Who Will Be the NBA’s MVP This Season?
With the NBA season underway, the question on everyone’s mind is who will be crowned MVP? We take a look at the frontrunners and make our predictions.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
The Greek Freak is having an unbelievable season and is virtually carrying the Bucks on his back. He’s averaging 29.6 points, 13.7 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game while shooting nearly 56% from the field. He’s also leading the league in blocks and is second in steals. Simply put, he’s been the best player in the league this season and is deserving of the MVP award.
The Greek Freak’s case for MVP
Giannis Antetokounmpo is in the midst of an MVP-caliber season. The 24-year-old is averaging 27.2 points, 12.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks per game while shooting 58.3 percent from the field and 76.9 percent from the free-throw line. He’s also leading the Bucks to the best record in the NBA at 51-17.
There are a few other contenders for the MVP award this season, but Antetokounmpo has a strong case for taking home the hardware. Here’s a look at why he should be the MVP:
1) He’s been the best player on the best team in the NBA
2) He’s improved his playmaking and outside shooting
3) He’s one of the best defenders in the league
4) He’s been durable, playing in all 68 games so far this season
5) He has great numbers across the board
Antetokounmpo is putting up career-best numbers across the board and is leading his team to new heights. He deserves to be in contention for MVP honors this season.
His impact on the Bucks
In just his fifth season in the league, Giannis Antetokounmpo is already one of the best players in the NBA. The 24-year-old has improved every year he’s been in the league, and he’s now one of the leading candidates for MVP.
Antetokounmpo is averaging 27.4 points, 12.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.5 blocks per game for the Bucks this season. He’s also shooting nearly 60 percent from the field and 80 percent from the free throw line. Those are incredible numbers, and they’re a big reason why the Bucks have the best record in the NBA at 44-14.
But Antetokounmpo’s impact goes beyond the box score. He’s also a superb defender, and he has a huge impact on the game when he’s on the floor. The Bucks are nearly 10 points better per 100 possessions when Antetokounmpo is on the court, which is an absolutely massive number.
And it’s not just that Antetokounmpo is a great player; it’s that he makes his teammates better as well. When Antetokounmpo is on the court, everyone else on the Bucks plays better. That’s a big reason why Milwaukee has been so successful this season, and it’s why Antetokounmpo is such a deserving MVP candidate.
LeBron James
LeBron James is having another great season and is once again in the running for the NBA’s MVP award. He is averaging 27.1 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 8.0 assists per game. He is also shooting 50.8 percent from the field and 34.9 percent from three-point range. LeBron is once again playing at an elite level and is one of the frontrunners for the MVP award.
The King’s case for MVP
LeBron James is having one of the best seasons of his career. He’s averaging 27.1 points per game, 8.7 rebounds per game, and 8.1 assists per game while shooting 51.4% from the field and 34.8% from three-point range. He’s also leading the Los Angeles Lakers to the best record in the Western Conference. All of this makes him a strong candidate for MVP.
There are a few other players who are also in the running for MVP this season, but LeBron has a strong case. He’s been one of the best players in the league for over a decade now, and he’s still playing at an elite level. He’s also carrying a Lakers team that doesn’t have much star power outside of him. If he can lead them to the NBA Finals, it will be hard to deny him the MVP award.
His impact on the Lakers
LeBron James is widely considered one of the best basketball players in the world. He has played in the NBA for 16 seasons, and his teams have reached the NBA Finals 10 times. In 2012 and 2013, he was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player (MVP).
During his time with the Miami Heat, James won two NBA championships. He then returned to his hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and helped them win an NBA championship in 2016.
In 2018, James joined the Los Angeles Lakers. In his first season with the team, James led the Lakers to a 35-47 record, missing the playoffs. However, James’ impact on the Lakers cannot be understated. He is one of the most popular athletes in the world, and his arrival in Los Angeles has helped increase interest in the Lakers and basketball in general.
Anthony Davis
The Brow’s case for MVP
The 2019-2020 NBA season is still very young, but there are already a few standout players who are making a case for MVP. Among them is Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers. Here’s a look at Davis’ case for MVP thus far:
Davis is averaging 27.1 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.6 blocks, and 1.3 steals per game. He is shooting 50.8 percent from the field, 32.1 percent from three-point range, and 85.3 percent from the free throw line. In short, Davis is stuffng the stat sheet on a nightly basis.
But what really sets Davis apart is his efficiency. He ranks in the top 10 in the NBA in true shooting percentage (66.8%), effective field goal percentage (57.7%), and offensive rating (116). He also has a defensive rating of just 103, meaning he’s been a positive force on both ends of the floor for the Lakers this season.
In addition to his impressive individual numbers, Davis has also been key to the Lakers’ success as a team. They currently have the best record in the Western Conference at 15-2, and they wouldn’t be near that mark without Davis’ contributions on both ends of the floor.
So far this season, Anthony Davis has been one of the best players in the NBA on both ends of the floor. He stuffs the stat sheet on a nightly basis and he’s been a big reason why the Lakers have had so much success as a team. If he can keep up this level of play throughout the season, he will certainly be in the running for MVP honors come season’s end.
His impact on the Lakers
In just his first season with the Los Angeles Lakers, Anthony Davis has had a profound impact on the team. He has helped the Lakers to the best record in the Western Conference, and they are currently on pace to make the playoffs for the first time since 2013. Davis is averaging 26.7 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game, and he is doing all of this while shooting 50.8% from the field and 34.9% from three-point range. He is one of the best two-way players in the NBA, and he has been a key part of the Lakers’ success this season.
