After winning the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award in 2019, Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo looks like the overwhelming favorite to do so again in 2020.
Antetokounmpo is averaging 29.6 PPG and 13.8 RPG, both improvements on last season’s numbers, while playing just 30.8 minutes per contest, his lowest mark since he was a rookie in 2013/14. In addition to his outstanding per-36 numbers, the reigning MVP is a candidate for Defensive Player of the Year, and his team holds the NBA’s best record by a comfortable margin, at 53-9. Milwaukee also has an eye-popping +16.7 net rating when Antetokounmpo is on the floor, tops in the league.
Antetokounmpo’s case for a second consecutive MVP award is obvious, and makes him the clear frontrunner. However, not everyone is prepared to hand him the trophy quite yet.
With the Lakers poised to take on Milwaukee on Friday night in a battle of the NBA’s No. 1 seeds, head coach Frank Vogel argued that LeBron James should be considered a frontrunner for the 2020 MVP award, as Dave McMenamin of ESPN writes. Vogel pointed to the intangibles James brings, including his leadership ability, as a factor for why the four-time MVP should receive serious consideration this spring.
“The body of work he’s put forth for our team I don’t really think it compares to anybody else,” Vogel said. “A lot of great performances throughout the year with other players, so I don’t want to take anything away from anyone else, but it’s pretty unbelievable what he does. What he means to us on both sides of the ball, defensive IQ and the way he impacts the game with his strength, athleticism, scoring the way he does, but also leading the league in assists. And the most important stat is how much we’re winning. So, to me, it’s his.”
In laying out James’ case for MVP, Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report highlights the extent to which LeBron drives the team’s entire offense with his scoring and play-making. As Pincus points out, the Lakers’ offense falls off a cliff when James sits and the defense gets a little worse too — the club has a +10.4 rating with the 35-year-old on the court, compared to -1.0 when he’s on the bench.
One advance scout who spoke to Mark Medina of USA Today said his vote would go to Giannis, but admitted that the race is close enough for him to be convinced either way. One NBA executive speculated to Medina that voters may not be inclined to choose a back-to-back winner: “My gut would be since Giannis won it last year, people would give it to LeBron.”
We want to know what you think. Does LeBron have a legit NBA shot, or is Giannis running away with the award? If you think the race is still up in the air, what would have to happen in the season’s final five or six weeks to seal the deal one way or the other? Are there any other candidates you think could emerge as realistic alternatives?
Head to the comment section below to weigh in with your thoughts!
Giannis, no doubt.
LeBron will finish closer to whomever ends up 3rd in the voting than he does to catching Giannis for the MVP.
Lebron is the mvp, and should have been the mvp each season of the last 10 years.period.
laughable!!
LeBron is clearly the best player over the last 10 seasons but didn’t always have the best production/statistical seasons. Saying that, why on earth do you believe he was worthy of the MVP last season when he couldn’t even get his team into the playoffs?
Skip Brainless says it’s LeBron without question. That alone tells me not only does Giannis win it, but that he should do so in near landslide fashion.
AS of now my top 10 would be:
1) Giannis
2)Harden
3) AD
4) Luka
5) KAT
6) LBJ
7) Jokic
8) Lillard
9) Kawhi
10) Embiid
1) Curry
2) Giannis
3) Kawhi
4) Luka
5) AD
6) Bron
7) Harden
8) KAT
9) Jokic
10) Embiid
Curry, based on his 5 games played all season? A Giannis swatted blocked shot to the cheap seats. Get that crap outta here ..