MVP Talk

            I could be wrong but I’m almost positive that MVP stands for Most Valuable Player. That’s normally what it means. It doesn’t mean who scores the most points, throws the most touchdowns, who’s on the best team with the best record. It’s who is most valuable to their team, and in the NBA this season; the “MVP” race is up for grabs they say. Some will say it should go to Golden State guard Stephen Curry, others will say Houston Rockets guard James Harden and his beard should win. In the last month, Oklahoma City guard Russell Westbrook has been on a tear, averaging 31 points, 10 assists, and 9 rebounds, “MVP-like” numbers. He’s been making a very strong case for the award, but his team is currently in 8^th place in the Western Conference, still battling with some teams for the spot. He’s missed 15 games this season but has picked up the slack while teammate and reigning MVP Kevin Durant sits out with a foot injury. It seems that everyone is caught up in those names that they are forgetting the best player on the planet; Cavaliers forward LeBron James. The four-time most valuable player.

 

            James missed a stretch of eight games earlier in the season, during that stretch the Cavaliers looked lost and went 1-8. The lone win game against the Hornets, not all that impressive. After James left Cleveland for Miami, the Cavs were one of the worst teams in the league while Miami made it to four straight NBA Finals and capturing two championships. That should tell you something. As soon as James went back to his home state and was joined by Kevin Love, the Cavs were instantly the favorites to win it all. You can make the argument that no other player in the league is more important to his team’s success than LeBron James.  

Today we’re sick with the Michael Jordan syndrome. Jordan could have won the MVP every year and probably should have because the Chicago Bulls went as MJ went, much like the Cavaliers, but the NBA felt it was necessary to award it other players, I’m not saying that the players who won the award weren’t great players, but they weren’t Michael Jordan. The same can be said for today’s game, I’m not saying that other players in the NBA aren’t great but the gap between LeBron and the rest of the NBA is larger than people make it out to be.

I enjoy the MVP talk because it means we have so many great players in the league and those players are getting recognition but you can’t take away from the greatness of one player just because you feel the need to give it to someone else. Curry, Harden, and Westbrook are all worthy MVP candidates but what it comes down to is who is the most valuable player for their team; LeBron James is that guy year in and year out.