James Harden
By Michael Kaminski
Giannis Antetokounmpo is a two-way force who led the Milwaukee Bucks to the best record in the league. His case for being named the most valuable player is obvious.
But he will not win.
The NBA MVP is not about who is the best player in the league or even who is actually the most valuable. If it was, Lebron James would have won the award every year he carried the lousy Cavaliers to the Finals.
Instead the MVP is about falling in love with meaningless stats, like the triple-double, or good story lines. This year is no different.
It’s why James Harden will win the MVP. Harden is the sexier pick with flashier numbers.
He brought his team back from an ugly point at the beginning of season. Without Chris Paul, Harden ripped off one of the best offensive seasons ever, averaging 36 points and 7.5 assists per game. He had a streak of 32 consecutive games with at least 30 points and had seven 50-point games interspersed.
Because he is a scorer, his moments feel iconic. His highlight reel is filled with shots that literally win games down the stretch.
Antetokounmpo is not flashy and most people can’t even pronounce his name correctly. An awe inspiring dunk here and a chase down block there is not as memorable as a step back three pointer at the buzzer.
When we look back and remember players who had stand out moments in memorable seasons, both statistically and winning-wise, Harden’s will be the one we will be talking about. If he isn’t rewarded with the MVP, the 2018-19 campaign will be deemed an empty season.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
By Anthony Cullotta
My selection for NBA MVP is Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo.
It has been a purely dominant season for Antetokounmpo, and he has been the leader of the best team in the league. He causes so many different problems for the opposing team, forcing them to completely adjust their game plan around one player.
It is clear in every Bucks game that Antetokounmpo can do whatever he wants on the floor with little resistance from any defense. He averaged a double-double a game at almost 28 points and 12.5 rebounds this season while also racking up five triple-doubles.
Without him, the Bucks would not have secured the No. 1 seed and their record would not stand out on paper so aggressively.
Antetokounmpo is a video game create-a-player that puts up NBA2K-like numbers on a nightly basis. We haven’t seen a player like him before. Aside from consistently knocking down a 3-point shot, he can do everything on the court.
He is one of the fastest players in the league and has increased his shooting percentage and field goal attempts. Antetokounmpo has shown he can improve his already legendary skillset.
The speed, athleticism and pure dominance of Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs and has made them a legit title contender. All of these qualifications make him the front runner for MVP. It’s in the definiton of the most valuable player, so give him the award.
