LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers are rolling through the 2019-20 season. After trading away most of the young core for Anthony Davis, the Lakers sit atop the Western Conference and are in prime position to grab the one seed and make a title run. But is LeBron getting the credit the some think he deserves? Is he a legitimate MVP candidate?
Before I start, let me say this. Personally, I do not care for LeBron, but I respect him as a play and he continues to wow me in both good in bad ways every time I watch him. Sometimes he’ll make an amazing pass or drive ferosiously to the rim, and other times he just acts like a little bitch.
The Case for LeBron
The biggest argument for LeBron as a legitimate MVP candidate is the Lakers are currently holding down the one spot out West. The Western Conference is tougher than the East, and to be the number one team out West pretty much makes you a title favorite. LeBron’s numbers aren’t bad either; 25.3 ppg, 49.3 fg, 34.7 3pt, 7.7 reb, 10.6 ast and 1.2 stl. His assists are at a career high and everything else is close to his averages during his four previous MVP seasons. If the Lakers can finish first in the West, this conversation will continue to happen, even after the MVP announced.
The Case Against LeBron
Giannis Antetokoumpo and the Milwaukee Bucks have the best record in the NBA and Giannis is having another great season. In fact, most of Giannis’ stats this season are better than when he won MVP last year. The Bucks have already secured a playoff spot, which is just crazy given that it happened in the middle of Febuary. It almost seems like that no matter what LeBron does, he will not be able to catch up with Giannis. There’s also the fact that LeBron isn’t even the lead scorer on his team. Davis leads the team in points and is the second half of what some would consider the best duo in the NBA. Giannis has Khris Middleton, an All-Star but not a player on the level of Davis.
I think Giannis will win his second MVP this year. Despite the Lakers being first in the West, I think the Clippers are the better LA team. LeBron will be in the conversation because he is LeBron James and it’s the Lakers. If he is to win MVP, LeBron will have to go on one of the greatest individual runs ever seen in the NBA.
