NBA Awards: Who Is the MVP?

With the NBA season on pause, the debate for who will win all the major awards is also on hold. Today, I will be diving into the most debated award in the NBA, the MVP award.

Who Will Win the MVP Award?

Candidates: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Lebron James, LA Lakers

Lebron and Giannis are the only viable candidates. There are flaws with everybody else who you consider to be a MVP. With Luka Doncic, the Mavs are not winning enough games. James Harden’s stats are empty and the Rockets are nowhere near the top of the West

Giannis is looking for his 2nd straight MVP. Giannis has been averaging 29.6 points, 13.7 rebounds, and 5.8 assists. He is shooting 55% from the field and 31% from 3. Giannis is doing all this in 31 minutes. Giannis is more dominant than last season. He is shooting more 3’s, and he has shown the ability to knock them down. Giannis is also a defensive beast. He has a defensive rating of 96, which leads the league. Giannis is such a unique player, with the ability to keep up with guards and the ability to be a rim-protector. Giannis is all-around, and is having an even better season than his 2018-19 MVP season. Giannis also has the Bucks leading the NBA with a record of 52-13.

Lebron James continues to hold off father time as he is delivering another great season. James is averaging 25.7 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 10.6 assists. James is shooting 50% from the field and 35% from 3. These are are very Lebron like numbers. Great scoring, but he also gives his teammates better shots to knock down with his great passing ability. James has been doing these type of seasons for the better part of a decade. The only thing that James lacks in his game is his defense. James has lost some of that Miami Heat athleticism. Back then, James could have been considered the best defender in the NBA and could guard anybody on the court. Now, he is not that versatile. James has a 105 defensive rating, which is far behind Giannis. If James could be a few years younger, then his defense would be more compatible to Giannis’s numbers.

The MVP race is not that close in my opinion. Giannis just does everything on the floor great. He is a great inside scorer and has shown glimpses of an outside shot. He grabs almost 14 rebounds per game, and is a pretty good floor general. He is the most versatile defender, leading the league in defensive rating, and having the ability to guard anybody. And, Giannis is leading the Bucks to an NBA best 52-13.

Lebron James is having a great year for the Lakers, but he does not have enough on Giannis for him to take the MVP this season. So, Giannis will repeat as MVP.

Please leave a comment on who do you think will win MVP this season?