Houston Rockets: 3 reasons James Harden is the MVP frontrunner
2. Rewriting history
The amount of accomplishments James Harden has managed to add to his basketball resume this season is nothing short of spectacular, including but not limited to:
- Most points per game in a single season since Michael Jordan (37.1 per game) in 1986-87
- Most 3s made in a single season (still going) since Stephen Curry in 2016-17 at 325
- The second-longest streak in NBA history of consecutive 30-point games with 32
- Only Wilt and MJ have averaged more points per game in a single season
- On pace to break the record for most free throw attempts in a single season
The list really does go on. Since becoming Houston’s franchise player, the Bearded One has become so adept in isolation, lulling defenders to sleep with an endless array of dribble moves only to blow past them or simply step back for a deflating 3-point look.
Harden has been so incredibly dominant this season that he’s scoring nearly eight more points per game than the No. 2 leading scorer in the NBA, Paul George. This type of play isn’t something fans get to see on a regular basis, and it’s important to understand its significance for future generations.
Voters always try to give the MVP award to someone new each season because, to put it simply, it’s more fun and intriguing that way. But with a campaign on par with some of the all-time greats’ best seasons that will be remembered for the longest of times, it’s going to be hard for those same voters to ignore it all when it comes time to submit their ballots.