Before the 2019/20 NBA season was postponed, LeBron James seemed to be building some momentum in an MVP race that Giannis Antetokounmpo had dominated for much of the year.
James had just led the Lakers to signature wins over the Bucks and Clippers, the two top threats to the Lakers’ title hopes. At the same time, a knee injury sustained in that Bucks/Lakers showdown had sidelined Antetokounmpo for the two games leading up to the stoppage.
With the NBA now in an indefinite hiatus, the MVP race has been put on hold. In fact, it’s possible it might be over altogether. While team owners and players alike want to resume the season, it’s not clear if or when that will happen. And if it does resume, the rest of regular season figures to be significantly reduced or perhaps even excised entirely in order to quickly advance to the playoffs.
With that in mind, we want to get your hypothetical MVP ballot for the 2019/20 NBA season. Do you have Giannis or LeBron in the top spot? How would you fill out the rest of your top five?
Dan Devine of The Ringer tried his hand at putting together a ballot, picking Antetokounmpo as his MVP, followed by James, Rockets star James Harden, LeBron’s teammate Anthony Davis, and reigning Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard. Mark Murphy of The Boston Herald had the same top three (Giannis, LeBron, and Harden) on his unofficial MVP ballot, as did ESPN’s panel of voters.
ESPN’s straw poll respondents had Leonard and Davis in their top six as well, but were more bullish than Devine on Mavericks star Luka Doncic, who finished fourth. Thunder guard Chris Paul, Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, Raptors forward Pascal Siakam, and Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard rounded out ESPN’s top 10, with Jayson Tatum (Celtics) and Bradley Beal (Wizards) each receiving a lone down-ballot vote as well.
What do you think? How would you fill out your five-man MVP ballot based on what we’ve seen so far?
Head to the comment section below to share your list and your reasoning!
Giannis, James, Leonard, Davis, Harden honestly not even sure if Harden should be in the top 5v
1. Giannis, 2. Harden, 3. AD/LBJ Tied.
How the voting will go if they follow the BPM + WS + VORP model that seems to hold the last 15+ MVP’s
Harden ? Heck no. Dude just dribbles 100x each possession, only passes when he has too, and shoots it everytime russ doesnt. I pray he never wins a championship(playing the style that he does) because it is making the NBA look watered down.
1) Giannis
2) Harden
3) KAT
4) AD
5) Luka
6) LBJ
7) Jokic
8) Whiteside
9) Lillard
10) Embiid
Please report to your nearest clinic for a mandatory drug test
KAT, Whiteside really? I think KAT is underrated but he’s certainly not worthy of MVP consideration with his team’s record and considering he’s been hurt a lot this year. Whiteside has had ok bounce back year but he’s still not worth his contract, definitely not better than Lillard and not even in the top 50 players for MVP consideration.
1. Giannis
2. LBJ
3. Harden
4. Luca
5. Davis
This would be my list as well. LBJ being a very close 2nd.
1. Giannis
2. LBJ
3. Harden
4. Luka
5. Lillard
6. Jokic
7. Siakim
8. Davis
9. Walker
10. Butler
If season is finished
Giannis = MVP
Davis = DPOTY
Morant = ROTY
Ingram = MIP
Nurse = COTY
Williams = SMOTY
Frank (Clippers) = EOTY
Giannis for MVP, with LeBron a close second. End of list.
1 Giannis
2 LeBron
3 Harden
4 Jokic
5 Westbrook
6 Doncic
7 Leonard
8 Paul
9 Schroeder
10 Lowry
Well I guess your an OKC fan