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LeBron James is a player who is widely considered the best player in the world. He was one of the frontrunners for the NBA MVP award during the 2019-20 season, but the award went to Giannis Antetokounmpo instead. LeBron James then proceeded to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to the Finals, and ultimately, a championship. James was awarded Finals MVP honors for being the best player on that resilient Lakers team.
This year, LeBron James is many people’s favorite for MVP. Prominent NBA analyst, Kendrick Perkins, is one of those people. When asked about LeBron James being the favorite for the 2020-21 MVP, Kendrick Perkins said that it was “appropriate” and commented on James being snubbed last year:
.@KendrickPerkins calls LeBron being the MVP favorite "appropriate."
"[Last year] LeBron James was robbed! He was robbed. And everybody that voted for Giannis last year should owe that man an apology." pic.twitter.com/DxeeeJshh9
— First Take (@FirstTake) January 27, 2021
Kendrick Perkins brings up some good points. LeBron James is the best player on the best team in the NBA: the award is his to lose. Perkins mentions that with his performance against the Cavaliers, he reminded us who is the king. No-one should bet against LeBron James, and most of the obstacles he faces in the basketball world he can get through. His statistics are there, and the MVP is within reach for LeBron James.
While it is fair to say that James is the favorite this year, Giannis Antetokounmpo was hardly snubbed last year. The MVP is a regular-season award, and Antetokounmpo put up elite regular-season numbers. But the Milwaukee Bucks did underperform under Antetokounmpo’s leadership, while LeBron James and the Lakers thrived in the light of the postseason.
While there’s still a lot of the season left to play, LeBron James looks like he might win another MVP to bolster his case for being the GOAT. James would equal Michael Jordan and Bill Russell in the number of MVPs he has won, while only being one behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Hopefully, LeBron James can continue his tear, and show why he’s the best player in the world.
