SK808
Situational Stopper
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2016
- Messages
- 405
- Reaction score
- 481
- Points
- 63
I’m not sure I agree with this. Consensus from most basketball media (Ringer, ESPN, SI, etc) is that Giannis is the early season MVP frontrunner (as he should be putting up prime Shaq numbers plus assists and elite defender). And Luka has gotten a ton of attention. Not just from the basketball hipster Ringer types, but even from the old heads like Barkley who said he’s been the MVP favorite so far.
Only guys who are declaring that LeBron is the early season MVP are guys who predicted LeBron would have a great season and who are enjoying being able to rub his early good start in the faces of their co-hosts who thought LeBron was no longer in the discussion for best player (like Shannon to Skip, Stephen A to Max, Kenny Smith to Barkley).
I also don’t buy that LeBron has invented the narrative that people thought he wasn’t the same caliber of player. Plenty of people were claiming LeBron wasn’t in the running for best in the world anymore (see above). Bill Simmons said he was the 7th best player in the league. Random people, even old allies like David Griffin, took shots at him all summer. Many in the media (rightfully IMO) declared Kawhi the best in the league based on how last season went. Hell after the first game against the Clippers everyone was burying LeBron.
I do agree that LeBron shouldn’t win MVP when he has AD on his team. Not when Giannis, Luka, and Harden have nobody similar on their teams and all three are putting up historic numbers. Giannis is doing it while having one of the best records in the game.
I like your point about analysts who predicted LeBron would be great this year making the most noise about his MVP odds. I think that's an excellent point that I often forget, which is that so much of the analysis we are hearing is colored by guys desire to be right in their claims and predictions.