Who Won MVP of the 2019 NBA Season?

The 2019 NBA season is over, and the question on everyone’s mind is: who won MVP? We take a look at the top candidates and make our case for who we think deserves the title.

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Giannis Antetokounmpo was named MVP of the 2019 NBA Season. He is the first European player to ever win the MVP award. Giannis averaged 27.7 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game. He led the Milwaukee Bucks to the best record in the NBA.

Regular season statistics

In 70 games, Antetokounmpo averaged 27.7 points (on 58.8 percent shooting), 12.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.3 steals in 32.8 minutes per game. He was the only player in the league to average at least 25 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and one block per game, and he did so while playing fewer minutes than anyone else in the league averaging at least 25 points per game.

Post-season statistics

In the 2019 post-season, Giannis averaged 27.7 points, 12.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.5 blocks per game. He shot 58.8 percent from the field, 31.4 percent from three-point range and 72 percent from the free throw line. He led the Bucks to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2001.

James Harden

James Harden had an incredible season and was rightfully named the MVP. He averaged 36.1 points per game and led the Houston Rockets to the best record in the NBA. He was also named first-team All-NBA and won the scoring title.

Regular season statistics

Harden played 78 games during the regular season, averaging 36.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 2.1 steals per game. He shot 44.2 percent from the field, 34.3 percent from three-point range and 86.2 percent from the free throw line. He led the league in scoring for the second consecutive season, becoming the first player to do so since Tracy McGrady in 2002–03 and 2003–04. He also became the first player in NBA history to average at least 35 points per game while shooting better than 34 percent from three-point range in a single season.

Post-season statistics

In the 2018–19 playoffs, Harden averaged 32.3 points, 8.9 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game. He shot 44.2 percent from the field, 35.8 percent from three-point range and 86.2 percent from the foul line. In Game 1 of the first round against the Utah Jazz, Harden recorded 32 points and 10 assists in a 122–90 victory. Three days later, in Game 2, he scored 29 points and dished out 11 assists as the Rockets won 113–92 to take a 2–0 series lead. In Game 3, Harden scored 41 points to help the Rockets defeat the Jazz 98–94 and take a commanding 3–0 series lead. The Rockets went on to sweep the Jazz 4–0.[86] In Game 1 of the second round against the Golden State Warriors, Harden scored 37 points and grabbed nine rebounds in a 104–100 victory.[87] Two days later, in Game 2, he had 29 points and 11 assists to help Houston even up the series 1–1 with a 112–108 overtime win.[88]

Paul George

Paul George was unanimously voted the MVP of the 2019 NBA Season. He averaged 28.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 2.2 steals per game. He shot 48.9 percent from the field and 40.8 percent from three-point range. George led the Thunder to a 49-33 record and the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference.

Regular season statistics

In 78 games during the 2018–19 season, George averaged 28.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.2 steals per game, while shooting 44.4 percent from the field and 38.6 percent from three-point range. He was subsequently named to the All-NBA First Team for the fourth time in his career. George led the Thunder to a 49–33 record and the sixth seed in the Western Conference. In the first round of the playoffs, they were defeated by the Portland Trail Blazers in five games.

Post-season statistics

Paul George had a successful post-season, averaging 28.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 2.2 steals per game. He shot 47.4% from the field, 39.3% from three-point range, and 85.7% from the foul line. In the first round of the playoffs, he helped the Thunder eliminate the Jazz in six games. In the second round, they defeated the Rockets in seven games after being down 3-2 in the series. In the Conference Finals, George averaged 27.3 points per game as the Thunder lost to the Warriors in five games. Although he did not win MVP of the playoffs, he was named to the All-NBA Third Team for his post-season efforts.

Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi Leonard, of the Toronto Raptors, is the 2019 NBA season MVP. Leonard led the Raptors to their first ever NBA Finals appearance and first ever NBA Finals win. He is the third player in NBA history to win Finals MVP with two different teams, joining LeBron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Regular season statistics

Leonard averaged 26.6 points (third in the NBA), 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.8 steals per game during the regular season. He shot 49.6 percent from the field, 37 percent from three-point range, and 88.9 percent from the free throw line. Leonard led the Raptors to a 58–24 record (second-best in franchise history), clinching the second seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Post-season statistics

In the 2019 NBA playoffs, Leonard averaged 27.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.4 steals per game. He shot 49 percent from the field and 37 percent from three-point range. In the Finals, he averaged 28.5 points, 9.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2.0 steals per game, while shooting 52 percent from the field and 41 percent from three-point range. For his efforts, he was named the Finals MVP for the second time in his career.

