It’s true LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers had a heinous season that the star and the franchise are now trying to put behind them.
But did James really deserve to be tied with Rudy Gobert with just one measly fifth-place vote for NBA MVP?
The answer is a resounding no.
Yes, James only played 55 games this season on a team that won 37 contests. Of course that put him out of the running for the award he’s won four times already.
But did anyone pay attention to the stats he put up on that horrible Lakers team?
27.4 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 8.3 apg, 1.3 spg, 0.6 bpg, 51 FG%, 33.9 3PT%
My goodness! Do you realize that there have been four — FOUR!!! — other seasons of 27-8-8-1stl? James Harden (16-17), Russell Westbrook (16-17), James himself (2017-18) and MICHAEL JORDAN (1988-89)!
He was eighth in PER, right behind Kawhi Leonard. He was fifth in Box Plus/Minus and fourth in Offensive Box Plus/Minus.
In other words, when he played, he was so good. That’s worth more than one fifth-place vote. As I pointed out earlier Tuesday after the Rockets ignited the James Harden vs. Giannis Antetokounmpo MVP debate, statistics count. Plus, the Lakers went 6-11 without him during that December and January stretch while he was out. That means something.
Look, I’m not saying he deserves a top-three finish. It was a three-horse race with Paul George. I’m happy to see Nikola Jokic (fourth) get some love and I’m mad Kawhi Leonard didn’t get more. But let’s recognize what a bonkers season James had in the limited time he played. That should be enough to push him into the top-10 at the very least.
