Blake Griffin: 3 reasons he is a legitimate MVP candidate
By Jason Elbaum
We are just 10 games into the 2017-2018 NBA season, but Los Angeles Clippers power forward Blake Griffin has demanded legitimate MVP consideration with his stellar play to start out the year. Let’s take a closer look at three reasons why it’s time to consider the L.A. big man among the NBA’s elite.
When the Los Angeles Clippers decided it was time to move on from superstar point guard Chris Paul, it was clear they were giving the keys to the franchise to their No. 1 overall pick, Blake Griffin. The team reaffirmed its commitment to the power forward by agreeing to a five-year, $173 million maximum contract this summer.
Despite Griffin’s long history of injuries, including missing his entire first season in the league after suffering a stress fracture in his knee during the team’s final preseason game, the Clippers have seen enough from Griffin to trust him to be their franchise’s centerpiece going forward.
The former Oklahoma Sooner has certainly lived up to his big-money contract expectations through 10 games this season. He is averaging 22.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, and a team-leading 4.5 assists per game on 47.8 percent shooting.
As a result of Griffin’s breakout season, the Clippers have begun to rely heavily on his offense to lead the team to victory. In the Clippers’ five wins this season, Griffin is averaging 25.0 points per game and just 20.6 in losses. It’s clear that Los Angeles needs his offensive leadership in order to win games.
With the likes of superstars like LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Giannis Antetokounmpo dominating headlines as far the MVP race, it’ll be difficult for Griffin to break into that crowd. However, there are a few legitimate reasons that could propel the Clippers star into the conversation.