Joel Embiid

In what was one of the most dominant seasons in recent memory, Philadelphia Sixers big man Joel Embiid took home MVP honors. The Sixers easily could have had two MVPs this season, as Embiid and Ben Simmons both had incredible campaigns.

Regular season statistics

Embiid won the 2019 NBA Most Valuable Player Award, becoming the first Sixers player to win the award since Moses Malone in 1982–83. He was also named to the All-NBA First Team and the All-Defensive First Team, becoming the first player in Sixers history to be named to both teams in the same season. Embiid led the Sixers to a 51–31 record and their first playoff appearance since 2012. He finished the season averaging 27.5 points (second in the league), 13.6 rebounds (sixth), 3.7 assists, 1.9 blocks (sixth) and 1.8 steals (seventh) per game, while shooting 46.6 percent from the field and 30.0 percent from three-point range; he was one of five players in NBA history to average at least 25 points, 10 rebounds and three assists while shooting 30 percent or better from three-point range

Post-season statistics

In the 2019 post-season, Embiid averaged 27.5 points, 13.6 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game while shooting 47.4 percent from the field and 31.1 percent from three-point range. He was named to the All-NBA Second Team and the All-Defensive Second Team. In the playoffs, he led the Sixers to the Eastern Conference semifinals for the first time since 2012.

Russell Westbrook

The 2017-2018 NBA season was one for the ages. With Westbrook leading the way, the Oklahoma City Thunder nearly made it to the NBA Finals. They eventually lost to the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals, but Westbrook’s season was one for the ages. He averaged a triple-double for the season and was named the MVP of the season.

Regular season statistics

In the 2018-19 season, Russell Westbrook averaged a triple-double for the third consecutive year, becoming just the second player in NBA history to do so. He also led the league in scoring and assists, becoming the first player to do so since Oscar Robertson in 1963-64.

Westbrook finished the season with averages of 25.3 points, 10.3 assists, and 11.1 rebounds per game. He also shot 44.9% from the field and 32.3% from three-point range.

Post-season statistics

Since being named the 2017 NBA MVP, Russell Westbrook has continued to be one of the most prolific players in the league, both in the regular season and the playoffs.

In the 2017-18 post-season, Westbrook averaged a triple-double of 21.0 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists per game, becoming the first player in NBA history to average a triple-double in the playoffs. He also set the record for most triple-doubles in a single post-season with four.

In the 2018-19 post-season, Westbrook again averaged a triple-double of 22.9 points, 11.0 rebounds and 10.7 assists per game. He also set the record for most assists in a single post-season with 240, breaking Magic Johnson’s previous record of 239 assists set in 1981.

Nikola Jokic

Nikola Jokic is one of the best players in the NBA. He’s a great scorer, rebounder, and passer. He led the Denver Nuggets to the Western Conference Finals and was named the MVP of the 2019 NBA season.

Regular season statistics

In 81 games during the 2018–19 season, Jokić averaged 20.1 points, 10.8 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.2 blocks per game, while shooting 50.8 percent from the field and 36.4 percent from three-point range. He became the first player in NBA history to average at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists in a season while shooting better than 50 percent from the field and 35 percent from three-point range, and was named to the All-NBA First Team as a result. Jokić was also named an All-Star for the first time in his career.

Post-season statistics

In the 2019 post-season, Jokić averaged 21.1 points, 10.8 rebounds, 7.0 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. He was one of only two players in the playoffs to average at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists per game, along with LeBron James. In the Conference Finals against the Golden State Warriors, he recorded his first career triple-double with 29 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists in a Game 1 victory. For his performances in the post-season, he was named to the All-NBA Second Team.

