Los Angeles Lakers: Why the NBA MVP is LeBron James’s for the taking
By Duncan Smith
It’s been the strangest season ever, and yet LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers remain at the top of the mountain in the NBA. Coming off their NBA championship just a few short months ago, their combined dominance has provided some sense of normalcy in the league.
As the league evolves and grows and more up-and-coming talented players assert themselves, it seems that LeBron James remains the greatest constant. A 21-year-old was the betting favorite to win MVP in the preseason, and while Luka Doncic has faltered, a 36-year-old LeBron has thrived.
He’s averaging 25.2 points, 7.9 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game while shooting 49.7 percent from the floor and 41.2 percent from 3-point range. These numbers are spectacular and his resume this season will be hard for anybody to match.
Related Story. MVP Race Rankings: LeBron rising in the ranks. light
If he wants it enough, LeBron James will win MVP
Winning MVP hasn’t been a priority for James in his career. It’s fair to suggest that if it was, he would probably have a few more than four in his 18-year career. Before the NBA season was suspended almost a year ago now, he had this to say about the award:
"“It’s never motivated me. Regular-season MVP has never motivated me. To be the best that ever played the game has motivated me, and has resulted in me being able to be league MVP a couple times.”"
Of course, over time our feelings on things can evolve. Even somebody as accomplished and decorated as James can be permitted some nuance in the way they feel about things, and what better time than in a year unlike any other? Especially when LeBron James can surely feel the clock ticking on how long he can be among the best in the world, perhaps a shift in perspective about what matters is at hand.
After Giannis Antetokounmpo won his second-straight MVP, LeBron let his guard down a bit and shared his feelings on coming second in blowout fashion.
"“Pissed me off. That’s my true answer. It pissed me off because out of 101 votes, I got 16 first-place votes. That’s what pissed me off more than anything. Not saying the winner wasn’t deserving of the MVP. But that pissed me off. I finished second a lot in my career, either from a championship and now four times as an MVP. Like I said, I never came into this league saying, let me be MVP or be a champion. I always said I just want to get better and better every single day. And those things will take care of itself. There are some things that are just out of my hands and some things you can’t control. But it pissed me off.”"
Does this sound like a man who wants to finish second or worse again? I don’t think it does. And with perhaps only a couple more seasons where James can compete as the best, this might be the season he pushes himself to win MVP for the fifth time.
Let’s explore how and why he can do it in his age-36 season.