To most, the 2019-20 NBA MVP trophy belongs in the hands of Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. Averaging 29 points, 13.7 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game on 54% shooting this season, he has helped Milwaukee secure the best record in the NBA.
But in a chat with Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson, former league big man Kendrick Perkins explained why it could be LeBron who ends up with the award.
“If you take Giannis off that team, the Milwaukee Bucks still have a great team, Perkins said. “They still would get either the 4th or 5th seed in the East.”
Perk is a notorious LeBron supporter, but it doesn’t mean there isn’t some sense to his words.
“Everybody wants to talk about the number of years that he put in 17 years so on and so forth. But when you talk about a guy who’s averaging almost 25 points per game, almost 11 assists; he’s been part of that 20-10 club and he has his team number one in that tough Western Conference. That speaks volumes,”
“And also if you take LeBron off the court, the Lakers are ranked 29th offensively. When he’s on the court, they’re ranked what? I think they’re ranked 2nd, and that’s a huge difference,” Perkins informed. “So when I’m just looking at him and what LeBron has done this year, in that tough Western Conference I would just have to probably give that edge to LeBron James.”
It’s certainly true that LeBron makes a huge impact for his team. The numbers when he’s on and when he’s off the floor are pretty eye-opening and it’s clear they wouldn’t be in the same position now if he wasn’t with the team.
As for Antetokounmpo, it’s tough to say that he isn’t important to his club. The team is practically tailored to fit his game. Plus — with better stats and. abetter team record, Giannis seems to be having a better season overall.
Regardless of who you see as the GOAT, the real prize will be lifting that the Larry O’Brien trophy when the season resumes next month. We’ll see who wins that race…
