Given the circumstances surrounding him, Anthony Davis could seriously wind up being the league’s Most Valuable Player in 2018-19.
Since his ascension as one of the top players in the game, Anthony Davis has always seemed to be on the cusp of legitimately contending for the Most Valuable Player trophy, rarely a true candidate but always a dark horse.
His game clearly speaks for itself. Career averages of 23.4 points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game will do that, but due to things like injuries and losses, AD almost always seems on the outside looking in on the MVP conversation.
The 2017-18 season was somewhat of a revelation for the five-time All-Star after a shift to the center position saw both his numbers and the success of the team skyrocket to the point where such a move appears to be permanent.
Now heading into his seventh season in the pros, the Brow’s chances at the coveted trophy seem as good as ever, but it will still be up to him to rise above the NBA’s elite and assert himself as the Most Valuable Player in the league.
The New Orleans Pelicans surprised many with their 2018 playoff run, and yet still there were some clamoring for the return of All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins given how dominant both he and AD had proven to be before Boogie tore his Achilles in January.
The same could also be said for Rajon Rondo, whose veteran leadership and playmaking abilities were crucial in New Orleans’ first round upset of the Portland Trail Blazers.
Despite the negatives that could be said about both Cousins and Rondo in respect to their fit with the Pelicans, the feeling surrounding New Orleans is that it got worse over the offseason by letting these two sign elsewhere.
Given that the team rebounded by signing Elfrid Payton and Julius Randle, such a claim is up for debate, but it may be exactly what Davis needs to catapult himself to the top of the MVP ladder
Over the last few seasons, the MVP trophy has become a narrative-driven award, with a player’s storylines and circumstances playing as much a role as stats and wins.
Russell Westbrook took home the award in 2017 in large part due to his virtuoso year-long performance after being left high and dry by Kevin Durant the summer prior.
After two second-place finishes, it appeared to be James Harden‘s time to shine this past season, and in helping his team to 65 wins, now seemed as good a time as any to anoint him as the league’s Most Valuable Player.
What always ends up being the deciding factor in one’s MVP chances is the amount of winning their team enjoys in the regular season. Because in the end, how valuable is one to their team if it doesn’t show up in the standings?
Given how stacked the Western Conference is, coupled with a supposed inferior supporting cast, many don’t expect much from the Pelicans in 2019. There isn’t even a guarantee they’ll make the playoffs.
However, should they hover around the fifth or sixth seed as a result of AD’s probable historic play, the voters will likely be inclined to reward such a performance after so many doubted it could lead to actual wins.
It obviously won’t be the easiest of tasks, but considering the uphill climb it’ll take just to qualify for the postseason and a dearth of legitimate candidates, this upcoming season appears to be Davis’ best shot at holding the MVP trophy at the NBA Awards show next June.