Win 50 games
This is a shocking proclamation but I’m going to say that if Antetokounmpo wants to win the MVP awardhe’s going to need to…win some games. I know, win-loss is not an individual stat, but it still matters.
Throughout the history of the MVP award, voters have almost always rewarded players who are playing on championship-contending teams.
Russell Westbrook is the most recent exception, but unless Giannis is looking to average a triple-double over the course of the season, don’t expect Giannis to get any Westbrook-type love.
How to define a “championship-contending” team can be difficult, but a pretty good threshold is the 50-win mark. A team that wins 50 games generally has an outside shot at making the NBA Finals, which is normally good enough for most MVP voters.
Considering that Giannis and the Bucks play in the beleaguered Eastern Conference that is now absent of LeBron, 50 wins is likely a minimum for Giannis to seriously be considered the MVP.
Another reason why 50 wins is a must is it would mean that, in many voter’s eyes, the Bucks would have overachieved. MVP voters love to reward teams that exceed expectations. Again, see Westbrook’s campaign and Curry’s first MVP award as evidence.
Giannis could have the best statistical season in NBA history, but if his team doesn’t win enough games, MVP voters aren’t likely to care all that much.