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The Most Valuable Player award is the most prestigious (individual) award in the regular season. The best players of the NBA are considered for this award, and it goes to the player that had the best performance in the season. The award is a high honor, and only the best of the best win it.
Throughout the years, some of the best players in the NBA have won the MVP award. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has the most MVP wins with six wins in his legendary career. He won three with the Milwaukee Bucks and three with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan is a five-time MVP, winning the award multiple times in his career. LeBron James is a four-time MVP winner, and Stephen Curry is a two-time winner. Curry won the award in back-to-back seasons. The MVP award is prestigious, and several players (legends and current) have been fortunate enough to win.
Last year's MVP was Houston Rockets guard James Harden. Harden won the MVP as he was the leading scorer of the league with 30.4 points. His performance in the season led to him beating LeBron James and Anthony Davis to win the MVP award. Now, it is time for three other candidates to battle for the award.
This year's race features three deserving candidates. This is a tight race and can honestly go to any one of these players. The candidates are James Harden, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Paul George. The debate was usually between Antetokounmpo and Harden, but George has a legitimate case as well. Here are three reasons why Paul George should win the Most Valuable Player award.
#3. George was effective on both ends of the floor
This season, George averaged a career-high 28.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and a career-high 2.2 steals. He was also the NBA steals leader this season.
Paul George is a skilled player that can help teams on both the offensive and defensive end. His performance this season led to a rare accomplishment. He is a finalist for not only the MVP award but also the Defensive Player of the Year. The nominees are well deserved as George has constantly played well on both ends.
He is a multiple All-NBA Third Team and All-Defensive Team member. He was a third team member four times in his career and a first team member for the first time in his career this season. George was also an All-NBA First team member this season. This was another first in his career. George's season was incredible, and he gained the recognition he deserved. He played well for the Thunder and proved why he is an MVP candidate. When you are a player of his caliber, you can do it all. And, he did just that.
Antetokoumnpo and Harden were also solid on the defensive end. Antetokoumnpo is a skilled defender and while Harden is not known for his defense, he slightly improved. However, neither one of them were better on both ends than George.
#2. He was OKC's go-to scorer
Paul George was the go-to scorer for the Oklahoma City Thunder this season. He stepped up for the team when they needed him most. George is a part of a duo with former MVP Russell Westbrook, but he outshined his teammate this season.
This season, Westbrook averaged 22.9 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 10.7 assists. While he averaged another triple-double, Westbrook was not himself. One of the main reasons for his struggles was his shooting.
This year, Westbrook shot 42.8 percent from the field and 29 percent from the 3-point line. He also shot 65.6 percent from the free-throw line. Each of his percentages decreased from last season, even if it was a slight decrease.
His 3-point percentage decreased by 0.8 percent, and his field goal percentage decreased by 2.1 percent. The most significant decrease was in free-throw shooting. His free-throw shooting decreased by nearly 8 percent.
It is a significant difference in an area where Westbrook usually is decent. Westbrook was out of character this season, and Paul George picked up the slack. While Westbrook somewhat struggled, George put up MVP caliber numbers.
Paul George had an incredible season all while being in a duo. While he outplayed Westbrook, the two played well enough to compliment each other. This is something that the other candidates lacked.
For James Harden, he had to take on the scoring load while Chris Paul was injured. Harden had to step up to fill the void. In other words, Harden had to put up astounding numbers to keep his team afloat. George had a similar situation, but there was one big difference: Westbrook was healthy. George managed to have his MVP season with a former MVP candidate. So, this made his MVP candidacy even more legitimate.
#1. He has a chance to make history
The MVP award was introduced in the 1955-1956 season. The Defensive Player of the Year award was established in 1982-1983. Since the awards were introduced, several great players have won them. When it comes to Defensive Player of the Year, players such as Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Gary Payton have been recipients of the award.
In fact, Michael Jordan won both awards in the 1987-88 season. He averaged 35 points, 5.9 assists, and 5.5 rebounds. He also averaged a career-high 3.2 steals and 1.6 blocks, which as even a career high. The Chicago Bulls legend was terrific on both ends of the floor and that year was the first of many that Jordan received various awards. Jordan was the first player to do, but Olajuwon did it shortly after.
Olajuwon accomplished the feat in the 1993-94 season. He averaged 27.3 points, 11.9 rebounds, and a career-high 3.6 assists. He was also an excellent defender and averaged 3.7 blocks and 1.6 steals. Since then, no other player has won both awards in the same year.
Paul George has a chance to make history and place his name with greats. With his performance on both ends of the floor, he has an opportunity to do so. Antetokounmpo and Harden are the other two candidates for MVP, but George has a different competitor in the Defensive Player of the Year race.
The other two candidates for Defensive Player of the Year are Antetokoumnpo and Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz. Gobert is the reigning Defensive Player of the Year and has a legitimate chance at winning two years straight. But George has a great chance of winning.
Paul George has tough competition in both races, but he has a legitimate chance at winning both. If he does so, he solidifies himself as one of the NBA's best players.
George had a spectacular season and deserves recognition for it. While it is a long shot, he should win MVP. He is what the award is all about.
Guess the Lakers players!
