 13.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists. Before the NBA was postponed due to the ongoing pandemic and resumed in the bubble. He was on pace to have the best PER(Player Efficiency Rating) in NBA history. Including the likes of Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Wilt Chamberlin and many other NBA hall of famers. With his small market team, the Milwaukee Bucks, on pace to win 70 games this season itβs easy to see why he should be the front runner for the MVP award. This is without mentioning how heβs also the favorite for the defensive player of the year award as well. His defensive win shares are constantly overlooked. His on ball defensive prowess and rim protection is responsible for getting the Bucks easy buckets in transition. May the good Lord have mercy on your soul if youβre caught in between him and the rim when heβs attacking at full speed with reckless abandon. His devastating loss in the playoffs last season has only propelled him to improve his all around game. Now he has done exactly that. Although his critics will continue to harp on his perimeter shooting thereβs no denying he still has untapped potential, but heβs already been validated as a top 3 player in the league.
#2. James Harden
Although the Houston Rockets are only in 4th place in the Western conference they are quietly racking up wins and are in the hunt to secure the 3rd seed. With their unprecedented small ball lineup, they have embraced the David vs Goliath concept wholeheartedly and it has proven to be successful thus far. Houstonβs entire plan of attack is reliant on βThe Beardβ. Not to mention a laser focused ball dominant co-star in Russell Westbrook, Houston has shattered expectations and with James Hardenβs extraordinary scoring and playmaking ability heβs been obliterating records on a weekly basis. Heβs quite literally putting up video game stats. Averaging 34.4 points per game which surprisingly is approximately 2 points below what he averaged last year. On top of that heβs accounting for 7.4 assists and 6.4 rebounds as well. Using his craftiness to get to the free throw line a remarkable 12 times per game. Doing so as he frustrates his opposition and their coaches by getting players into foul trouble and disrupting rotations. His mastery of the step back 3 pointer has taken the league by storm and now many other star players are adding it to their arsenals. With a phenomenal true shooting percentage of 61.9%. It goes without saying that this season will be looked back on as one of his greatest offensive seasons of all time. Whatβs terrifying is that James Harden thinks he could be even better. Disregarding how much heβs improved as an on ball defender, heβs already established himself as a top MVP candidate once again this season. As he feels he was robbed of the award last year.
#3 Luka Doncic
Please keep in mind that when I list the following numbers that the kid is only 21 years old and this is only his second season in the NBA. Luka βthe 21 year old sophomoreβ Doncic is currently averaging 28.9 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 8.8 assists per game. I canβt stress enough how incredible these numbers are for someone whoβs only played a total of 128 games to date. Heβs already proven that heβs ready for prime time. Considering that older age is one of the sole factors our friends at ESPN and other sports news outlets have firmly put LeBron as a front runner for MVP. Young age should play a role when discussing Lukaβs legitimate claim for the award as well. The more I watch him play the more Iβm amazed at his competence on the court and how he approaches the game like a 10 year veteran. Lukaβs advanced court vision and unselfishness is a barometer of a prodigy with a tremendous basketball IQ. His turnovers have been high this season at 4.3, but with time Iβm certain he will be able to turn that around. We saw something similar with Ben Simmons, Rajon Rondo, and even LeBron. You canβt teach a player to have a high basketball IQ. Having such essentially grants you staying power in the league. Another aspect of his game that has been on display this season is his relentless pursuit of rebounds. Hustle is another skill that canβt be taught. There is no hesitation even when Luka is at a height disadvantage. He will go after a rebound regardless if heβs clearly outmatched or otherwise. Which brings me to what I think is his biggest argument that can be made as to why he is a potential MVP candidate. His killer mentality this season. Luka has not disappointed anytime his Mavericks teammates depended on him. Rather it be picking up his defensive assignment 94 feet or posting a triple double on top of hitting clutch shots down the stretch of a close game. With an effective field goal percentage of 53% heβs already established himself as a trustworthy closer in big game scenarios. I would like to see anyone dispute his numbers or his overall value to his team. Other than Kristaps Porzingis, Luka is the primary threat on a young Dallas team who wasnβt even projected to make the playoffs. I truly believe given these facts he has made case to be involved in this MVP race.
In summation lets go over all the potential MVP candidates and you can decide who your vote would go to. I would really love to see who my fellow NBA fans would pick as their undisputed MVP of this season. Or if you think Iβve snubbed your pick please let me know that as well. Numbers are objective, but our takes are always subjective. Choose wisely!
LeBron James 25.5/10.5/8
Anthony Davis 26.6/3.2/9.6
Giannis Antetokounmpo 29.9/5.8/13.8
James Harden 34.4/7.4/6.4
Luka Doncic 28.9/8.8/9.3
The MVP award is about more than whoβs the best player itβs a reflection of dominance over the season as a whole. When we crown a player as MVP we are acknowledging that this individualβs absence would severely hurt the teamβs chances of winning games. That their presence on the court carries with him an idiosyncratic capacity to which that player can use to bend the game to his will. Using such to lead his team to victory.
I still personally feel that the players I mentioned above, have just as much if not more of a claim to this award as LeBron James does. However, Iβm always open to being wrong if someone provides evidence that respectfully refute my own data.
Be sure to let me know your thoughts do you agree? Do you disagree? Still think Iβm a LeBron hater? Feel free to tell me your opinions. We will be discussing this more in depth on the Cappin with the Crew Podcast.
Thanks for reading.