MVP Race (at Week 16)??

The Most Valuable Player award is an illustrious award with in professional sports competitions. An individual award that also significantly takes team achievements into account, the MVP is the ultimate recognition as a professional sportsperson.

Being awarded the MVP is being denoted as being one of the best players in the world and being more/as integral to your team success than any other of the best players.??

With just a month to go in the NSL regular season, by the middle of April, we will know the NSL MVP for this season. Who is in with a chance???




Before revealing the candidates, it would be useful to consider the factors that may be taken in account to evaluate MVP candidates. Considerate, informed voters should consider team record (as well as team record when the player does, does not play), individual statistics, eye test, key performances and considering just how much this player elevates their teammates/makes the team go.???


LeBron James?
Team record (and without): 54 - 11 (11 - 5)?

Statistics: 31.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 6 assists, 1.4 steals, 1.1 blocks?

Eye test: great chance?

Elevation: Team revolves around him, depends on him

Individual performances: 54 point, almost triple double in win over Kings

In my opinion, the favourite to win the MVP. Not only does Lebron James have an advantage over all the other candidates due to his past successes, lustre as a basketball living legend and business mogul, he also has better credentials for this season to be a deserved winner than any of his competitors. 51 points in a game at age 37, immortalised as a true Great.

Luka Doncic?

Team record (and without): 53 - 13 (8 - 4) ?

Statistics: 29.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 5.4 assists?

Eye test: great chance?

Elevation: team revolves around him, depends on him

Individual performances: 51 points, 8 rebounds in a win over Cavaliers

If Lebron, for some reason, wasn�t to receive the award, I think Luka is next in line not only for the trophy this season, but as the heir apparent to the NSL and throne as the best player in the league. Outside of defensive numbers, he effectively matches Lebron in all the key criteria. 



??

Jaylen Brown?

Team record (and without): 51 - 14 (7 - 5)?

Statistics: 26 points, 5 rebounds, 2.8 assists?

Eye test: Sneaky chance?

Elevation: Highly integral part of the team

Individual performances: 38 points in big win over Spurs

Jaylen finally gets his recognition for the continual improvement for his Grizzlies, and for taking his individual numbers to an All Star status. I think Jaylen is a season too early to really put a claim on the award. His teams depth limits his ability to really put up big numbers, but its hard to ignore 65 team wins.

James Harden?

Team record (and without): 53 - 13 (6 - 7)?

Statistics: 26.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists?

Eye test: probably not?

Elevation: highly integral part of the team

Individual performances: scored over 40 five times

James Harden is just doing James Harden things, and he has consistently put up high 20s in points for the third straight season and leading his team to huge win totals. However, the team aspect, like Jaylen, appears to limit his MVP appeal despite the record with him absent, showing how important he is.??

Devin Booker?

Team record (and without): 44 - 21 (3 - 5)?

Statistics: 24.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.4 assists?

Eye test: probably not?

Elevation: highly integral part of the team

Individual performances: 43 points in a win over Rockets, 13 assists in a win over Raptors

Book, like Jaylen, has also elevated from that great young player to great player, period. The Wizards added Embiid to help Book out and are a real chance to take the East. I dont think he has overwhelmed enough of the criteria to be a true chance. 13 assists in a game shows his growth.?

Nikola Jokic?
Team record (and without): 42-23 (2 - 2)?
Statistics: 22.3 points, 15.1 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1 steal, 1 block?
Eye test: probably not?
Elevation: team revolves around him, depends on him

Individual performances: reached/eclipsed 20 rebounds in a game nine times

Big Nik continues to be the future and the present of basketballer big men, doing absolutely everything for his Rocket Family. The Rockets don�t have the record or the racket to generate true MVP buzz for Jokic, but he deserves to be in the conversation.??

Rudy Gobert?
Team record (and without): 45 - 21 (9 - 5)?
Statistics: 15.4 points, 16.7 rebounds, 3 blocks, 1.2 steals?
Eye test: Probably not?
Elevation: Highly integral part of the team

Individual performances: 25+ rebounds in five games, 11 blocks in a game

I will always admire Sheed and his team for valuing winning, never giving up and being innovative. We could all learn. He is by far the least sexy candidate and to the voters, that is a huge deterrent. But 11 blocks in a game, 28 rebounds in a game, give this man a shot at the DPOY.?

Stephen Curry?
Team record (and without): 43 - 23 (2 - 2)?
Statistics: 34.3 points, 6.8 assists, 4.2 rebounds, 5 threes?
Eye test: Sneaky chance, but probably not?
Elevation: Team revolves around him, depends on him

Individual performances: 63 points, 9 assists and 11 threes in a win over Mavericks