Giannis Antetokounmpo announced Friday as the NBA’s Most Valuable Player for the time of the consecutive season, and LeBron James has thoughts.
James told reporters on his virtual media availability after the Los Angeles Lakers’ surprising victory over the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference finals. “You know, don’t say that the winner did not deserve the MVP. And I finished a moment in my career, a championship, and now 4 times as MVP. “
Of the 101 media members who voted for the NBA End-of-Season Awards (of which this is not one), 85 placed Antetokounmpo first; the other 16 had James No. 1. No wonder to anyone, as they were the two most productive contenders of the entire season.
“I’m not going to sit here and communicate what the criteria are or what they are,” James said. “That’s replaced over the years since I joined the league,” he said. “Sometimes he’s the most productive player” on the most productive team. Sometimes he’s the guy with the most statistically productive season. Sometimes. . . I mean, you don’t know. You don’t know. But you know, Giannis had a great success, season; I can actually say that. “
Immediately after his press conference, James went to his phone and necessarily tweeted the same thing, because synergy has been one of his strengths.
???????? 16 out of 101 ????! It is ok! I’ve given you everything.
Let’s make some clear.
First, the right player won the 2019-2020 MVP award. Whether it’s team records or individual stats consistent with performances, Antetokounmpo’s case is unreputable. PER is an incoherent statistic, but had the score of a higher season in league history with 31. 86 while averaging 29. 5 points, 13. 6 rebounds and 5. 6 assists consistent with a game defense and game worthy of defensive player of the year (an award he also won) on a Milwaukee Bucks team that broke the NBA record.
The optics are that Antetokounmpo accepted the holiday award in Athens while James’ team plays in the Western Conference final. This isn’t the first time this has happened. The Dallas Mavericks’ first-round loss as the No. 1 in 2007 did. Doesn’t mean Dirk Nowitzki deserved the Most Valuable Player trophy less. It is a normal season award, and for the time being consecutive year, Antetokounmpo had the most productive normal season.
Second, as much as James likes to complain that the value went through the media accounts, that’s how they gave him the number of votes they gave him. The fact that he was even given the verbal exchange, at age 35 in his season 17, while leading the league in assists over the West’s most sensible team, was a component because his team is Los Angeles. The Lakers, by far, the top covered in the league, popular franchise.
Several electorates have said so.
Third, James is right that attribution criteria are inconsistent and replace from year to year. The word “Most useful player” is deliberately ambiguous and open to voter interpretation.
For some he is the maximum productive player of the maximum productive team, for others he is the top player statistically dominant or simply the player who, according to them, has explained the season from the point of view of history. right or way of voting; the box is clearer in some years.
You should know this though: there is a science to what James said on Friday, he has known for months that he was not going to win this Most Valuable Player award, he is not as wacky as he plays. He has 4 MVP awards, the third highest number of all time (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has won it six times, Michael Jordan and Bill Russell have won it five times, Wilt Chamberlain is the only player besides James who has won it 4 times. ) He is already in the old corporation in this sense. No one will see your career differently if you retire with “just” 4 of them.
But James is betting the long game. Waiting for him now, he’s sowing the seeds to win the MVP next season, as long as it takes place next season. He already has high-level media support, and if the Lakers win this year’s name (a smart chance), he goes to start next season one step ahead of the “narrative” angle he hates so much when he opposes it. It will have 4 rings and probably final MVPs in 3 other groups (which has never been done before). has a statistical season in 2020-21 that is even close to the one you just had, and the Lakers are in the mix of names, will be the favorite to vote for.
The MVP award is based on the normal performance of the season, however, the good fortune of the playoffs is a matter of deciphering in the vote when an earlier winner is missing. James Harden was the worthy team in 2017-18, but the electorate has calmed down for years despite comparable several disappointing performances in the playoffs will. I probably wouldn’t win another one until the Rockets break and win the title, or at least qualify for the final.
And you can bet antetokounmpo would probably not be a Most Valuable Player 3 times until he gets a ring. Losing in last year’s East Conference finals when the Bucks had not passed the first circular since 2001 does not replace perception; loses as badly as he did to the Miami Heat at this year’s circular moment.
If James enters next season as a four-time champion, it will be easy to hold on to the concept that he is on a “revenge tour” by the MVP he feels he deserves to have won. Add that you’ll be 36, with an ever-narrower window to win your fifth MVP trophy, and there will be even more to give you one to make up for the others that were previously stolen from you in your career.
No one like the old man has ever won an MVP (Karl Malone won it at 35 in 1999; Jordan 34 in 1998) No one has spent 12 years between his first and final trophy (James’ first in 2009).
By winning it next year, James would make a kind of story that’s entirely his. Being the Most Valuable Player in the Hitale League would consolidate the angle of “longevity” if applicable for the greatest player of all time. James is as smart as any NBA superstar, he knows it. Nothing he does is by accident.
Lamenting the loss of the 2020 MVP Award for narrative reasons, James follows the same story to paint on his behalf next year.
Sean Highkin covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Se graduated from the University of Oregon and lives in Portland. His paintings have been revered through the Association of Professional Basketball Writers. Follow him on Twitter, Instagram and in the B/R app.