MILWAUKEE Bucks ace Giannis Antetokounmpo was named the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) Most Valuable Player for the second successive season.
The Greek star is only the third player after Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon to have won the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year Awards in the same season.
And yet, all the headlines seemed to have read: “LeBron James unhappy that the MVP Award went to Bucks’ star” or some such.
Giannis received 85 out of the possible 101 first place votes with 16 only going to James.
James—whether predictably or not—addressed it after his Los Angeles Lakers went up 1-0 in the Western Conference Finals versus the Denver Nuggets. “It pissed me off. That is my true answer.
That’s what pissed me off more than anything,” he said referring to his 16 first place votes.“ “Sometimes it’s the best player on the best team. Sometimes it’s the guy with the best season statistically. Giannis had a hell of a season, I can definitely say that.”
Whether James deserved to be MVP or not, I wish he should have not said anything and just take out his frustration on the Nuggets.
As Giannis paid tribute to Jordan and Olajuwon, I thought back to when the former was playing. He finished twice in the MVP voting…in 1992-93 to Charles Barkley and in 1996-97 to Karl Malone. While I—and many others—thought that Jordan should have won the MVP Award in those seasons as well, I can also see why Barkley and Malone would have won it too.
It happens every year—why this player is selected for an All-Star berth while another isn’t. Unfortunately, there are few slots for an All-Star Game and infinitely fewer for the MVP Award. One to be exact.
Maybe it’s the age of social media today, but that certainly doesn’t mean Jordan can address the media about his dissatisfaction over the voting. Instead, he took it out on Barkley’s Phoenix Suns in 1993 and Malone’s Utah Jazz in both 1997 and 1998.
It was only recently, in the 10-part documentary, The Last Dance, where he divulged his unhappiness over not winning the award. Instead, it served as motivation to win the NBA title.
As a fan of James, I wish he would eschew talking and instead let his actions on the court speak for themselves.
Without a doubt, he is still putting up incredible numbers. And yet again I’d rather he not say things like this. Does anyone remember “The Decision?” How about his taking a shot at Houston Rockets’ General manager Daryl Morey who tweeted his support of Hong Kong protesters. He went on to address reporters by saying, “Yes, we all do have freedom of speech, but at times there are ramifications for the negative that can happen when you’re not thinking about others and you’re only thinking about yourself.”
And there he was leading a walk out in protest of the spate of African-American killings by police. Weren’t his Lakers not supposed to continue the season?
What about the ramifications of by not thinking of others within the Lakers’ organization? And yet, here they are—three wins away from an NBA Finals berth.
The fact that James is oft in the conversation as the GOAT should be good enough. I realize that winning another MVP Award helps bring him closer to that accolade. But if you ask me, it’s another championship that will do more.
Oh, well. He is outspoken and I guess that is both good and bad for the game. Now onto Game Two.