NBA: 25 players who should have won MVP in retrospect

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 05: NBA Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson speaks during the USBWA Oscar Robertson Trophy Player of the Year press conference prior to the 2019 NCAA men's Final Four at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 5, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images) /

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Willis Reed (Photo By Ross Lewis/Getty Images) /

NBA: 25 players who should have won MVP in retrospect: 8. Willis Reed 1968-69

At some point, the voters should be forced to explain themselves.

During the 1968-69 NBA season, Wes Unseld anchored a supremely talented Baltimore Bullets team. They finished number one in the east with a record of 57-25 and Unseld was a major piece to a great team. Unseld’s numbers, while impressive, were nothing more than a modern-day Clint Capela. Unseld put together averages of 13.8 points to go along with 18.2 rebounds. Impressive, but not MVP worthy.

The rightful winner of the award that season was none other than New York Knicks center, Willis Reed. “The Captain” gave it to defenders all night as he averaged 21.1 points and 14.5 rebounds. The Knicks also finished with a record of 54-28, not too far off from Unseld’s Bullets.

Despite the impressive overall numbers and great team play, Reed lost to Unseld in a landslide, 310 to 187. While Reed was undoubtedly upset by the entire ordeal, he was able to get a bit of revenge in the playoffs as his Knicks bounced Unseld’s Bullets in the divisional round, not allowing them to get a single game. An MVP trophy should have been sitting on his mantle but Reed will settle for embarrassing Unseld when the entire world was watching.