LeBron James deserved MVP Award, not for the Finals

LeBron James should have won the regular season MVP, but finals MVP should go to the winning team

Ask anyone, even LeBron James haters, who the best basketball player in the game is and they will tell you LeBron. James reminded us that he hasn’t forgotten himself proclaiming, after being prodded about his raised level of Finals play compared to previous years, that it was not about more confidence, but because he considers himself “the best player in the world.”

Good for him. Love the swagger.

The NBA Finals are not over and LeBron will need all the positive mojo he can muster to pull off the near impossible. But, despite the extensive travel, lack of bench and loss of two All-Stars the Cleveland Cavaliers still have a fighting chance. The Golden State Warriors still play, at times, like a team not sure of itself going against the “best player in the world.”

That could play out poorly for Stephen Curry and company in a pressure packed Game 7. Sure the Cavs have to protect their home court first which won’t be easy, Las Vegas has them a 4.5 point underdog.

Now to the LeBron MVP talk, which seems to be gaining momentum. The only other time an NBA Finals MVP was awarded to a player from the losing team was Jerry West in 1969. West averaged 38, but the Lakers were upset by Bill Russell’s Boston Celtics in his final title run. West had injured his hamstring late in Game 5, had a poor Game 6, but still was awarded the MVP after a 42 point, 13 rebound, 12 assist Game 7. History should not repeat itself, even if LeBron puts up those type of numbers in a potential Game 7 and Cleveland comes up short.

The regular season MVP should go to the best player. Unfortunately, too many times it goes to the best story. Stephen Curry won this year instead LeBron, despite James rallying Cleveland from 19-20 to the second best record in the East. Kevin Durant won over James last year and Derrick Rose over James in 2011. Karl Malone and Charles Barkley won the MVP over Michael Jordan in 1997 and 1993. The NBA wants to honor a cool story. Giving the MVP to a lesser player is not the way to do it.

Giving the Finals MVP to a player who just lost is even more bizarre and uncomfortable no matter how deserving that player is based on a preposterous performance. James has been off the charts in the series and his Game 5 performance (40, 14, 11) was one of the best I have ever seen, hitting shots from seemingly every spot on the floor. Doesn’t matter. The Finals should be about the best player from the winning team, not the best player period.

If I was LeBron, I wouldn’t even want the award. Is he suppose to celebrate it in a private ceremony at his house with Matthew Dive-a-dova? LeBron has talked about a “secret motivation” that he would reveal after the Finals if the Cavs won. Speculation is that LeBron is bothered by Curry winning the MVP.

He should be bothered. But, two wrongs don’t make a right, and awarding the MVP to a player from the losing team would be just that.

Stephen Curry should get it if Golden State closes it out. I’d even accept Andre Iguodala as well for his relentless effort defending LeBron despite his free throw woes. LeBron gets to try again next year with a healthier roster and a team that has gained a lot of confidence coming this close when they had every reason other than LeBron James not to.

He should not however, get the consolation MVP trophy for his efforts as great and as off the charts as they have been.

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