Damian Lillard

In what was one of the most competitive MVP races in recent memory, Damian Lillard came out on top. Lillard averaged 28.9 points, 7.8 assists, and 4.3 rebounds per game, leading the Portland Trail Blazers to the Western Conference Finals. Lillard was a big reason why the Trail Blazers were one of the best teams in the NBA this season.

Regular season statistics

In his seventh season, Lillard averaged 25.8 points, 6.9 assists, and 4.6 rebounds per game, all career highs. He was one of five players to average at least 25 points and six assists per game, and he was one of three players to average at least 25 points and four rebounds per game. Lillard’s shooting splits were .445/.371/.897. He ranked fourth in the NBA in total points scored (2,067), fifth in free throws made (459), and eighth in three-pointers made (218).

Post-season statistics

In the post-season, Lillard became the first player in NBA history to make multiple game-winning shots in the final minute of a playoff game. He also became the first player with multiple 50-point games in a single post-season. Lillard averaged 28.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game in the post-season.

LeBron James

James is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is widely considered to be one of the greatest basketball players of all time. James has won four NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards, three NBA Finals MVP Awards, and two Olympic gold medals.

Regular season statistics

LeBron James led the league in assists per game (10.2) and double-doubles (19), while being second in points per game (27.4) and steals per game (1.9). He also was third in blocks per game (1.3). For the first time since 2008–09, James did not lead the league in scoring; that honor went to Houston Rockets’ shooting guard James Harden.

Post-season statistics

In 2017–18, James averaged 34 points, 9.1 assists, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game, leading the Cavaliers to their fourth consecutive NBA Finals appearance. In the Finals, against the Golden State Warriors, James averaged 28.7 points on 52 percent shooting from the field, 10.7 assists, and 8.5 rebounds in a four-game sweep. For his performances during the Finals, he was unanimously named MVP of the series, becoming the seventh player in NBA history to do so.[nb 4] It was also his eighth consecutive finals appearance, tying him with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Russell for the most in NBA history.[299][300] This was also James’ third time being named Finals MVP in back-to-back years; this tied Magic Johnson and Shaquille O’Neal for second place (Michael Jordan is the only player to have won three straight).[301]

In 2018–19, James averaged 27.4 points on 51 percent shooting from the field,[304] 8.5 rebounds,[305] and a career-high 10.2 assists[306] per game, leading the Lakers to their first playoff appearance since 2013.[307][308][309] In doing so he became the first player in NBA history to average a triple double in a season for three different franchises.[310][311][312] He was also named All-NBA First Team for a record-tying 12th time in his career.[313][314], joining Karl Malone and Kobe Bryant as the only players ever to do so.[315] He was also named to his 16th All-Star team,[316] tying Kobe Bryant’s record for most appearances as an All-Star starter.[317] In Game 1 of the first round of playoffs against Portland Trail Blazers, James recorded a triple double with 29 points 15 rebounds and 11 assists as he led Lakers to a come from behind victory 121–114.[318][319] In Game 2 of that same series he again recorded another triple double with 36 points 16 rebounds and 10 assists as Lakers won handily 128–111 over Blazers giving them 2–0 lead in series.[320][321].

Anthony Davis

The 2019 NBA season was full of amazing players and performances. Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers was one of the best players in the league and he was rewarded with the MVP award.

Regular season statistics

In 2018–19, Davis averaged 25.9 points, 12.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 2.4 blocks, and 1.5 steals in 36.7 minutes per game, while shooting 51.7 percent from the field and 34 percent from three-point range. He led the league in blocks (2.4) and finished second in player efficiency rating (PER) behind only Giannis Antetokounmpo. He was also selected as an All-Star for the sixth time in his career and was named to the All-NBA First Team for the fourth time

Post-season statistics

In the 2019 NBA Playoffs, Davis averaged 32.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 2.3 blocks per game. He shot 51.7 percent from the field, 34.7 percent from three-point range, and 84.6 percent from the free throw line. Davis’s 32.6 points per game average was the highest of any player in the playoffs. He was also one of only three players to average at least 30 points and 10 rebounds per game in the playoffs, along with Kawhi Leonard and Giannis Antetokounmpo.