National Basketball Association

One thing most people are overlooking about the NBA MVP race

Published Mar. 9, 2017 8:10 a.m. ET

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Andrew Lynch

If I had to pick a 2016-17 NBA MVP today ... well, I wouldn't.

Many people are acting like the season's already over, despite the fact the NBA has played 958 out of 1,230 total games this year (or a little over 75 percent). And if we handed out awards when things were three-quarters of the way over, the Golden State Warriors would be defending champions.

It's fine to have a favorite in the race (like most right-minded people, mine's LeBron James), yet think of what might unfold still this season.

LeBron could decide to take significant time off before his chase for a fourth ring begins in earnest. He's earned it, and the Cavaliers could use the first two rounds of the playoffs to get everyone back on the same page when J.R. Smith and Kevin Love are finally healthy.*

*I won't dwell on the nightmare of what would happen should LeBron suffer the first major injury of his career in a year plagued by sidelined stars, because I'm not a monster.

Kawhi Leonard could lead the Spurs to the best record in the NBA. Sure, there's that whole questionable situation with his defensive on-court/off-court numbers, but I think that's more of a fluke based on how good San Antonio's second unit is (and how well Gregg Popovich coaches those reserves) than it is indicative of Leonard's effect on the Spurs' defense. If San Antonio wins home-court advantage throughout the postseason, Leonard has to be in the conversation, at least.

As for the two early season favorites who fade with each passing day? James Harden could explode to unseen heights in Mike D'Antoni's system — remember, he's only in his first year at the wheel — and one never knows when Russell Westbrook might go thermonuclear. A huge final month might elevate either back to favorite status.

On the flip side, Westbrook failing to average a triple-double for the season would basically eliminate him from the conversation altogether. And Stephen Curry could still -- nah, I'm just kidding. Sorry, Steph.

So if you believe the MVP award should go to the NBA's best player every year, fine. That's a perfectly valid perspective, and we can hand the trophy to LeBron right now, and next season, and probably the year after that. Mark it down.

In my book, though, there's a reason voters are given until two days after the final day of the regular season to cast their votes. The MVP should belong to the player who has the most valuable season (where "valuable" is open to interpretation). By that definition, the King will almost certainly join Michael Jordan as a five-time MVP — but why rush the coronation? Until the season is in the books, you just never know.

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