An MVP race that looked like Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s to lose during the first third of the 2018/19 season became much more hotly contested over the last couple months. As ESPN’s Zach Lowe writes today, James Harden and Paul George have both been on incredible runs that have made them legitimate MVP candidates – if not frontrunners – as the season enters its home stretch.
Harden’s streak of 30-point outings, which is now up to 31 consecutive games, has been well documented, but it’s still worth repeating some of his eye-popping numbers. His current rate of 36.6 points per game would rank seventh in NBA history, and would be the second-best ever mark for any player not named Wilt Chamberlain.
Harden is also chipping in 7.7 APG and 6.6 RPG while playing a league-high 37.4 MPG, and has averaged a staggering 41.5 PPG in his last 31 games. Perhaps most importantly, his run has coincided with a push up the standings for the Rockets — out of the playoff picture early in the season, Houston is now 33-24 and is vying for a top-four seed in the West.
George, obviously, hasn’t matched Harden’s historic scoring numbers, but his 28.7 PPG is easily the best mark of his career. George is also averaging career highs in RPG (8.0), APG (4.1), and SPG (an NBA-best 2.3), while making 40.6% of his three-point shots. Plus, unlike Harden, he’s a legit contender for the Defensive Player of the Year award due to his excellent work on his other end of the floor. His Thunder, at 37-20, are also a few games ahead of Houston in the standings.
Of course, when it comes to team success, neither Harden’s Rockets nor George’s Thunder can match Giannis’ Bucks, whose league-best record sits at 43-14 heading into the All-Star break. Antetokounmpo still doesn’t have a reliable outside shot, but he hasn’t needed one this season — he’s shooting 58.1% from the field, including 64.0% on two-point attempts.
The Greek Freak is averaging a double-double for the second straight year, with 27.2 PPG and 12.7 RPG. And he has supplemented those numbers with impressive play-making abilities (6.0 APG) and defensive prowess (1.4 BPG and 1.4 SPG). In close MVP races, team success is often a tiebreaker, and Antetokounmpo – in addition to being the best player in the Eastern Conference – is simply the best player on the NBA’s best team so far this season.
There are other players who should be included in the MVP conversation too. Despite the Bucks’ superior record, NBA observers would still consider the Warriors the team to beat, and Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry are both having MVP-caliber seasons.
Joel Embiid‘s two-way impact for the Sixers deserves consideration. There are cases to be made for guys like Nikola Jokic (Nuggets) and Damian Lillard (Trail Blazers). Kawhi Leonard (Raptors) and LeBron James (Lakers) would be viable contenders if not for their injury absences, and could get back in the conversation if they finish the season strong.
What do you think? Which player do you expect to win this season’s MVP award?
Vote in our poll, then head to the comment section below to share your two cents!
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1) Harden 2) GA 3) Leonard 4) Embiid
Harden. Giannis. George. Jokic. Embiid.
1. Anthony Davis
I’m a bit surprised that Giannis has so many more votes than Harden.
What Harden is doing this year is bonkers.
I’d go:
1) Harden
2) Giannis
3) George
4) Jokic
5) LeBron
Kawhi’s having a great year in Toronto, but I don’t think he’s played enough, and Toronto often doesn’t have much trouble winning when he sits.
Lol the Lakers (LeBron team) wouldn’t even make the playoffs right now! Kawhi is the best player on what is probably the best team in the East!
I’ve watched almost every Raptors game this year. Kawhi has most often been great when he plays (though he definitely booted two games – one quite literally). Kawhi also hasn’t played that many games, and the Raptors have done really well with him sitting out.
I’ve watched very few Lakers games, so my rankings are somewhat based on stats – in this case, LeBron’s Box Plus/Minus is pretty impressive, especially on a team that’s pretty bad otherwise. When LeBron doesn’t play, the Lakers are absolutely terrible.
The 5th spot here came down to LeBron or AD for me, and while AD has been the better player, asking for a trade and messing up his team has to count against him.
But putting Kawhi as the 5th person on that list isn’t a bad idea. Maybe I over-corrected to work against my pro-Raptors bias.
Also, LeBron has played fewer games than Kawhi. So if if you don’t think Kawhi has played in enough games, then LeBron wouldn’t qualify either under your standards.
Yeah, I missed that LeBron played so few games.
Again, it’s for 5th on my list.
Kawhi missing games for “load management” is probably a smart idea, but it does rub me the wrong way a bit – at least for MVP voting. Take Kawhi off the Raptors, and they’re still a very good team. Take LeBron of the Lakers, and they’re pretty much the Cavaliers.
That’s the thing, the “V’ stands for valuable. By that measure, Embiid WAS a good #5, but again, the Sixers have changed so much, IDK how to weigh them.
tim- can a case be made that Lowry is the Raps’ MVP? Stats can point to that.
x%sure – You can definitely make the argument that Lowry is the more important player for the Raptors – he is the engine that makes that team go. If Lowry is good, the Raptors almost always win.
You could even make an argument that Siakam has been more valuable than Kawhi, since Siakam is the only starter who has played in every game.
That’s one of the problems with MVP – what does valuable mean? How do we measure it?
I think Embiid could definitely be in the conversation, too. For me, after the top three, there’s a bit of a drop off. I like Jokic at 4, but my 5th pick could have been nearly anyone mentioned in the poll above.
If anything, trying to come up with a top 5 for MVP has reminded me of how lucky we are as basketball fans right now. There are a wide variety of fantastic players having great seasons, and they’re mostly super fun to watch and often unique in their own ways.
Who would you put as your top 5?
1.Harden. Fav since AZ. Reminds me of the 70s, when creating time & space for a shot was a common stated goal.
2.Jokic. Team built around him is on fire. Has new-type skills that makes his competition look obsolete.
3.PGeorge. But I hope he is not cannibalizing Russ.
4.ha. IDK 8way tie
Luke already covered the major stats. Harden actually has more still that impress.
No love for the Greek Freak?
Needs more game. And a very talented team sacrifices for him… you don’t see OKC or DEN doing that. HOU does but as a response to personnel depletion– and are winning even more with more Harden!
It’s hard to say after that top 3! I might actually say Durant next, for putting up with so much, yet not slumping. GSW now is not the team he wanted. Well tough melons I guess, but he still produces, while others are less consistent. Wouldn’t hurt to see Curry at #5 though… not his fault he plays with so much talent.
1. The Greek Freak
2. Paul George
3. Harden
4. Jokic
After that Kwahi and Lebron have missed too many games to even be mentioned or considered in the race. Only twice in the past 25+ years has an MVP won after having missed 11 games (most recent Allen Iverson 2001).
Fair point on LeBron and Kawhi… I somehow missed that LeBron has played fewer games than Kawhi this year.
Yeah LeBron missing 18 for a groin injury and I think Kawhi missed 2 less games than him for……wait for it………”load Management”
1) AD
2) Giannis
3) Harden
4) Embiid
5) Jokic
6) KAT
7) KD
8) Westbrook
9) PG13
10) Vucevic
Paul George … the others don’t matter
Jo Jo
He won’t win it, but Embiid is my choice.
Not only are the numbers MVP level and consistent, but he positively effects every play on both ends more than GA and Harden.