MVP race?
It’s safe to say that anyone with common sense, and certainly anyone who isn’t in the business of building narratives for content, would admit that there isn’t much of an MVP race as the regular season enters its home stretch.
With his individual dominance and the Bucks’ imperious record, Giannis Antetokounmpo is on course to romp home to his second consecutive MVP award.
Still, that hasn’t stopped some of the national discussion attempting to stoke the fires in recent day (and what a coincidence, in the days ahead of a nationally televised Bucks-Lakers game!), by suggesting that LeBron James could still steal this season’s award away from Antetokounmpo.
Charles Barkley appropriately highlighted the absurdity of that sentiment on Thursday, but what can’t be denied is that James is Antetokounmpo’s nearest rival in that context this season. Even if there is a considerable difference separating them, this is still the league’s two best players this season going head-to-head.
That will undoubtedly create an extra layer of motivation in its own right for both players, though, as Friday’s game could provide some form of exclamation mark for either Giannis or LeBron. For Antetokounmpo, the MVP debate could be put to bed for good with a standout performance in a Bucks win, while if James can deliver a heroic effort of his own, perhaps his case will take on the kind of boost that’s needed to make him a real consideration down the road.
Either way, Giannis v LeBron is must-watch TV.