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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James Harden (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images) /

NBA: 25 players who should have won MVP in retrospect: 18. James Harden, 2018-19

Giannis Antetokounmpo had officially made the jump. After spending the first few years of his career as a very good player, Antetokounmpo joined the upper echelon of the league during the 2018-19 season. On the year, the “Greek Freak” dominated every night, all night. He averaged 27.7 points, 12.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.5 blocks.

Antetokounmpo’s numbers, along with a 60 win season by the Milwaukee Bucks, made everyone whisper to one another that he could erase virtually every record held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He easily took home the MVP that season but ultimately, voters got it wrong again.

The year prior, James Harden was given his first and so far, only, MVP. But, candidly speaking, he should’ve won it again. Harden was a beast during the 2018-19 year. He put together averages of 36.1 points per game, 6.6 rebounds, 7.5 assists and, he led the league in win shares that season with 15.2. Antetokounmpo was tied for second with Rudy Gobert with 14.4.

Harden’s numbers led to a ton of wins that year, 53 to be exact, and individually, there was no one better. Harden would be forced to settle for the NBA scoring crown instead. A decent consolation prize but in the end, it wasn’t what he was shooting for.