There haven’t been many players who have risen to the level of LeBron James in the world of basketball, let alone the NBA. To the point where his name has become synonymous with the sport itself. The kind of charm and charisma he possesses on the court is magical and a treat to watch for the spectators. At 36 years of age, he is still going strong and making light work of younger and faster opponents, all thanks to his mentality and the experience he has gained over the years.
Complimented by his players and coaches irrespective of their allegiance to a franchise, LeBron has garnered praise from every corner of the basketball fraternity. In fact, his current coach Frank Vogel touts the talisman as a tower of strength.
Ever since he stepped onto the NBA court in ‘03, LeBron has shown that he is one rung above everyone else around him and can change the course of the game on his own. He has made many wow moments along the way as well, such as the block he made on Andre Iguodala against the iconic Warriors outfit. There is no doubt about the fact that he is one of the greats of this game, and yet he has only four NBA MVP awards to his credit.
Anybody who follows the NBA will recognize the disparity between the legendary status of King James and the number of MVP accolades he has received. Surely, the impact he has had on the league mandates a few more MVP awards. Today, we take a look at the reasons behind the argument that LeBron James should have more MVP titles to his name.
The snubs
As is the case with every great player in every sport, you have to deal with many award snubs along the way. The same happened with LeBron James on multiple occasions.
· The first snub that comes to mind is the 2010-11 MVP award, which went to Derrick Rose. This is arguably one of the biggest NBA MVP snubs to ever take place. One cannot deny that Rose was a strong contender for the title and lit up the league with his skills, however, LeBron was far more impactful when it came to the team performances. Even when it comes to stats, LeBron was ahead of Derrick Rose in almost all of the parameters. He averaged 26.7 points per game while Rose could only manage 25.
· LeBron James did not receive the MVP award in one of the liveliest seasons of his career solely because of one reason, Kobe Bryant. The 2007-08 season is remembered by many as the one where King James finally realized his potential and took the league by storm. However, Kobe Bryant was another beast waiting for the right opportunity. He single-handedly carried the Lakers to a playoff spot with scintillating performances. In terms of impact, he simply blew LeBron out of the water.
Factors at play behind these snubs
It is quite difficult to judge the thought that might have gone behind these erratic decisions. Hence, one can only guess what must have gone through the heads of the people who voted.
· One of the most swaying reasons might be the novelty factor. The viewers and administration of the NBA would much rather have a new face emerging as the best player of the league than a player who keeps performing at an unreal level each season. This might have been the reason behind the selection of Derrick Rose in the 2010-11 season.
· Another reason that might have some role to play would be the honoring of the legacy of legendary players. Ever since the inception of the NBA, there have been several instances where great players have been honored with MVP accolades even when other players have performed significantly better than them. Some of the most notable examples are Bill Russell (1966-67) and Kobe Bryant (2007-08).
Why LeBron James deserved to win more MVP awards
There is no doubt about the fact that a player of LeBron James’ caliber deserves to have many more accolades to his name, be it an MVP award or otherwise. Every franchise he has played for, has seen a sudden rise in form and stature. That is all because of the temperament and tenacity that LeBron brings with him.
When it comes to individual impact, not many players have been able to produce such dominance in a single season, let alone 18 of them. King James has proved time and time again that he is one of the all-time greats. The number of times he has changed the course of a season is staggering and it should be rewarded.
Even LeBron himself believes that his stellar career merits a few more MVP awards. During the 2020-21 season, he was quoted saying, “I should have more than 4.” That just shows the hunger and spirit to win he has left in him even after achieving everything there is to achieve as a hooper. If that is not a sign of a living legend, I don’t know what is.
