Kawhi the 2017 NBA MVP & the amazing 1961-62 season
This NBA season has been amazing. Amazing stats (Westbrook), amazing transformations (Harden), just amazing (Warriors and Cavs), and yet the under-rated, under-appreciated, under the radar (and any other "under" cliche) Kawhi Leonard of the "boring" San Antonio Spurs will be this years MVP. How can that be? Do I know that Westbrook is about to average a triple double for the 1st time since 1961-1962....I did know that. I hear it every day. Westbrook is doing something that only one other person has done in the history of basketball and it has not been done in 55 years. We hear it over and over again. It is the marketing narrative of the OKC Thunder and of the NBA. They even have triple double trackers on some sites, and "odds" that Westbrook achieves the incredible feet. You know what part of the narrative "they" FORGET to mention? Oscar Robertson did not win MVP the year he averaged a triple double. That's right. 1961-62 was amazing as well. Amazing stats (Oscar Robertson triple double), amazing transformation (Wilt Chamberlain 50 ppg and 25 rpg), just amazing (Lakers duo of West and Baylor). The parallels to the 1961-62 season can not be ignored. So who wins MVP? In 1961-62 it was the under-rated, under-appreciated, under-the-radar Bill Russell. Yes. The parallels can not be ignored.
1. Westbrook is the "front-runner" for the MVP award while chasing history; the 1st players since the great Oscar Robertson to average a triple double (1961-62). Oscar averaged a historic 30.8 ppg, 12.5 rpg, 11.4 apg, and DID NOT WIN MVP. Oscar Robertson's Royals were 43-37 (only 80 games played that year) that amazing statistical year. Westbrook is averaging a very similar 31.7 ppg, 10.6 rpg, and 10.0 apg triple double (some analyist adjust for pace and Westbrooks numbers even improve) and is on pace for ~46 (80 game equivilant) wins this year. Similar to Big O and "winning" matters to "value" as in Most "Valuable" Player.
2. Harden is amazing this year. 29.0 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 11.3 apg. He has had a 50 point triple double 2x this season and 3 other 40 point triple doubles. Something that even Wilt Chamberlain didn't achieve in his amazing 1961-62 season. Yes that is the season Wilt averaged 50.4 ppg and 25.7 rpg. The greatest scoring and rebounding season of all time. His team was second in the Eastern conference (Houston is 3rd in the West...many more teams in 2017 than 1962). Similarly amazing and Chamberlain DID NOT WIN MVP.
3. Steph Curry & Kevin Durant. Some said it could not work. (I still think it wont). But so far it has. These are the last 3 NBA MVPs (Steph in 15-16, Steph in 14-15, and Durant in 13-14). The Warriors are on pace for 68 wins. Durant is averaging 25.3 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 4.8 apg 1.1 spg and 1.6 bpg while shooting 54% and still trying to figure out his new team and role. Curry is averaging 24.9ppg. In 1961-62 the Los Angeles Lakers had an amazing dynamic duo of Jerry West and Elgin Baylor. Baylor averaged a unreal 38.3 ppg and 18.6 rpg while fulfilling his duties as an Army Reservist and only playing in 48 games. West averaged 30.8 ppg, 7.9 rpg and 5.4 apg. Both DID NOT WIN MVP.
4. Lebron James. Well, lets be honest. People are tired of giving it to him, and he is tired of wasting regular season energy trying to win it. He is saving up for the inevitable rematch with the Warriors or...the team that the next guy plays for. Lebron is quietly averaging 26.0 ppg, 8.2 rpg, and 8.8 apg for the #1 team in the East. Sorry no historical 1961-62 comparisons.
5. Kawhi Leonard. So we know Oscar Robertson's 30pt triple double average did not earn him MVP. We know that Wilt's 50ppg 25rpg did not earn him MVP. Elgin Baylor and Jerry West's dominance did not earn them MVP. So who won the 1961-62 NBA MVP? Again, lets look at the parallels. Kawhi is arguably the best defensive player in the league. Leading a team that is quietly on pace for 65 wins. In 1961-62, Bill Russell won the MVP. The Celtics were #1 in the NBA at 60-20. Bill Russell was not 1st team all-nba (Wilt received that recognition). Russell may not have been the best center in the NBA, but he was the most valuable (yes there is a difference). Last year Kawhi was 2nd in the MVP voting, and he has only become better. Kawhi may not even be 1st team ALL-NBA. But Kawhi is the 2017 MVP like Bill Russell was in 1962.
Other Award Predictions:
DPOY: Kawhi Leonard
All NBA 1st Team: Westbrook, Harden, Leonard, Lebron, Anthony Davis
All NBA 2nd Team: Isiah Thomas, Curry, Durant, Draymond Green, Karl-Anthony Towns
All NBA 3rd Team: Cousins, Kyrie, Jimmy Butler, Antetokounmpo, Gordon Hayward
All Defensive 1st Team: Kawhi, Draymond Green, Gobert, Anthony Davis, Westbrook
All Defensive 2nd Team: Drummond, Whiteside, Chris Paul, Antetokounmpo, Durant