There is no doubt that Davis is one of the frontrunners for the MVP award this season, and it would be well-deserved if he were to win it. However, there are a few other players who have also been very impressive this season and who could give Davis a run for his money. Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks is averaging 29.6 points, 13.7 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game, and he is leading his team to the best record in the NBA. James Harden of the Houston Rockets is averaging 36.1 points per game, which is second in the NBA behind only Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Kawhi Leonard of the Toronto Raptors is also in contention for MVP honors, as he is averaging 27.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2 steals per game while leading his team to second place in the Eastern Conference standings.”
Kawhi Leonard
Leonard, who won his second consecutive NBA title with the Toronto Raptors last season, is the clear favorite to win the MVP this season. He is the two-time defending champion and was named Finals MVP in both of those seasons. He is also a two-time Defensive Player of the Year and has been named to the All-Star team six times.
The Klaw’s case for MVP
In his seventh NBA season, Leonard is averaging 26.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.2 steals while shooting 49.6 percent from the field and 37.1 percent from three-point range. He’s also leading the Raptors to the best record in the Eastern Conference at 51-19. All of those factors make Leonard a strong candidate for MVP, but there are a few things that give him an extra edge over his competitors.
First, Leonard is playing some of the best defense in the NBA. He’s regularly matched up against the opposition’s best player, and he’s been incredibly effective in shutting them down. Second, Leonard is a master of the mid-range game, which has become increasingly valuable in today’s NBA. With more and more teams focusing on three-pointers and layups, Leonard’s ability to score from anywhere on the court gives him a big advantage.
Finally, Leonard is one of the most clutch players in the league. He’s hit numerous game-winning shots over his career, and he always seems to come up big when it matters most. For all of these reasons, Kawhi Leonard is our pick for MVP this season.
His impact on the Clippers
Kawhi Leonard has only been a member of the LA Clippers for a short time, but he has already made a huge impact on the team. Leonard is a two-time NBA Finals MVP and is widely considered to be one of the best two-way players in the league. He is also a very efficient scorer, which is something that the Clippers desperately need.
In Leonard’s first season with the Clippers, he led them to a 56-26 record and the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. The Clippers were then upset by the Denver Nuggets in the second round of the playoffs, but Leonard still averaged 27.1 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game in the postseason.
While Leonard is an excellent player, he is not without his flaws. He is not a great three-point shooter and he can be turnover-prone at times. However, his impact on the Clippers cannot be understated and he will likely be in contention for the MVP award again this season.
Joel Embiid
Joel Embiid is having an incredible season and is a leading candidate for the NBA’s MVP award. He is averaging 28.2 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game while shooting 53.8% from the field and 37.7% from three-point range. Embiid is also a great defender, averaging 2.2 blocks per game.
The Process’ case for MVP
Joel Embiid has been the best player on the best team in the NBA this season. The Sixers have cruised to the best record in the league, and much of that is thanks to their big man. Embiid is averaging 28.7 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 assists per game while shooting 49% from the field and 40% from three.
It’s not just that Embiid is putting up huge numbers, he’s also been incredibly efficient. His true shooting percentage (which accounts for threes and free throws) is 64%, which is 7th in the league among players who have played at least 30 games. He’s also 5th in the league in win shares per 48 minutes, which is a stat that attempts to quantify how much a player contributes to their team’s wins. In other words, Joel Embiid has been one of the most valuable players in the NBA this season.
The only knock on Embiid’s MVP candidacy is that he hasn’t played enough games. He missed 14 games due to injury and rested for 8 more, so he’s only played in 44 of his team’s 62 games. However, if we compare his per-game numbers to other MVP candidates, he stacks up quite favorably.
For example, Giannis Antetokounmpo is averaging 27 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists per game. Those are great numbers, but they’re not that much better than Embiid’s. And unlike Embiid, Giannis isn’t a particularly efficient scorer; his true shooting percentage is just 57%. Furthermore, Giannis plays for a team with a worse record than the Sixers; Milwaukee is currently 4th in the Eastern Conference with a 41-21 record.
If we look at Nikola Jokic, he’s putting up similar numbers to Embiid (26 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists per game) but he doesn’t provide nearly as much defensive value as Joel does. Jokic also doesn’t play for a particularly good team; the Nuggets are currently 5th in the Western Conference with a 40-22 record.
In short, Joel Embiid has been one of the best players in the NBA this season. He ranks near the top of the league in several key statistics and plays for one of the best teams in basketball. If he can stay healthy for the rest of the season (and there’s no reason to think he can’t), then he should be considered a strong candidate for MVP honors.
His impact on the 76ers
Joel Embiid is one of the most dominant players in the NBA. The 6’10”, 250-pound center is a physical specimen who plays with the strength and ferocity of an old-school big man, while possessing the agility, speed, and shooting touch of a modern NBA player. In just his third season in the league, Embiid is already a two-time All-Star and was named to the All-NBA Second Team last year. He is also a finalist for this season’s MVP award.
Embiid has had a profound impact on the Philadelphia 76ers since he was drafted by the team in 2014. The Sixers were coming off of a 2014-15 season in which they won just 19 games, but with Embiid leading the way, they improved to 28 wins in his rookie season. The following year, they won 52 games and reached the Eastern Conference Semifinals. And this season, they won 56 games and reached the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2001.
What makes Embiid so special is his rare combination of size, strength, skill, and athleticism. He is an elite rim protector on defense, averaging 2.5 blocks per game this season. On offense, he is a gifted scorer who can shoot from anywhere on the court; he averaged 27.5 points per game this season while shooting 48 percent from the field and 30 percent from three-point range. He is also an excellent rebounder; he averaged 13.6 rebounds per game this season, good for fourth in the NBA.
Simply put, Joel Embiid is one of the best players in the NBA today, and he has had a transformative impact on the Philadelphia 76ers organization. It would not be surprising to see him win MVP this season.
