NBA Finals: 5 reasons LeBron James wins Finals MVP
By John Buhler
1. James leads both teams in all five major individual statistics.
Visually, it’s obvious that James has been the best player in the 2016 NBA Finals. He’s working tirelessly on both ends of the floor to bring a championship home to Cleveland. But if the in-game optics aren’t enough to solidify a certain Finals MVP designation for James, just look at how magnificently he’s been on the stat sheet.
In the first six games of the NBA Finals, James is leading all players on both teams in points (30.2), rebounds (11.3), assists (8.5), steals (2.7), and blocks (2.2) in 40.9 minutes per contest. While Irving has shot the ball well in this series (27.3 PPG) and Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson has averaged a double-double (10.5 PPG, 11.3 RPG), it has been James who has done everything for Cleveland in these NBA Finals.
If Cleveland were to win in an upset in Game 7 on Sunday, unless Irving scores 50 or something that ridiculous, James will win Finals MVP without hesitation. Even if Golden State wins in a blowout, who could usurp James for the claim of the best player in the series? Green cost Golden State Game 5 and Curry is coming off a Game 6 where he fouled out and threw his mouth guard at a Cavaliers fan in frustration.
With James being a serious threat to win 2015 Finals MVP last year instead of Iguodala, he’s miraculously somehow found a way to elevate his play to an even higher level this year. James’ performance in the 2015 NBA Finals was one of his very best series to date. For possibly the best forward in basketball history, the 2016 NBA Finals have been James’ crown jewel. 2016 NBA Finals MVP belongs to James and no one else.
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