Who Is the 2017 NBA MVP?
The 2017 NBA MVP will be announced on Monday, June 26th. Who do you think will take home the prestigious award this year?
Russell Westbrook
Russell Westbrook had a breakout season in 2016-2017, becoming the first player since Oscar Robertson in 1961-1962 to average a triple double. Westbrook also set the record for most triple doubles in a season with 42. He led the league in scoring, averaging 31.6 points per game, and also averaged 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists per game. Westbrook was named the NBA MVP for his efforts.
Averaging a triple-double
In the 2016-17 season, Russell Westbrook had a historic year. He averaged a triple-double for the entire season, something that hasn’t been done since Oscar Robertson in 1961-62.
Westbrook finished the season with 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists per game. He led the league in scoring and assists, and was second in rebounding. Westbrook also set a new record for most triple-doubles in a season with 42.
The 2017 NBA MVP award is Westbrook’s to lose. He had an incredible individual season, and his team (the Oklahoma City Thunder) made the playoffs despite being without star player Kevin Durant.
Record-breaking season
In the 2016-2017 NBA season, Russell Westbrook had a historic season. He became the first player since Oscar Robertson in 1961-1962 to average a triple double for an entire season. Averaging 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 10.4 assists per game, Westbrook led the Oklahoma City Thunder to the playoffs with a record of 47-35. He also broke Robertson’s record for most triple doubles in a season with 42. For his efforts, Westbrook was rewarded with the 2017 NBA Most Valuable Player award.
James Harden
James Harden is an American professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for Arizona State, where he was named a consensus All-American and Pac-10 Player of the Year in 2009.
Leading the league in scoring
In his 2017 MVP season, Harden led the league in scoring with a career-high 30.4 points per game. He also averaged 8.8 assists and 5.4 rebounds per game. Harden shot 44.9% from the field and 36.7% from three-point range. He also made 85.8% of his free throws, which was the second-best percentage in the league.
Career-high assists per game
One thing that separated Harden from the other MVP candidates was his career-high assists per game. He averaged 11.2 assists this season, which is also a Rockets’ franchise record.
LeBron James
The 2017 NBA MVP is LeBron James. James is a professional basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is considered one of the best players in the world and has won three NBA championships, four NBA Most Valuable Player Awards, three NBA Finals MVP Awards, and two Olympic gold medals.
Carrying a struggling Cavaliers team
LeBron James is one of the most decorated players in NBA history. He’s a three-time NBA champion, a four-time NBA MVP, and he’s widely considered to be one of the greatest players of all time. Even at 32 years old, he shows no signs of slowing down. This season, he’s been carrying a struggling Cavaliers team on his back, and he’s once again nominated for the prestigious NBA MVP award.
In his fifteen seasons in the league, James has averaged 27 points per game, 7.4 assists per game, and 7 rebounds per game. He’s one of only seven players in NBA history to average at least 25 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists per game for their careers. He’s also an excellent defensive player; he’s been named to the NBA All-Defensive team nine times, including eight times on the first team.
This season, James has been averaging 26.4 points per game, 8.7 assists per game, and 8 rebounds per game. He’s also shooting 54% from the field and 36% from three-point range; both of those percentages are career highs. In addition to his impressive statistical accomplishments, James has also been carrying his team in other ways.
The Cavaliers have dealt with a lot of injuries this season; they’ve been without All-Star Kevin Love for significant stretches of time, and they’ve also been without key role players like J.R Smith and Iman Shumpert for long periods of time as well. In spite of all those injuries, the Cavaliers have still managed to stay afloat in the Eastern Conference standings thanks largely to James’ herculean efforts.
If James can lead the Cavaliers to another deep playoff run this year – which is certainly within the realm of possibility – then he will have cemented his legacy as one of the greatest players in NBA history.
Still the best player in the world?
LeBron James is an American professional basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is often considered the best player in the world and regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. His accomplishments include three NBA championships, four NBA Most Valuable Player Awards, three NBA Finals MVP Awards, and two Olympic gold medals. James has also been selected to thirteen NBA All-Star teams, twelve All-NBA teams, and six All-Defensive teams.
In 2016, he became the first player in NBA history to lead a team in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks in a single season. He is also the all-time leading scorer in Cavaliers history. James is considered a gifted passer and earned the nickname “King James” for his ability to deliver timely assists that lead to easy baskets for his teammates. He also has developed a reputation for being a clutch performer in crunch time of important games.
Kawhi Leonard
Kawhi Leonard is an American professional basketball player for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is a two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and has been selected to three NBA All-Star teams. In 2014, Leonard was named the NBA Finals MVP after helping the Spurs win their fifth NBA championship.
Defensive player of the year candidate
Kawhi Leonard is one of the premier defensive players in the NBA, and has been for several years now. He has the size and strength to body up bigger players, the quickness to stay in front of smaller ones, and the instincts to make plays on the ball. He’s an excellent rebounder for his position, and a fearsome shot-blocker. All of this makes him a candidate for Defensive Player of the Year every season.
But Leonard is more than just a good defender. He’s also an elite offensive player, capable of scoring both inside and out. He’s an excellent three-point shooter, and he can get to the basket and finish with the best of them. He’s also a willing passer, and does a good job of finding open teammates when he’s double-teamed. All of this makes him a candidate for MVP every season.
Leading the Spurs to the best record in the NBA
Kawhi Leonard started 2017 off with a bang, leading the Spurs to the best record in the NBA. He averaged 25.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game, shooting 49.6% from the field and 37.9% from three-point range. He was named Western Conference Player of the Month for January, and he was named to the All-Star team for the second consecutive year. In February, he was named Western Conference Player of the Month for a second time, becoming just the third player in NBA history to win multiple Player of the Month awards in a single season. Leonard continued his stellar play in the month of March, averaging 27.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game as the Spurs finished with a record of 61-21, good for first place in the Western Conference.
Anthony Davis
Anthony Davis is an American professional basketball player for the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is a 6’10” power forward with a 7’4″ wingspan and a 9’2″ standing reach. Davis was selected first overall in the 2012 NBA draft by the New Orleans Pelicans. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team that year.
averaging a career-high in points
Davis is averaging a career-high in points (28.1), rebounds (11.1), blocks (2.3) and steals (1.5) while shooting 50.3 percent from the field and 34.3 percent from three-point range. He’s also tied for sixth in the league in double-doubles (37) and is second in the league in blocks.
Top-10 in the league in blocks and steals
Anthony Davis is an American professional basketball player for the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is a five-time NBA All-Star and was named to the All-NBA First Team in 2015 and 2017. He also earned a gold medal as a member of Team USA at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
A native of Chicago, Davis played one season of college basketball for the University of Kentucky before being selected by the Pelicans with the first overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft. He quickly became one of the best players in the league, winning Rookie of the Year in 2012–13 while leading all first-year players in scoring, rebounding, blocked shots, and steals. In his second season, he helped lead the Pelicans to their first playoff appearance since 2011.
In 2017–18, his fifth season with New Orleans, Davis averaged 28.1 points per game (fifth in the NBA), 11.1 rebounds per game (seventh in the NBA), 2.3 blocks per game (sixth in the NBA), and 1.5 steals per game (tenth in the NBA). His 2.6 blocks plus steals per game was second only to Rudy Gobert among all players that season. For his career achievements, Davis has been named to five All-Star teams and four All-NBA teams.
