Every NBA team’s MVP, from Kevin Durant to LeBron James
By Tom West
New York Knicks: Carmelo Anthony
Kristaps Porzingis mania is sweeping the NBA in a hurry. With his signature put-back dunks and the big double doubles he’s already recorded, he’s easily emerged as one of the most talented players from this year’s draft. And as he continues to develop and prove his talent, he’s on his way to becoming the Knicks’ MVP. He just needs more time to fully show what he can become.
In the meantime, Carmelo Anthony is the top dog in New York. Despite his high shooting tendencies and lower efficiency this season, he’s still the best player they have right now. Many players around the league have said that Melo is the hardest player to guard, due to his combination of strength when posting up and his ability to make shots from any spot on the floor. He’s putting up a solid 21.5 points per game this season, although it’s a noticeable drop from the 27.4 he averaged in his last healthy season in 2013-14. He’s also shooting just 40.6 percent right now, which is hardly impressive for someone of Anthony’s ability.
That being said, on a Knicks team that may have exceeded expectations so far but lacks a great deal of talent, Melo is still the most important player due to what he’s proven over his career for the time being.
However, while Melo can’t be replaced by such a young player already, Porzingis is rapidly on his way to becoming the Knicks’ MVP. They trail by 7.1 points per 100 possessions without him and lead by an average of 4.5 with him. He’s been far more aggressive and is having a far bigger impact at both ends of the floor than most expected. Before you know it, he could emerge as an All-Star.
Next: Milwaukee Bucks