The unfair assassination of LeBron James’ MVP case
By Jason Timpf
LeBron James is headed for another disappointing finish in the MVP race but most of the media criticism surrounding his case is unfounded.
LeBron James will finish behind James Harden in the NBA MVP voting this year. As he probably should.
Harden’s case resembles the unassailable cases of old. Outstanding statistics. Best player on the best team. Signature moments.
I personally believe he will win the award unanimously, despite not having the type of dominant season that Steph Curry did in 2016. Why? Because the reputation of his main competitor has been unfairly tarnished.
Harden should win the award for one reason and one reason only: His season has been slightly more impressive than LeBron’s. It’s as simple as that. However, the media has stooped to the level of slander.
We’ve blamed LeBron for the defense. We’ve blamed LeBron for the way the roster is constructed. I’ve even seen people blame LeBron for the ineptitude of Isaiah Thomas (who has managed to raise his shooting percentage a whopping 2% since going to Los Angeles).
As a result, a competitive MVP race between two of the top three players in basketball is unfolding as a landslide instead of as the legitimate debate it should be.
But before we talk about all of the good LeBron is responsible for this year, let’s cut through some of these ridiculous criticisms, starting with the defense.